The Futon Mattress Buying Guide
Who doesn’t have a scary story from a sleepless night on a coarse bed? Well, this is a common scenario, and just hearing about futons is enough to make certain people cower! However, futon products have come a long way from huge momentary beds to firm futon mattresses, swank slip-covers, and classic wooden frames.
Today, it can be one of the most favorably versatile pieces of furniture you will ever buy. Futon mattresses usefully cushion a firm frame which serves both as a bed and a seating spot.
It provides padding useful for both sleeping and sitting on and thereby results in a supportive, flexible, and bouncy mattress that uses certain fill materials.
Since it can be a bed as well as a couch, it takes minimal effort to transform from one mode to another as compared to a sleeper sofa. This alone makes it an attractive choice for those with restricted square footage.
Another reason is that futons are relatively inexpensive as compared to traditional beds and sofas. While the price can increase with the most affluent models, its quality will certainly set you back almost less than half as much as a similar sofa night.
In addition to this, it is relatively simple and direct in its creation, allowing you to rearrange, disassemble, and assemble them with ease.
A final reason ties into its versatility — you can change your futon’s appearance to fit any style room you may desire with mattress covers and replaceable mattresses.
Since you can buy a mattress and frame separately, the combinations can be easily tailored to your preferences and tastes.
Choosing an Appropriate Futon Mattress
Once you understand about the filling materials, and how they cause the mattress to respond differently to the human body and other criteria, it becomes easier to select a mattress.
For weight, shorter is considered better as long as the 6-inch minimum thickness of the futon is maintained. Flexibility, rigidity, and firmness are relative to the desires of the futon mattress users.
The choices for futon mattresses are very extensive — some are simply filled with pieces of wool and cotton, while others contain coils like other mattresses do.
So before you buy a futon mattress, make sure you measure your space accurately to account for your mattress’s size when unfolded and folded.
This also helps to tape off the “umbra” of your probable new furniture so you can optically see how much space it will take up in your room.
And of course, you desire a futon mattress that provides a restful sleep, so you must keep the following things in mind.
- Adults typically require a mattress that is a minimum of 6 inches thick.
- For optimal comfort and support, buy a mattress with innerspring coils, that will offer the highest level of ease and comfort — much like an actual bed. This is especially recommended if your guests or you will sleep on the mattress with regularity.
- Foam and cotton batting mattresses provide reasonable levels of comfort and support for short-term use and also hold their shape over time. In addition to this, these options are lighter than traditional innerspring mattresses.
- Testing out these mattresses in-store is believed to be the best way to find out which one is appropriate for you. It is recommended to consider your entire family for testing to find a bed that will work best for the majority of sleepers.
- The higher quality futon mattress you buy, the longer it will last, and if it is not used very frequently, it may last up to 20 years.
Important Factors That You Need to Consider
Aesthetics
Think about how you may desire your futon mattress to appear. Remember, as much as you wish to think about the comfort the mattress offers, you will still need to consider how your futon mattress will appear.
Although coil-filled futon mattresses are comfortable, they may lose their shape over time.
On the other hand, foam-filled, solid futon mattresses will hold shape for a longer period of time. In addition to this, they are even better for futons that are most commonly used as couches.
Comfort
When it comes to picking mattresses, comfort is everything.
You must remember that comfort is just not about sleeping well but also about sitting comfortably. So if your futon mattress is in the living room, there are higher chance that guests will sit on it every time they visit.
So make sure you buy a mattress that is comfortable both while sleeping and sitting. The materials used to craft the futon mattress will determine the type of comfort you get from it.
So when considering comfort, get rid of the idea of lumpy mattresses. This is due to the fact that futon mattresses on the market today are made to appear and feel as comfortable as the regular mattresses that you use in your beds.
While some of them will be firm, others will be plush, and you can simply sink into those mattresses in comfort.
Purpose
You must consider how often you or your guests may sleep on the futon. In case you desire to use it occasionally as a guest bed, you may consider purchasing a less expensive mattress, for instance, a cotton-filled one.
If you plan to use it nightly, you must spend on a high-quality, coil-filled futon mattress.
Versatility
When purchasing a futon mattress, you must keep in mind that it is a two-in-one product, and in some cases, it will serve as the seat cushion, while in others it will just be a bed.
So you must make sure that the futon mattress is versatile enough to play both these parts comfortably. Also, select a mattress that is comfortable enough to serve your personal requirements, and also easy to move around.
Futon Cover
You must determine if you require a cover for your mattress so that you can pick one according to your fabric and color preference.
In addition to this, you can choose between a solid pattern and colors. The fabric choices may include, microfiber, microsuede, and cotton.
Some mattresses already come with water-resistant covers, however, they usually do not. This may also affect the overall cost of your futon mattress, so you must keep this consideration in mind too.
Size of the Frame
While a queen-size futon mattress may be the most comfortable and spacious, it implies you will have to buy or already own a queen-size frame, which can be too big for a small room.
So it is recommended that you take measurements of your room before making your final purchase to fend off size constraints.
Durability
This will immensely depend on the materials used to create this mattress.
It is recommended to choose a futon mattress that is made of materials that will last longer and also serve you better.
In addition to this, you must check its warranty as this will tell you how long the manufacturer thinks the particular futon mattress will last without any issues.
Remember, for your mattress to last long, you too need to take proper care of it.
Price
Futon mattresses are a wonderful cheap option as you can easily get high-quality mattresses for a lower price.
You can purchase a high-end mattress for much less than a high-end couch.
