There was once a time when the futon was considered a college dorm room or bachelor pad necessity. If not a necessity, at least an iconic statement about the sleeping life of someone of this age and income level. Well, times have certainly changed. Fortunately, futon mattresses can still be some of the most affordable options in bed choices. We’ll talk about a bit more about their style, function and pricing in this article. Hopefully, you’ll have a better appreciation for them and for why you might like to purchase one for your home.
The actual futon itself is an Asian-inspired creation. Hundreds of years ago, futons were used for sleeping in these countries. Today, the traditional futon can still be found in places like Japan. It is common to find them used in homes throughout the country. In some more modern or Western sides of life, you’ll find other types of décor and sleeping arrangements, but the futon is still a cornerstone in the market there. However, the futon mattress is not the same there as it is in the West. You see, theirs is a two part system, if you will. The traditional Japanese style consists of having a tatami, a straw mat, upon which the futon parts are laid. The bottom portion, the shiki-buton is the mattress piece. The upper part is called the kake-buton and is often a quilted upper layer. These are used together to make the typical futon bed.
What we have done is to create an innovative style in the West whereby this mattress is part couch, part bed. It is a great take-off of a fine design. Futons are great for homeowners who either have space requirements that simply don’t allow for a conventional mattress or they have the need for extra seating in a home office or entertaining area. They are great for people who have frequent guests, as well. While the futon can still be a great choice for college or teenager’s room, this isn’t its only appeal anymore.
This shift is due in part to the types of futons that are available today. Like with conventional mattresses, innovation has taken place over time. There is a lot that goes into mattress manufacturing now. There are whole sleep systems created with mattress design aimed at giving us a better night’s sleep. This is evident in the futon mattress world as well. Futons have benefited from this same innovation, namely in materials and design.
Those original futons made of cotton or wool wrapped around a cheap foam core flattened quickly for a reason; they were poorly made. There was a good reason to have given them a bad rap at the time. But now, futons have properties like inner coil springs, memory foam and even toppers. Some that are more allergy or health conscious may also have heard of the latex futon mattress, designed specifically to address these concerns. They are available in conventional mattresses as well. If you had ever had concerns about their manufacturing, those can now be put to rest, so to speak. The big names like Sealy™, Simmons™ and Beautyrest™ sell futons now.
What Size Futon Do You Need?
You may be wondering what size would fit best in your space or want to know how large them come. In most cases, you will find that the twin and full or double futons are the more popular ones you’ll find online. There are queen size mattresses as well and even king. The king sized ones are more likely to be special order products. If you are looking to use it as a sofa-sleeper, then you’ll be better off going with a twin or full. These will fold up more discreetly and will provide you with that extra seating you are looking for. Also, you should consider a thinner mattress as something with an inner coil spring or thicker profile will be harder to manage opening and folding. Plus, it just isn’t necessary if slept on only occasionally. On the other hand, if you plan on using this futon for your primary sleeping arrangement, then consider the more luxurious or plush futon models. You’ll find that they are every bit as comfortable as a traditional bed.
In terms of cost, a typical cotton or cotton-poly blend futon will cost somewhere in the range of $100-150 USD. This is just for the mattress. For larger ones or more luxurious styles, you might spend upwards of $500-1,000 USD. You can spend more on a custom ordered ‘super-king’ like the athletes order. Yes, professional athletes order custom made futons quite a bit because it is the only bed that will comfortably fit them. Whether you are a professional athlete or just someone interested in more effectively utilizing the space in your home, futon mattresses are a great solution.
