What an extra large futon consists of is just more material.  Today, as we’ve discussed in other articles on this site, the futon is as well made and plush as the common type of mattresses that most people sleep on.  This is due to the fact that modern futons are made by larger manufacturers, the same ones that make those traditional mattresses.

When an athlete or someone who has other needs with regard to height or weight, the company can specially make a mattress that is suited for them.  The same process can be done with traditional mattresses, of course.  The reason is that an athlete’s futon mattress needs to be supportive – maybe even more so than the non-athlete some might say – because of their profession.  Since sleeping is such an important element of our biological process, this will ensure that their bodies – like ours – can rejuvenate, heal and rest until their next competition.

It is important not to overlook the benefit of this type of Zen bedroom appeal as well.  There are elements of Japanese design and decor that have qualities of restfulness and calm about them.  This is just another way that an athlete or any other individual can incorporate this type of platform bed design into their bedroom space.

If you’re not interested in a Japanese style bedroom, you can still have a futon and enjoy all of its comforts and conveniences.  Keep in mind that these specially manufactured futon beds will not likely be able to fold into a couch for seating.  In most cases, the twin or queen is the largest size of normal futon available.  To order one, you’ll have to contact one of the mattress manufacturers and ask them what their process is for special orders on these types of beds.  Hopefully, this addressed some of your questions about whether there was such a thing as futon mattresses for athletes and how to get one.  Best wishes to you and sleep well!

Shikibutons are typically cotton or wool stuffed mattresses, approximately 3 inches thick. The color schemes available are many, but, traditionally, muted colors are used.

They are used at night as a mattress to sleep on, and then traditionally hung out to beat and air in the morning sun.   Then, they can be rolled away or put somewhere for storage during the daytime. This allows the space in the room, which would normally be taken up by a bed and mattress set, to be used during the day.

An advantage of rolling it up and putting it away is that, when this is done, the fibers inside are stretched, which keeps the inside from clumping together. The shikibuton is also very easy to reposition, flip over, and clean.

These traditional mattresses are available in multiple sizes, matching the normal bedding sizes found in the West, such as twin, full and Queen sizes. So, though the shiki is an unconventional way of sleeping, any bedding that is already owned can be used to cover it.

While a shiki futon gives a nice, firm sleeping surface, they are not for people that require a plush or fluffy sleeping area. Since the betting lays close to the ground, as well, they would not be for people who have a difficult time getting out of bed.

However, it is possible to stack multiple shikibutons on top of each other, which will give an additional amount of comfort. This is not the way that they are used in many Asian cultures, but it could certainly be used this way.  Combined with cotton for the interior material, this gives the potential for surprising amount of softness.

Other materials typically used in shikibutons sold in the West, include organic cotton fibers, latex, synthetic fibers, or wool. When laying the mattress down, a mattress pad can go underneath the covers to give additional softness.

Shikibutons are also easy to care for, with some types even being machine washable. They can be very easily aired out, and, since the mattress will be rotated and flipped regularly, there will be no parts of it that are more worn than others. This will increase the lifetime of it dramatically.

Purchasing a Japanese futon mattress would be a great first step in getting involved in the traditional Japanese style of decorating a home, and will allow you to take advantage of the many benefits that sleeping on a shiki futon can give.

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This is what we refer to as the 'elegant futon chair'.

other words, the same great qualities that you know and love about your sofa-bed can be found in chair form as well.

Before we talk specifically about their qualities and styles, it might be helpful to realize that there are a wide variety of applications for having one in the home. Your particular use might be more for a home office or den where you can accommodate a guest on short notice. However, you might also be someone who enjoys a little afternoon rest in a cozy little nook of your home with a book and a cup of tea nearby. The chair futon can also be a great option in a child’s room for the occasional – or frequent – sleepover guest. Paired with one of the futon bunk beds on the market and you can actually get quite a bit of extra sleeping space in a relatively small room.

Styles of the Futon Chair

The styles range from the simple to the elegant. What we would call ‘simple’ means that the chair resembles a very basic style of futon unit – essentially, the mattress folded over that fits on a wooden slat frame structure. The twin or single is what is used for these chairs.

This is a more modern looking futon chair bed.

