Folding Futon Bed
Today’s folding futon bed looks quite different from the Japanese futon that it was patterned after. Japanese futons are simply a sleeping cushion placed on the floor, with a duvet or comforter for warmth at night. During the day, both the cushion and coverlet are rolled up and stored. This provides extra living space, since Japan is a crowded country and the apartments are very small.
The American futon sofa bed grew out of this simple Asian concept to meet the unique demands of Westerners. At first, the futon mattress was placed on the floor like its Eastern counterpart. In the 1980s, futon manufacturers began to make futon frames to raise the bed off the floor. It was then that the possibility of developing an alternative to the clunky sofabed became a reality. Soon, everyone was making designs that could serve as a sofa by day and a bed by night. They were especially popular in New York, where the urban loft setting had its start, and where space was at a premium. However, the design ultimately found its way to every corner of the United States.
Right away, two futon bed frame approaches were developed.: the bi-fold and tri-fold. The first difference between the two is how many times the mattress is folded when the bed is converted from sleeping to upright position. The bi-fold futon frame only folds the mattress once, while the tri-fold futon frame folds the mattress twice. The second difference is which direction the frame folds the mattress. The bi-fold bends the mattress once down its length, while the tri-fold bends it twice across its width. The bi-fold futon bed has proven to be more popular because it looks more like a sofa when it’s folded and also provides more room for sitting.
Bi-fold futons have become the standard of the industry. The frames are made of metal or wood, or sometimes a combination of both.Wood futon frames are available in pine, ash, oak, teak, cherry and many others. You can choose a natural finish or an antique stain finish. Occasionally you can find a one with fabric upholstery. Today’s designs look just like sofas when folded up for the day. At night, guests will find it far superior in comfort to a hideaway sofa bed.
Folding futon beds come in a full range of sizes. Most people get a full size futon, which is the same size as a full size innerspring mattress (75” by 54”). Other sizes include king, queen, chair, cot, and loveseat. You can buy one to fit nicely in any size room in your house, and your guests will appreciate getting a good night’s sleep on a guest mattress that feels every bit as soft and inviting as the one they sleep on at home. If you shop online, you’ll find the top brands at the lowest prices.