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How to Choose a Futon
by Benni Jenyfari

Description: Expert tips for choosing a futon for your home.

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Futons are remarkably versatile pieces of furniture and you probably can't improve on their "coolness" factor. Futons are an especially popular choice for small spaces because they serve double duty--a couch by day and a bed by night. Although today's futons may have their origins in the futon mattress of Japan, they bear little resemblance to their Japanese ancestors.

Futons actually get surprisingly high praise from doctors regarding the support they provide. In fact, most futons are well-designed and constructed to provide excellent support for sleeping. At the same time, you can't beat a futon for portability.

When you're trying to choose a futon, you should start by thinking about how you plan to use it. Is your futon going into a spare bedroom or basement apartment where it will be infrequently used by occasional guests? Or will it be the workhorse of your living room providing for all of your sitting and sleeping needs? Or will it be something in between? How you plan to use your futon will determine what sort of futon mattress you need. And when it comes to choosing a futon, the mattress is the most critical part of your decision.

If you plan to use your futon for regular, nightly sleeping, then you'll want to get the thickest and most comfortable mattress you can afford. The less often you intend to sleep on your futon, the less you will need to spend. However, you should avoid futon mattresses that are less than six inches thick. Thicknesses of seven inches or more are recommended. Most futon mattresses are priced in the range from less than $100 to several hundred dollars or more. Over the long run, you will probably regret trying to save money on the futon mattress. So don't do it--get the best futon mattress you can afford.

Another consideration when choosing a futon is how often you'll be converting it from a sofa to a bed. If you plan to use it as a sofa every day and convert it to a bed every night, then you should make sure your chosen mattress can be flexible without losing its shape. Different futon mattress fillings will react differently. Most futon mattresses are constructed of cotton that is blended or layered with other materials. Some mattresses are made of high-density foam. The key is to find the mattress that will stand up to repeated folding, sitting and sleeping while continuing to provide adequate support for your weight.

When you're shopping for a futon, you might also want to get a futon mattress cover. A cover will add an extra layer of protection, keeping your mattress cleaner and extending its useful life.

Here are a few more tips to keep in mind when choosing a futon. Ask the retailer about the futon's durability and check for a guarantee. Look for "slip stoppers" that keep the mattress from sliding off the front of the futon. And finally, try converting the futon from couch to bed and back again BEFORE you buy it. A futon's key feature is its versatility, so you need to make sure that the conversion process is simple and easy.

Benni Jenyfari is a freelance writer for Bedding Plus – a consumer guide to bedding. Visit Bedding Plus at http://www.bedding-plus.com.