Futon Mattress

A futon mattress gives you the option of chemical-free sleeping and dual-purpose furniture. Many, though not all, futon mattresses are made of natural, and often organic, materials; that makes for a healthier night’s sleep. Often futons serve a double purpose of both seating and sleeping, when folded or unfolded. But there are futon mattresses that are only for sleeping. The function and material determines its thickness and somewhat controls the construction.


Futons are a great way to make the most of a small space. They can be used in many different places, including studio apartments, teen rooms, or even family rooms. The great thing about a futon is that it works as a couch, but it can be easily converted to a bed, either for every night sleeping or for only when you have guests. One of the most important parts of a futon is, of course, the futon mattress. How do you find the futon mattress that will work best for you?

If you are buying a convertible futon, think about how it works. It is important to remember that whichever mattress you choose will need to be able to fold to make the futon into a sofa or chair (depending on the size). That is why you can’t use an conventional mattress on your futon frame. You want the thickest mattress available that is still able to fold when you want to reconfigure it to a couch. The weight of the mattress is also something that you need to consider because it will be more difficult to maneuver the futon with a heavy mattress.

A futon that won’t be folded into a sofa is a frame that holds the futon off the ground. These frames tend to be slats but may be a solid surface. These frames can look like any conventional frame with headboards, or more contemporary with no adornment.

Futon mattresses usually are made of cotton, foam, or a combination of materials, though silk and wool can be used as well. Learning about these materials will help you determine which will work best for you and for your situation. Quality foam will hold up well to being folded and unfolded, as it will spring right back into shape. So, if you are going to be using the futon as a bed and couch daily then this may be what you need.

Cotton mattresses more often now (as apposed to the futon mattresses of the 70s and 90s) have some kind of innerspring support in them and they will hold up quite well, too, although you may begin to feel some of the springs after a while if you do not get a quality mattress. And combination materials will let you take advantage of their combined benefits to give you the futon mattress of your choice. A futon mattress that is eight to nine inches thick is ideal for everyday use.

Another important aspect of most futon mattresses is that they are generally are made of natural, often organic, materials, meaning you get a healthy night’s sleep. Your body is doing its repair work as you sleep, and providing clean air, free of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and chemicals will give you support for your repair cycle.

There are different styles of futons, and therefore of futon mattresses. They come in wood and metal frames, with and without arms, and with different slat arrangements to provide support and breathing for the futon mattress. And some futons don’t have a frame at all, but are segments of mattress, encased in a cotton cover that is sewn into distinct cases but sewn together such that the cushions fold up into a tidy package for easy storage, and for easy deployment as a mattress. And futon mattresses come in all sizes, including twin, double (or full), queen and king (though the king size futon mattress is rarely the kind that folds up, but merely sits on its platform frame).

A futon frame can fold in a variety of ways, meaning the mattress will either double over on itself or over the back of the sofa, once the frame is folded. Some futons frames hold the mattress lengthwise, so the mattress only has to fold up to a 90-ish degree angle.

One futon frame style has double action; the back and seat fold at an angle to each other, and the section that supports the foot of the bed slides in and out of the sofa seat. The mattress is made of two segments; one third is separate and is removed when the sofa is folded up, and is replaced when the sofa is folded out to be a bed.

Futon mattresses can be found in any price range, but remember that in many cases, the more that you spend now means the longer that it will hold up. Check the warranty to see how much confidence the company has in their mattress. This should be a clear indication to you, the consumer, of the quality of the futon mattress.

Futon mattresses wear out much quicker than regular bed mattresses when they are folded and unfolded and are used more frequently because they of their double function of sleeping and sitting surface. That is why you will want to give your futon mattress a little more care than a conventional bed mattress. It is a good idea to flip and turn your futon mattress each time that you change your sheets to help them to wear a little more evenly. You also may want to consider a futon mattress cover to help protect the mattress from stains and spills. Vacuuming and cleaning the mattress regularly, along with turning it, will help it to last as long as possible.

Buying a futon mattress is very important, as you will spend a lot of time on it both sitting and/or sleeping on it. That is why you will want to make sure that you choose a futon mattress that is comfortable and that will last for a while. Becoming a more informed consumer will enable you to find the mattress that you will be satisfied with for a long time. Analyze your needs and the situation the futon is being used for, to make sure you fulfill your needs. They are good for small spaces, and for the health conscious.