The futon bed has become extremely popular over the last ten years, due to its versatility and comfort. They can be used in guest rooms, small apartments, and even dorm rooms. Since they can be folded up into a couch, you are basically getting two pieces of furniture for one price.
When you are shopping for a futon bed, you must take into consideration the way it will be used. Will it be in a guest room and thus only used sparingly? Will it be in your apartment and used to sleep on every day? Therefore, knowing the frequency you will be using your futon is vital in helping you choose the correct mattress. If it will be used sparingly, then you can opt for a thinner mattress. However, if slept on often, it only makes sense that you buy a thick and comfortable mattress. Unless of course you enjoy having back problems!
Most futon mattresses are made of either foam or cotton. It is a personal choice, which is more comfortable for you. Be sure to lie on the mattress just as you would before buying any bed, to ensure it is comfortable. Many futon mattresses are made by well-known manufacturers such as Serta, Beautyrest and Sealy.
Another thing to consider is how often you will use the futon as a couch. The material must be of good quality or it will quickly deteriorate from so much folding. So it is important to consider how flexible the mattress actually is. This is why you want to look for innerspring construction.
This is why you will want to consider if you want a bi-fold or a tri-fold futon. A tri-fold futon means that the mattress must be folded twice, while a bi-fold must only be folded once. A bi-fold futon also usually provides a more natural looking sofa with a larger sitting area, than a tri-fold sofa.
The next option to consider is a “wall hugger” or a conventional futon. By using a sliding pivot, wall hugger futons can be close to the wall and pulled out into a bed, as opposed to a conventional futon, which must be pulled away from the wall entirely. However, be sure to ask the manufacturer what the clearance is on their wall hugger models, as some in fact need at least a few inches of clearance.
Of course the final decision usually lays in the price. As with any furniture, you will have your low end and high-end futon beds. You can get a decent futon bed for around $100, with the higher end models several times higher.