In some cases, the chair takes on more of a chaise lounge style or like one of those old day bed looks. In more elegant styles, the chair has a more formal look about it; proper arm rests and a back and really resembles a chair more than it does a fold-away bed. For the latter of these two styles, you can expect to pay somewhere between $250-500 USD. They come in a variety of wood choices and stains as well as covers for the chair mattress. Just like with any futon cover, these can be cleaned and come in a variety of styles to suit your home decor.

Chair Function

While the main functions are obvious, sitting or sleeping, we can take just a minute to highlight some of their benefits. While you might be looking for one only to use in a guest room, as you just read, the more elegant looking chairs can be displayed and used comfortably in your living room. The more relaxed or simple style of chair can fit right in with a retro or post-modern decor theme and allow for great lounging. You can even pull this one outdoors in the right season to enjoy some great outdoor living with yours. Enjoying futon chairs is as easy as what you have come to expect from the flexible and adaptable futon.

These covers will guard the futon mattress, as well as allowing the owner to express their decorative skills. Futon furniture styles have come a long way since they first made the long journey to the U.S. from Japan in the 1980′s. They were perfect for college dorm rooms or crowded apartments that needed to maximize the usefulness of every bit of living space. They became associated with people just starting out in the world and who were on a tight budget for furnishings. Now, futons have experienced a renaissance as chic decorating suggestions by classy home decorating publications. They are welcome in fine homes and now include options of superior latex mattresses and matching latex pillow. Manufacturers have created new futons that appeal to lovers of fine things. They have upped the quality of construction and the strength and artistic variety of the frames that now often are extremely decorative and suit many styles.

Futon mattresses are currently manufactured using the finest materials and workmanship, using the latest and most up to date manufacturing techniques. The availability of these superior futons has enlarged the market for them, since they come in so many different styles, and the covers for them are so elegant, colorful and perfect for any home or home. The beauty of the futon is its usefulness as both a bed and an attractive couch for the living room. They make the perfect home addition for those who need an extra bed on occasion for a guest, but need to use the guest room space when not entertaining. This multiple-use capability makes them especially valuable for furnishing small areas. When not converted to a bed they can then provide seating in the home or office areas where additional seating and attractive furnishings are a plus.

Care of Your Lovely Futon

Whether the main purpose for purchasing a futon was as a couch or bed, or regular use as both, the appearance and lifespan will both receive great benefit from futon covers. Most futon mattresses are manufactured from materials such as foam and cotton which will readily absorb any liquids, whether human perspiration, oils or spilled drinks and food. The cover not only shields the futon from stains but from damage caused by sharp or heavy objects possibly causing a rip in the mattress. The mattress can stay clean and looking like new.

Economical

You may choose to invest your money in the latex futon mattress topper. However, in order to protect your futon and receive many more years of use, futon covers make a smart, cost effective purchase. They are very reasonably priced, from as little as $20 up to the larger and more decorative ones that could be $300. When you investigate the variety of covers available you will be delighted with the incredible selection in any style, color and price range you could desire to coordinate with your home or room’s color scheme, decor theme and your budget.

Simple to Use and Maintain

Makers have ensured that their futon covers will give convenient use as well as long use. They are designed to come off the furniture and wash easily so they can be used again and again, and the mattress constantly feel refreshed to the user. Many include a zipper that goes around the perimeter so that it can fit snugly around the mattress but be easy to unzip and take off, then put back on and zip tightly shut. Some use buttons for securing the cover to the mattress, but the security is only as good as the buttons which can get loose. The beauty of covers is that the instant a child drops their drink or the dog jumps on it with muddy paws, you can whisked it off, launder and put it back on. The covers may be hand washable if made of certain materials; many are machine washable, a great advantage to the homemaker who otherwise would constantly worry about accidents by the kids and the family dog.

Decorating Versatility

The advantages of a futon for decorating are many. The furniture makes an extremely attractive sofa and can be purchased in a style that matches any decorating preference, or to coordinate with any existing furniture. Then, if needed, rather than rent furniture or put up a guest on an uncomfortable couch, it becomes a very comfortable bed with a very comfortable mattress, such as a natural latex mattress. If the owner decides to locate the futon to a different room, the simple addition of a new cover can allow the futon to coordinate perfectly with the new room, as if she had purchased a new futon. You can switch the couch covers to suit the occasion, such as brighter colors around certain holidays. Covers come in different fabrics that can give the futon a totally different look. A den where teenage friends gather may want a more rugged look. When the cover wears out or you cannot wash out the stains anymore, simply replace it and the futon stays clean and fresh for use. Replacing covers is a wonderful decorating advantage over replacing an entire piece of furniture.