The Thickness of the Futon Mattress
Sleek, thin futon frames look much better with thinner mattresses.
On the other hand, significant wooden pieces require thicker mattresses in order to match their frames. So it is imperative to consider the kind of mattress you and your family prefer.
Make sure you determine the one you desire to sleep on, and also do not let color influence your decision. Remember, you can always purchase a cover for your futon mattress.
Sleeping Position
In case you sleep on your side, you must consider a softer futon mattress so that your shoulders can sink into the mattress, and there is less pressure on your spine and neck.
On the other hand, if you sleep on your back, you may actually require a firmer mattress in order to support the back and also have an elastic foam layer to let your spine relax.
And if you sleep on your stomach, you may require the firmest futon mattress as it will prevent any strains to the neck.
Types of Futon Mattresses
Regardless of the purpose of the mattress, there are certain things you must consider when buying a futon mattress. The following are the different types of futon mattresses.
Foam Futon Mattress
This is considered the novel gold standard for all types of mattresses. Memory foam mattresses have undoubtedly skyrocketed in popularity recently, and a plethora of people are switching out their spring mattresses for them.
However, foam futon mattresses are not always made of great quality memory foam, but still, offer several benefits. Additionally, they are the most comfortable type according to most users.
This is because they are best at offering support to your body, whether you sleep on your stomach, side, or back. Unlike spring mattresses that offer unbalanced support due to the coils, foam futon mattresses are supportive all over.
They also last longer as compared to other types of futon mattresses.
However, there are certain cons to purchasing this type of mattress. They are more expensive, and if you are not using it frequently, a foam futon mattress can be way too expensive for certain users.
Spring Futon Mattresses
Although they are the old standard for mattresses, they may soon totally be recouped by memory foam. They are made with metal coils that are covered with a quilted layer, which ensures that your mattress stays firm as well as comfortable.
They are reasonably priced, though not very cheap as compared to some other types of mattresses. Additionally, they are comfortable for sleeping and this type of futon mattress is what several people are used to sleeping on at night.
However, on its downside, a spring futon mattress can be heavy, and quite difficult to fold. If you have a sleeper sofa/convertible couch futon, this mattress can be difficult to mutate to the sitting position.
Wool Futon Mattresses
Although they are rare, they do bring something exquisite to the mattress. Since wool is very soft, you are certain to find yourself way warmer as compared to cotton futon mattresses.
This is because heat is retained much better in wool, and that is why buying them can be a wise decision in cold regions.
Cotton Futon Mattresses
They are an excellent option for those on a budget. They are easy to fold up as they are lightweight, however, they are not as solid as foam or spring futon mattresses. Such mattresses are considered to be very firm and also resemble the Japanese type, that is laid down on the ground by the people of Japan.
On its downside, cotton futon mattresses do not provide the same quality as foam and spring futon mattresses in several respects. Also, they wear down prompter as compared to other mattresses and do not offer as much support as foam or spring futon mattresses.
Foam & Polyester Futon Mattresses
Such blended type of mattresses usually tends to last much longer as compared to other types of futon mattresses. Polyester is used as a top layer in order to make the mattress medium firm, which certainly depends on the thickness of the polyester layer. It is also found to be softer as no cotton is used, and you only get the feeling of the foam layers. In addition to this, it is lightweight, as dense cotton is believed to weigh down the mattress.
Foam/Cotton Hybrid Futon Mattresses
Futon mattresses that combine cotton and foam can be the best of both worlds in several ways. They are more supportive, comfortable, and last longer than plain cotton futon mattresses.
However, they are not as supportive and comfortable as foam futon mattresses, and they are not as cheap as cotton futon mattresses.
Innerspring Coil Mattresses
The futon mattresses that have innerspring coils in them are believed to resemble the regular mattresses that come with springs fitted in them.
These mattresses are wonderful as you can sleep on them comfortably, and wake up relaxed the next morning. The presence of the coils in the mattress offers additional cushioning as compared to other dense cotton mattresses.
In addition to this, your body pressure points are easily absorbed by the mattress, thereby allowing you to enjoy a restful sleep. It is with the presence of high-density foam that these mattresses offer additional comfort to their users.
Summary
Futon mattresses are certainly a versatile piece of furniture as they can be used as a bed and a couch, which allows users to make the most of the space in their room.
However, there are abundant elements that buyers must keep in mind while shopping to determine the best futon mattress options.
Also, there are a plethora of great futon mattresses out there, and all that you need to do is to know what to seek when shopping for a new mattress, and this guide will certainly be helpful in showing you how to find the best mattress so you and your guests can enjoy a sound sleep on your futon.
Remember, finding the ideal futon mattress is totally personal.
This is because the perfect futon mattress for someone else may not be the ideal mattress for you. However, there are certain general guidelines that you must keep in mind.
If you are planning to use your futon mattress as a bed more than a sofa or couch, and also desire a comfortable mattress, you can opt for a spring futon mattress.
If you desire the most comfortable futon mattress and also want it to be able to easily fold up for sitting on, then a foam mattress can certainly be your best choice.
On the other hand, cotton futon mattresses are perfect for those who do not desire to use it often, and also want something economical.
And finally, a foam/cotton mattress is great if you desire to get a decent amount of use out of your mattress, but still, wish to save some money.
Remember, to get maximum support and comfort, it is extremely indispensable for you to choose the best and right kind of futon mattress.
So stick to this comprehensive guide and determine your options — as you can see there are several different types of futon mattresses to choose from, but the one you select will ultimately be down to your particular needs and preferences.
