Futon Mattress

I truly believe one of the greatest inventions in furniture is the futon sofa bed; being so versatile, they really are an ideal choice for anyone who needs extra sleeping space but is lacking extra living space. Comfortable and affordable, futon sofa beds come in a variety of styles and materials to seamlessly blend with any decor. Here are the three main traits I like to look for in a futon sofa:

Organic

For those individuals who are eco-minded like myself, futon mattresses come in a wide range of organic choices. Natural cotton and wool mattress pads are created from renewable resources. A soy based foam core provides support with yet another renewable resource, proving that one need not sacrifice comfort in order to reduce one’s carbon footprint. As these are all-natural fibers, when the useful lifespan of the mattress is over, the mattress is biodegradable and will not take up room in a landfill.

Organic futon covers complete the eco-friendly ensemble without sacrificing comfort or beauty. Natural woven bamboo is an excellent choice, coming in a range of soft, creamy shades. Pure cotton with a high-thread count looks beautiful in its natural cream, or it can be dyed into any pattern or hue with a variety of natural dyes and water-based pigments.

Comfortable

One of the most important things to ensure is that the futon sofa bed has a sturdy and supporting frame. Traditional beds have a mattress and box springs to support the weight. Futons do not. The frame should be solid and have a sufficient number of slats to provide adequate support and prevent the mattress from sagging.  If you are aiming to use the futon sofa more as a bed and less as a functioning sofa, consider one that either has no arms or has removable arms. This style will feel more like a regular bed and less like a child’s crib with the sides raised.

Futon sofa beds also offer a number of different settings. In addition to sitting and sleeping, many futons are adjustable in set increments to allow for reclining. Additionally, ensure that the futon fits into the space allocated for it yet is also suitable for the individual using it. People accustomed to sleeping on a king size mattress will not be very comfortable on a futon that opens up to the size of an army cot.

Functional

A futon sofa bed should very easily convert from a futon mattress into a futon couch within seconds. That being said, some can be finicky or downright difficult for the average person to maneuver which to me defeats the whole convenience of having a futon couch in the first place. Thus, if you’re able to view one in a local store, try converting it from bed to sofa and vice versa; if it doesn’t convert easily, move on to another model that does.  The last thing a tired person needs at the end of a long day is to struggle with a recalcitrant futon. Also, regarding placement, ensure the futon has plenty of clearance from the wall or that the futon is designed to pull away from the wall to prevent any accidental damage from occurring.

Lastly if storage space is at a premium, look for a futon couch that has built in storage compartments. Many futon sofas are adroit at concealing additional storage with compartments or magazine racks in the armrests and sometimes even under the sofa.