Fabrics for Futon Covers

You can find any desired look for your futon in the incredible variety of fabric types and styles, from real leather and suede to faux leather and suede, from vinyl to silk or denim and any other fabric imaginable. The fabric should be selected according to the use – an easy to clean material for one that is going to get lots of use by the family animals or by active teenagers; an elegant one for special occasions such as the suede or silk material that feels so wonderful to the touch. A leather cover makes the futon into an impressive leather couch. Since the futon’s cover is not like upholstering that cannot be removed, a new look is just a quick cover change away. The covers can create a comfy, inviting ambiance, a party atmosphere or make a statement if in leather or silk or other eye-catching designs and styles available. The covers can change as tastes and needs change.

For those who want to go green, there are covers made from organic materials such as hemp. These organic futon covers are especially helpful when the futon is used to furnish a bedroom. Since they are free of chemical dyes and artificial materials, they will not cause allergies or emit any strange odors from chemicals. They use only natural dyes, and cotton grown without the use of pesticides. If you know the futon is likely experience water or drink spillage, or is where the pool users will be entering the house and sitting down, then you want a cover that is waterproof to preserve the mattress. Covers are available for those who are very sensitive to allergies, with totally non-allergenic materials that will deter dust mites from occupying the mattress. The mites leave residues that are frequently the cause of skin problems and allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to allergens.

Color and Style Choices

The popularity of futons has encouraged manufacturers to market a wonderful array of futon covers in every color and style. Every individual can indulge their own personal preference and artistic bent. They can change their futon with their mood by just turning the cover over; many are reversible. One side may be one color, the other side a fun pattern. Futon covers are easy to find, with ample selections of sizes and colors but for those who have a special decorating need, or want a themed cover for a special occasion, they can be custom made. There are fabric samples available to choose from so you can pick out the perfect shade and fabric texture to suit some special occasion, or to perfectly coordinate with a different piece of furniture. One popular new design idea is covers with skirts attached to them. The nest effect is to make the futon look like a piece of upholstered furniture, by adding a skirt to both the front and the back of the bed frame. The cover can either be used to completely conceal the frame front and back, or it can be pushed below the mattress in front to display just the frame’s front.

Sizing the Cover

Most covers will fit mattresses up to 8 inches deep. If your furniture’s mattress is 6 to 8 inches, the standard cover size will work. If you have an extra thick mattress, perhaps 9 to 10 inches, you may have to special order the size from the maker. You will need to specify the exact measurements of your mattress so that the manufacturer can make a cover that will fit as you wish. Measurements for a cover include just the mattress, not the entire piece of furniture. The mattress covers come in the standard sizes of twin, full and queen; king is rarer. There are futons made that serve as baby cribs, sofa ottomans or loveseats and chairs, and covers are available for these furniture styles also. The only difficulty will be narrowing down the different colors and styles and making the final selection. The variety can make owning a futon an even richer and more satisfying experience for the home owner, who, with each new cover, has an unlimited number of futons to decorate their home.

Look at the photo to get a better idea of what it is that we’re talking about. While you are certainly not unfamiliar with the concept of a bunk bed, there are some specific features that may make a futon bunk even more of an attractive option. There are also several different styles of these bunks available making them even more suitable for a host of different bedroom arrangements. We’ll discuss those different options here as well.

To begin with, let’s discuss some of the main features that make a futon bunk bed a better choice than a traditional mattress bunk. For the most part, the reason has to do with the futon mattress itself. Because of the wide variety of enhancements in mattress design and materials, the futon has some unique advantages. There is the traditional futon mattress material like a foam core with cotton or wool wrapped batting. This is probably the least expensive kid’s futon option and can give a child a very supportive and comfortable sleeping environment. Just make sure that your child’s mattress is made of the higher quality foam and that the cotton-poly blend or wool is thick enough to maintain its shape and padding over time. What gave the older futons their bad rap was the way that they would flatten out rather quickly, leaving you with the ability to feel the futon bed frame itself digging into your back. We all know how those sofa-couches have that notorious metal bar that jabs into your back – avoid this problem at all costs!

