You might be in the same boat I was in last year when I started looking at furniture for my guest bedroom. My wife Noelle and I were trying to furnish our guest bedroom but we weren’t really feeling the traditional bed and night stand arrangement that , well, really limited the usefulness of the room in our eyes. So, naturally, we started looking into futons for our space.
At first we looked at traditional bifold futon frames, you know the ones that are oriented in the same manner as your traditional sofa (aka: takes up lots of wall space). Well, we quickly scraped that idea (we own in a 1920’s home with small rooms and doorways) and started looking at futon loveseats.
Some of you may be asking yourselves “what is a futon loveseat?” A futon loveseat is a futon frame that is oriented in the opposite direction than a traditional futon frame. Futon loveseats take up less wall space, and still offer you or your guests a full or queen size bed to sleep on when you fold it down. Just what we were looking for, a frame that didn’t limit our guest bedroom, and still offered our guests a comfortable nights sleep.
Here’s a little side note on futon loveseat style mattresses. The futon mattresses that are used on a futon loveseat are generally split up into two cushions, one that covers the seat and back portions of the frame and one that covers the ottoman. Never fear though, futon covers can be ordered in loveseat sets, and a fitted sheet fits over both pieces when you fold your frame down into bed position keeping everything snug.
I hope , once again, that this article has helped any readers in their search for the perfect futon.
Have you seen all the futon frames on the market today? There are so many that it can be hard to tell what’s good and what to stay away from. Today we’re going to discuss frame material. Futon frames are generally made in two mediums, metal and wood. Metal frames have made some vast improvements over the years: they have taken on a very modern look and you’ll find them in a wide variety of finishes and styles. Wooden frames have also improved over the years, as the selection of sizes, finishes, and styles on the market are on the rise everyday. So let’s take a look at what makes a good futon frame.
If you’re looking at a metal frame, be sure to check the slat width. The slats on a futon frame are part of the seat and back “decks”, the part that your mattress rests on. As a rule of thumb, slats should be at least two and a half to three inches wide. Slats that are thinner will not provide adequate support for your mattress and can even damage your futon mattress. Also, take a look at the distance between the slats; they should be no more than two and a half to three inches apart as well. Try to steer clear of those “mega mart” metal frames that use bars as slats. They’re usually too far apart and the shape of the bar slats really provide no support. Another thing to look at when shopping for metal frames is the construction. Do the welds look solid? How is the frame connected together? Make sure you take a good look at how the frame you’re looking at is put together; bad welds and connection points can be a real headache in the future.
When looking at wooden frames, you’re going to follow the same advice as for metal. Check the slats - you want the width to be the same as with metal, two to three inches wide with an equal distance apart. Also important in wooden frames is the material used in construction; look for frames made out of hardwoods (maple, ash, and birch). Futon frames made out of hardwoods can be expected to give your futon frame a longer life and they are generally nicer looking frames. Solid hardwoods can also have very beautiful grain patterns that really set them apart from the softwood and metal futon frames. That isn’t to say that metal and softwood futon frames don’t have a place in the market, but they don’t have that nice classic feel you get with a solid hardwood futon frame. With wooden frames, take a good look at the construction, see how the frame is put together. I always tell my customers to look for frames that feature mortis and tennon construction as opposed to lap joints. Mortise and tennon joinery will provide a solid futon and extend the life of your frame.
Ok, we’ve been over the basics, now the last thing to consider, besides ‘Do I think this frame will look good with my paint color?’ is the warranty. Any frame worth its salt should have at least a five year warranty or even higher. Most of the manufacturers that I deal with have at least a five year warranty, some with a warranty for twelve years! That’s almost unheard of in the futon frame industry. If a manufacturer is willing to stand behind their product for that long, you should shop with confidence and know that you are going to get a great frame that will last you for years to come.
Well, thanks for stopping by to read my latest article and stay tuned for our next look at futon mattresses: natural fibers vs. high density foam.
Trifold futon mattresses are available in several sizes and made in a variety of materials. Trifold futon mattresses are flexible enough to be on a-frame style futon frames and supportive enough to sit / sleep on everyday.
If you’re looking for a sleek futon mattress that makes a great sofa and occasional guest bed, the Stratosphere futon mattress is for you. At seven inches thick, this medium soft futon mattress makes up for it’s size with it’s over stuffed foam core.
As some of you may know, in July of 2007 the Federal Government enacted new fire codes that apply to all mattresses and futons made after July 1st. Violet Township Fire Department, based in Ohio put the new mattress to the test, along with a mattress made in 2002 and an old mattress covered in a fire suppression cover.
The Verdict?
The New mattress had no fire penetration at 7 minutes. The protective cover also suppressed the flames. The mattress made in 2002 was burning uncontrollably at 9 minutes.
Note: Please do not attempt to duplicate this test under any circumstances.
This might just be a recurring theme, but I’ve seen quite a bit of traffic over the last few months from a site called “futon City”. Well, having seen Weird Al’s UHF, this made me think of Spatula City (not to sure what that says about my thought process). Anyhow, when I checked it out, I was disappointed. It was just another proxy site that runs adsence. Oh well.
Ok, most of you probably haven’t heard of the futon expo, but it is the High Point of futon retailers. Hundreds of futon manufacturers and distributors display their new wares in a mammoth convention center in Las Vegas twice a year, and this time I’ll be there. If any other retailers check out this blog, feel free to leave a comment about your favorite “futon expo” happenings.
If you’re in the market for matching side tables that are eco friendly our Solid Maple Tables are right for you. Made in Oregon out of sustainably harvested pacific maple, these tables are skillfully crafted and finished by hand.
Our faux suede, micro fiber futon covers are some of our more popular futon covers on the site. They are super soft, generally machine washable and wear extremely well. Swatches are available for all faux suede futon covers on the site.
