There are a few different designs that should be noted:

The classic duel twin and the twin over full size is the cheapest models available and will not help much in maintaining some degree of organization aside from promoting a bit more floor space for playing. This design is of course the the classic one bed on top of the other with a ladder on the side. This model is only recommended if you cannot afford a better design. If two kids are in a single room, it will be difficult to find adequate space for toy boxes, dressers and desks to keep the toys/activities at bay.

Nowadays, there are a several childrens bunk beds that have drawers built into them. Every nook and cranny of the bunk bed is filled with necessary drawers and spots to organize, be it toys or clothes. This model attached has drawers designed into the stairs to the upper bunk, in addition to under the lower bunk. There are many beautiful woods and colors that the beds are available in and are great for adding some storage to the room.

Desk attached bunk beds for kids are also available, and are useful for a lots of different activities like  lego,  drawing, coloring, homework and others. New generation children are quite computer savvy and a cheap computer can be great for reducing noise in the rest of the home. The shown bed has the attached desk and as a bunk bed with a full size bottom bunk.

Another style of bed is the hidden lower bunk with a computer desk built into it. If you have only one child using the room, but have frequent visits from cousins and/or friends for sleep overs, this is a great asset for adding more sleeping places. There are many drawers, cupboards and spots for storage which will maximize the bedroom floor space for play areas. It is fundamentally a full dresser and desk built into the bunk which similar to a captain’s bed. The lower bunk pulls out and is easy to tuck away when not in use. This makes it really easy for having kids for sleep overs. For a teenager and adolescents, this is a great design to give them their own functional space for alone time.

Bunk beds is a great way to add bedroom space and open up many available activities for your children or teenager. A bed the last example is a great kids bed and transforms well into an adolescents captain bed. Which ever childrens bunk bed you buy, ensure it is easy to dismantle and set up, but remains structurally sound. Children are well suited to find the Achilles Heel of everything they own and a well built bed will eliminate many headaches for the parents.

Good luck!

First of all, what the primary use of your futon?

1. Is it a futon sofa bed for your living room, or;
2. Is it a permanent futon bed in a bedroom.

This makes a big difference on what type of futon frame and mattress you will want to select.

Futon Frames

Futon Bed Frames

If it is a permanent bed, you can select almost any kind of regular bed frame you like. There is only the requirement of allowing the futon to breath. This means that the frame will need the ability to have wooden slat’s under the futon to provide support and allow breathing. You should not have the futon on a solid flat surface like a floor for long periods of time. Aside from that, any bed frame can be used.

Of course, there are specifically designed futon frames that can be used, but you should not feel limited to those.

Convertible Futon Frames

This is one of the dominant benefits of futons in that they are quite easily convertible between a sofa and a “hide-a-bed”. In bedrooms these can be used to provide additional space as well and are not limited to living rooms. In fact, spare bedrooms are a great candidate for these types of frames as well to allow for the room to be used as a sitting room when it is not being used by guests.

There are 2 groups of convertible frames:

1. Bi-Folds

Bi-Fold

These are fold in the middle designs and are typically easier to convert between the bed and the sofa configuration. These can look like regular sofa’s and come in a wide variety of designs for converting between the sofa configuration and bed configuration. Wood frames and metal frames are available however, wood frames tend to be a bit pricier. Most frames require you to move it away from the wall prior to folding it down, however, there are models called “wall huggers” which can fold down directly from the sitting position without sliding it out.

There are a few different conversion mechanisms.

1. Ratchet – This is controlled from the front of the futon which lets you push against a spring to fold between sitting, reclining and sleeping easily
2. Kicker – This is essentially a small wedge at the back of the futon from which lets you slide the sofa into a bed position with relative ease. A bit more work then the ratchet design.
3. Sliding Pivot – This is primarily used in the “wall hugger” designs which allow the sofa to sit directly against the wall and does not require moving the frame away from the wall during conversion. If you are planning to convert often, this mechanism would be worth the premium.

2. Tri-Folds

Tri-folds are one of the original designs. These require the frame to be folded twice in two places rather than one like the bi-folds. Many of these frames sit directly on the floor and can be really cheap if you are looking for a inexpensive solution. These designs allow for the beds to be larger since the futon is often folded onto itself. So the width of the couch can be the width of the bed rather then the length. There are similar mechanisms as listed above. However, the designs which sit directly on the floor often require the futon to be completely removed. These are not recommended if you plan to convert between a bed and sofa frequently.

Futon Mattresses

There are many different kinds of futon mattresses with varying factors. The cheapest mattresses is likely the lowest quality, however the opposite is not necessarily true. A good Cotton/Foam futon mattress can be relatively inexpensive and rival the most expensive models available.

There are essentially 5 types of futon mattresses:

1. 100 % Cotton Futon Mattress – This was the original design. Although extremely flexible it will certainly begin to sag in a short period of time and compresses the cotton making the be much more firm as time goes on. High levels of maintenance is required to keep it in good shape for regular sleeping. These are often a bit cheaper. It is only recommended to use this if it is not to be a frequently used bed. They are also very heavy and hard to move.
2. 