The most popular style of the futon bunk is with a twin futon mattress up top and the same size futon bed down below. The one below is the sofa-bed style that has made the futon such a comeback in recent years. There are additional styles as well, as alluded to above.

There are also loft style bunks. These are similar to the full size mattresses above, on an elevated frame, with space below. Often, this area can be used for a desk or other storage area. It makes for an elevated bed and a way to keep the other items that accumulate in a child’s room out of the way when not in use.

The last type of futon bunk is quite similar to the ‘original’ model but it uses a twin up top and a full size futon below. This allows for an older or taller child to sleep on the bed below.

All of these traditional bunk bed styles range in price, depending on the type and size of mattress, in addition to the bed frame materials and brand. However, they are roughly in the $350 – 750 USD range. In a child’s room, the bottom sofa-bed portion can be used as an area for friends to hang out on when playing. In this situation, you’ll want to make sure it is covered to be protected as much as possible. There are futon covers that are made especially with a child or teenager’s interests in mind. You can find these covers in a variety of colors and themes to match most any type of decor or bedroom theme. Since you know about the futon bunk bed, maybe you are ready to consider a futon chair purchase as well. These chairs can further compliment a room with a bunk or make an adult’s room or study more flexible as well.

Photo credit

Some organic cotton ready to be used for your futon.

place where we rest our heads each night should be as healthy as any other.  This is especially true if we are talking about a child’s bed.  Photo credit

Your kid’s bed is the place where they will fuel up and heal and do all the other magical things that happen to the body with restful sleep.  The last thing that you would want is for you or your child to be breathing in toxic fumes or gasses each night.  Of course you don’t want this, however, you might not even know it exists.  There has been a large trend in children toward more cases of asthma and allergies than ever before.  The scariest part about it is that we don’t always know why this is the case.  There are theories and we know that air pollution, pollens and other airborne issues are part of the problem, but this is not the complete answer.  The real question is what can you do to help with the outcome.

One thing you can do is use as clean a bed as possible.  Clean not in terms of having the sheets washed thoroughly, though this helps, but having the mattress be as healthy as possible.  This is often referred to as a natural mattress.  It is really nothing more than a mattress constructed of materials that have not been treated with chemical agents to make them more easily grown or processed.  There are other ‘natural’ choices, too, like a latex futon mattress made of natural materials.  Another term for this could be organic.

This organic futon looks just like any other - it's what it's made of that matters.

In this case, an organic cotton futon is a very feasible and popular choice.  While these are not quite yet the mainstream way to buy a mattress, they soon could be.  If you knew how healthy organic mattresses were, you would be more than willing to pay slightly more for them.  In terms of a conventional organic mattress, the price tag might be in the thousands, not hundreds, even for a queen.  If we’re talking about a futon mattress that is constructed of organically grown cotton or other organic materials, like hemp, the cost is still higher than that of a traditional futon, but much less than the conventional style.  An organic queen size futon is more likely to fall within the $500 USD range – much less than a traditional bed!

Just like with our foods, organic properties ensure that at least you are starting with a chemical free product.  This doesn’t mean that you will end up with something that is completely free from agents that may or may not affect sensitive folks, but the chances are much more in your favor going organic.  A natural mattress implies that these materials were harvested and grown in a way that Mother Earth intended.

There are also organic clothing items that are reported to help people in the same way that we are discussing here.  So, whether you fear the off-gassing that has been anecdotally reported to cause a wide range of health disturbances or you just want to get a great night’s sleep resting your head down on an all natural mattress, maybe even covered in organic bedding, either choice ends with a great result.  You can’t go wrong with a natural organic cotton futon as your primary bed or in a child’s room.

When it comes to topics that are near and dear to people’s hearts, it is hard not to include great sleeping on that list.  And if you are wanting deep, peaceful sleep, then I would recommend a futon mattress as a great choice.  We will discuss why through this article and on this site.  If you find that you have a particular question about owning a new futon, search our site.  I’m sure it is covered somewhere.

One of the most important ideas regarding your sleeping futon will be its comfort.  This seems like an obvious statement but it actually encompasses several points.  One of the greatest steps that has taken place more recently has been the comparability between traditional and futon mattresses.  In other words, in the past you would have had to sacrifice some of the modern comfort conveniences to own a more flexible option in the futon.  Now, this simply is not the case.

A Futon Has Much More In The Way Of Convenience Than A Traditional Mattress

If you are new to the futon world, then you might only be aware of the old notion of what they were for.  In the past, these beds were relegated to the college dorm room or poor student set.  Now, because of the advances we will get to in a moment and because of the flexibility that a sofa-sleeper allows, they have come back in vogue.

Probably the most arguable point in favor of owning a futon-sofa-couch is its ease of use and convenience.  When you do a fair amount of entertaining or hosting, it is likely that you may have some unexpected overnight guests.  This is not a problem with a futon sofa-sleeper type bed.  This can easily convert from couch at the party to bed for the evening.  And, the best part is, it does not lose anything in the way of comfort doing so.  If you have ever been a guest at someone’s home who had one of these fold-out couch beds you know how that bar always seems to hit you right in the middle of the back making a good night’s sleep all but impossible.  Not so with a futon bed.  These are very comfortable and easy to convert.  No worry about removing the cushions, folding it out, getting the sheets on, stooping over or stubbing your toes or banging your knees on that hard metal frame.

Another Thing To Consider Is Futon Mattress Material Options

You might be thinking that this is where the old traditional mattress will win out.  Granted, there are definitely more options in general when it comes to brands and models of the normal types.  However, what has happened is that the manufacturing of mattress materials have changed quite a bit and this has allowed for greater parity between the two.  Where you once only had access to spring coils in a traditional bed, now is offered in futon styles.  The futon mattress actually has the lead in some categories now!  They also have more natural materials offered at reasonable prices, as well as memory foam and toppers.

A futon mattress will help avoid feeling like you're sleeping on a bed of nails.

You could look long and hard for the downside, but you may come up noticeably shorter these days.  The old futon that had problems with flattening out after just a little use and becoming landfill material with a short life span is gone.  The in-fill now is made with better quality and longer lasting materials.  I never thought I would see the day of the individually wrapped inner coil spring futon bed mattress.

Many of the more traditionally produced mattresses contain chemical agents either used in production or for fire resistance that can cause some people health problems.  Many times, this is due to the off gassing created by these volatile compounds being released into the home and, specifically, breathing them in while your head is rested and sleeping for hours.  Since, they make crib mattresses this way too, if you are looking for your child, you might consider this.

The Traditional Japanese Futon Mattress

No initial discussion about futons would be complete if we didn’t mention a bit about the history of this type of mattress.  In a traditional sense, the development of the futon was from a floor-sleeping type of approach.  That is to say, there was a mat – tatami – that was used beneath the mattress itself.  This mattress portion of the futon is called the shiki or shikibuton or shiki futon.  Then, there is an often quilted, soft upper cover portion.  This piece is known as the kake or kakebuton or kakefuton.  So, what you would have is a two part system that would combine these to give you a traditional Japanese futon mattress.  There is more history to this futon story, but you can read more about that by following the link above.  The point is that we have adopted the futon and then adapted it to fit our own Western lifestyle.  There is nothing wrong with change, in fact, it is sometimes how the most innovative home products come about.

One Closing Thought About Your Futon Mattress

Because of the nature of the flexibility of a futon bed, you may be researching one as a sofa-sleeper for an additional room or as your main sleeping bed in your master bedroom.  In each case, a different type of frame could be considered.  Because most temporary guest sleeping arrangements require a smaller sized bed, the frame will usually only afford you the flexibility of some minor storage of magazines and such or have armrests.  On the other hand, if you go with a queen or king size, you can opt for more elaborate headboard designs that incorporate various shelving and storage.  Likewise, the futon frame itself could lend itself to storage options.  So, the next time you hear the words “futon mattress”, you don’t have to think that someone is short changing their guests.  They might actually be designing quite a flexible yet comfortable and elegant space.

I’m sure that you already know that there are many different styles of futon mattresses available on the market.  If not, we’ll introduce you to some of those here.  If you did know this, then maybe you are just looking for a little more clarity on which one might be the best choice for you.  Hopefully, you’ll have a better idea by the end of this article as well.

Futons come in the ‘older’ cotton, poly, and wool blended foam infills as they always have.  These styles are more often than not the most inexpensive ones. These are the ones that used to get such a bad rap back when they first appeared on the market in the West.  You see, futons have been used for hundreds of years in Asian countries.  They are most popular in Japan and it is the traditional style of mattress there.  However, the Japanese futon mattress is actually quite a bit different than the style we use in the West.