   Cotton/Foam Build-Up

   Cotton/Foam Futon Mattress - This is a better alternative than the 100% cotton mattress since it will resist sagging because of the foam. This is probably the most common futon mattress. It is quite economical but still adds additional life span and continued support with lower maintenance. There are several different combination’s and construction methods depending on foam location, density, type of foam (ex. Latex).

3. Cotton/Wool Futon Mattress – Wool is quite soft and allows for a softer mattress without the compaction over time and sag issue like the 100% cotton mattresses. It also has antimicrobial properties to avoid mold and moisture wicking characteristics which allow you to have a better sleep. This is a bit more expensive but might be worth it if you are sleeping on it regularly.
4. Cotton/Polyester Blend Futon Mattress – Like the 100% cotton, it has a greater tendency of sagging over time. However, it is considerable lighter and will last longer than a pure cotton futon.
5. 

   Inner Spring

   Innerspring Futon Mattress - There has been quite a bit of advancement in inner-coil technology into futons in recent years. Many of the big mattresses producers like Simmons, Sealy, and Serta are all making different versions of these trying to combine the best of both worlds of futons and spring mattresses. As a general rule, you will not be able to use the tri-fold design with any of these mattresses as they do not fold as well. They are quite a bit more expensive, but probably the most comfortable of all the futons.

Futon Covers

There are lots of different materials available for futon covers. Typical ones are cotton, corduroy, stain resistant, faux suede (usually made from polyester). You will want to ensure that whatever you buy is machine washable and has a strong stitch. Ripping of the covers can be quite common during moving of the futons since the cover is often what is used for leverage.

There are thousands of places to buy futon covers on the internet making it easy to match the decor of any room.

Additional Details

No matter what kind of futon you get, there will be some maintenance that you will need to do.

1. If it is a regular mattress that you sleep on nightly, the futon mattress should be flipped monthly to reduce the likelihood of sagging and compaction.
2. Periodically (once every year) hanging it somewhere and beating it like a rug will enliven the comfort and maintain freshness.
3. Try to allow the mattress to get as much open air as possible. This means taking the covers off completely for an afternoon to let any moisture dissipate. Each morning, leaving the covers off your sleeping spot will also help.
4. Use a futon cover to protect the mattress.
5. Protect the bed from moisture. If it does get wet, allow lots of air circulation with a fan to let it dry out.

Futon mattresses have a typical lifespan of about ten years if cared for properly. This is similar to coil mattresses. Most quality manufacturers will offer a warranty, however, it is a fight to claim the warranty just like the coil bed market. However, try to find a mattress with at least a year warranty which will protect you from primary defects. The mattress warranty is almost impossible to claim, but the frame should not have any problems.

Recommended Futon Bed and Mattresses

If you are feeling a bit over-whelmed, check out the following suggestions to help you with your search.

Recommended Sofa Bed assemblies:

The first one is a modern Bi-Fold that has a convenient storage space under the frame. This is perfect for blankets and pillows for making it up in a hurry. This is a perfect Futon sofa bed for a condo or as a space saver. It is for a pretty good price as well, listed for approximately $500.

Storage Sofa Bed

This is a simple futon set with Serta Mattress. It’s cheap (~$400), good quality and should last for a long while.

Serta Bi-Fold Cotton/Foam

Recommended Futon Mattresses:

This is a quality 8″ Loft Cotton/Foam Futon Mattress for ~$175. It has a double foam interior to reduce the time related sag.

Cotton Foam Mattress

This one is a Loft Pocketed 9″ coiled futon. Independent springs allow for the “do not disturb you partner” technology found in modern spring mattresses. This one retails for approximately $300.

9" Loft Coil Futon Mattress

Another exceptional design is this premium inner spring mattress.

Evolution Spring 2

Good luck and Happy Hunting!

Futon chairs in particular make great lounger’s which is great for reading a book, taking a nap, or putting on one of your favorite movies. With multiple configurations it is extremely functional in addition to looking great. The appearance can be diverse from antique to modern looking and since most have optional futon covers you can purchase, the futon chair can be made to suit any room.

There are advantages over the futon couch for its ease of conversion. The futon couch is often much heavier as the mattress is much larger in size.This can be frustrating when converting between the two which often leaves the frame never being fully used! If you have some help, futon furniture in general can be simple to transform.

They are also widely available in a number of different frame designs as well as some differences in the futons themselves. If you plan to convert the layout often, it may be in your best interest to get the mattress with the rigid bottom. It allows the mattress to be more firm making it easier to switch between each of the styles; (a difficult to modify mattress is a common complaint among futon users). A futon mattress can be floppy and help is often needed to move it between the convertible styles.

Baxton Studios Sophie Convertible

This design by Baxter Studios is a good example of how slick the these can be. Great for times when you need an extra bed, cuddling up with a good book or movie, or put it up to save some space during the day. The choice is yours.

Futon chairs also have the benefit of being easy to repair should they have rips, tears or problems with cats peeing, etc. Each component is usually available to purchase individually. So replacing a mattress after one is worn out or spoiled is a simple transition.

With many of the population moving to condo’s and apartments these days, futons offer a convenient way to utilize your space. They are comfortable, diverse, simple and trendy.

Check on websites like us-mattress.com for a great selection and find one that fits right with your home.

If you are a handy person, the frames for futons can also be made really simply to accommodate your particular living space. Look for construction plans online!

Good luck!