The Traditional Japanese Futon

A traditional looking Japanese room with futons.

The traditional futon consists of two parts:  an upper quilted part called the kake-buton and the bottom, mattress portion, is called the shiki-buton.  The way that this system works is that they are both laid on a mat, a tatami, and slept on.  In the morning, they are both beaten, traditionally with a bamboo cane, to clean and then aired out to dry.  This allows them to be refreshed each morning.  It also allows the room in which they were used to be open and ready for other needs.  It is part of the lifestyle in countries like Japan where a more minimalist design is appreciated.  Photo credit

Like with many great designs, they become adapted over the years and with different cultures.  This is just as true with the traditional mattresses as it is with futon design.  In the West, we have taken the futon and made it into a more functional piece of furniture.  Here, we use them as both sofa-couches as well as beds.  The types of bed frames that can be used with a futon vary as well; we’ll discuss this below.   

The style of mattress that we have built is a stretch from this traditional style.  What we done is make them more like a conventional mattress; adding inner coil springs, memory foam and even toppers.  So, the futon of today is nothing like the kind that you may remember from your high school or college days.  The reason why those got such a bad reputation was because of poor infill materials leading to a very thin mattress that quickly flattened.  This ultimately led to the mattress being uncomfortable and non-supportive, as well as having the bed frame pressing into your back.  It wouldn’t be too uncommon to wake up with back pains or other aches related to sleeping on a poor quality mattress.

Futon Bed Frames

The more common types of frames are made of wood.  Some manufacturers or mattress stores will include a bed frame with your purchase.  These are often less desirable in terms of quality, but this is not always the case.  Some frames are made of tubular steel and powder coated to help them resist rusting or corrosion that could damage your futon cover.

A custom mahogany frame with storage.

You can always have a custom bed frame built just for you.  These will almost always be more durable and fit your needs and specifications more precisely.  Often, these incorporate storage or shelving.  They may also include headboards and or other unique features like under-mattress storage.

These frames are typically found in bi-fold or tri-fold styles.  The difference in frames comes down to how they will be folded to create the sofa position.  It affects the mattress as well.  It will be much simpler to purchase a futon that you plan on using more for a sofa to get a tri-fold design.  The reason behind this is that it can fold easily into a smaller profile and the mattress will be made of the more flexible materials, like cotton and wool, with the foam inserts.  Photo credit

If, on the other hand, you plan on using your futon as your primary sleeping arrangement, then you can utilize either a bi-fold frame or a fixed-platform bed frame.  The material used for such a mattress could be one with the inner-coil springs or have a thicker profile.  This is what you should consider to make the mattress a more comfortable and longer lasting one.

It is still more likely that your conventionally manufactured mattress will last longer than a futon.  Some factors that go into this are the in-fill materials, synthetic fabrics and the frame of the mattress itself.  More often than that, however, you will likely be considering a futon mattress as a secondary sleeping situation or for extra seating in a home office or entertainment room.

Alternative Futon Bed Choices

If you share the concerns of many about these off-gassing ideas and threats, then you should examine some of the different alternative forms of futon beds and mattresses.  These include things like the organic cotton futon and materials made with hemp.  The organic cottons are the easiest to come by and have the  most trusted names in the field supporting them.  The materials like hemp, bamboo and even choices like wool or latex foam are also available.

You might even be considering a kid’s futon for your child’s first ‘big boy’ or ‘big girl’ bed.  This is an exciting time for both the parents and child, so it should be a special bed.  The more popular choices for these first beds are the themed beds; cartoon characters, movies, or playful frames made of race cars, princess carriages and the like.  These are more for the child than the parent, but the mattress is an important thing to consider as well. Another option is a bunk.  There are futon bunk beds that serve the same function and work in just the same way as a traditional bunk bed does.  This could have also been included in the discussion of the futon frames above.

You can start with a twin and move up to a full futon when they grow or their room space allows.  There are many options here and considering which one is the healthiest way to rest your little one’s head down on each night is of the utmost importance.  Research does show how important sleep is and it is even more important for it to be free of gaseous by-products and other harmful chemical residues, regardless if it is for you or your child.

Cost

One main factor affecting cost will be the size of the mattress.  The smaller it is, like a twin, the less expensive.  There are queen size futons, but you will be harder pressed to find a king size mattress in this style.  There are custom orders available for larger individuals, though.  In fact, you might be surprised to know that many athletes prefer futons because they can be custom ordered to fit them.

For the more simple versions of this type of bed, you can think in terms of the low $100s USD.  This would include styles that are made of just cotton, cotton-poly’s and wools with the various styles of foam padding.  For a more luxurious type of futon, with inner coiled springs, memory foam, toppers and the like, you can expect to pay upwards of $500 USD or more.  Also, you’ll pay more for the organic cotton futon beds and the alternative materials because they just aren’t as heavily sought after as of yet.  These things will change as well.

As your browse around, consider what it is that you really want to use your futon for and then find the manufacturer or site that can best deliver that for you.  Brand names, such as Sealy™, Simmons™ and Beautyrest™ all make futon mattresses, so you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable with the quality that is available.  Also, you can shop the larger online retailers like Amazon and Ebay to find a better deal.  Thanks for stopping by and get a good night’s rest.

Originally, futons were made of only cotton or wool.  Then, there were also mattress infill materials that were made of a cheaper foam material.  Not only did this material have issues with allergies and been implicated in other health-related issues for sensitive people, but it is simply not durable.  This foam would often become flat or lose its supportive nature in a short period of time.  While the cotton and wool were more natural choices, they too can suffer from some of these ‘flattening’ issues over time.

Latex Futon Mattress and the Traditional Futon

So, now here we are, several decades later with our modern versions of the futon.  Keep in mind that in places like Japan and other Asian countries still use a more traditional Japanese futon.  These have a two-part futon made of an upper, quilted topper and a lower mattress component.  The futon as a convertible bed-sofa is an invention of the West.  This isn’t a bad thing, it just goes to show where we’ve gone in search of a better night’s sleep.  The newer materials like latex, a hypo-allergenic product, are making many people sleep better at night.  Some latex mattresses and pillows have made supportive sleep are reality for many people who struggle with getting a good night’s sleep.  While these mattresses are made wholly of latex and the pillows too, there are ways of benefiting from this material and not have your entire mattress made of it.

How this is possible is because some of these same technologies have been employed in the futon mattresses that major mattress manufacturers produce today.  The larger companies have realized that there has been a big shift in thought and perception regarding the futon.  These particular futons often layers of the cotton or wool materials wrapped around a latex foam core.  This gives the futon superior comfort and much more support.  There is also a latex mattress topper that can be a great solution for this type of mattress.  If you’re looking for a better night sleep, consider the latex futon mattress.

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I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the Japanese futon has been completely adopted, because certain aspects have definitely been changed for our tastes.  For example, the thickness of the mattress and how it basically goes together is a bit different.  In fact, the Japanese style has two parts, one of which is the mattress and the other part is the quilted upper piece.  These are both used in combination with a mat, a tatami, for the traditional sleeping or bedroom arrangement.

The Japanese bedroom invites the outdoors in.

Just because this is the traditional or classic way of using a futon, it does not mean that you have to adopt this exact style in your home.  If you have an Asian-inspired theme to your home or room in question, then by all means it may make perfect sense.  However, with bedding, you have many options with which to work.

The futon mattress is a great place to start for bedding because they are quite simple in design and will usually take on whatever style is being used with them.  So, for example if you choose to have an Asian themed room, the bedding can be traditional in both colors and patterns.  Now, we would need to define what type of Asian culture you are looking to emulate, as they do vary.

However, for the sake of this article, let’s talk briefly about Japanese design.  With this, simplicity and elegance are the goals.  But, rather than seek elegance from overstated pieces and eccentric looks, the Japanese style is more simple and refined. Clean lines and a limited color palette are more classic.  New trends emerge, but this is what has been most characteristic of this culture.

So, imagine a simple vase on a bookshelf, maybe a small sculpture on a nightstand with a simple light.  Prints in this room might be of landscapes or a modern image.  Colors would typically include, reds, whites and blacks.  Rich looking woods like cedar and teak tones are also appreciated, though a lighter pine works well also.

As far as the bedding goes, let your Japanese futon mattress dictate the answer there.  Based upon your other artwork and themes in the room, let your simple tastes flow.  Don’t worry about matching a specific piece to this or that.  Let the overall design of the room flow more organically.  This will help your Asian bedding appear to be more of natural part of your overall theme.

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