Futon Buyer’s Guide for Futon Frames, FutonMattresses, and Futon Covers

If you’re shopping online for a futon frame, futon mattress, or futon cover, our convenient futonproducts buyer's guide can help you make the right choice, and save money. We created our Buyer's Guide to assist consumers navigate through hundreds of websites by applying our 15years of in the trenches experience in the retail futon industry. Should you buy a futon productonline, or try to find a retailer in your local neighborhood? What should you look for when buyinga futon? Right off the bat, there is a great resource for many futon topics that both retailers andcustomers can use. Futon Association International,www.futon.org, provides a store locator youcan use by entering your zip code. Members of FAI are typically involved dealers who followindustry trends, are dependable, and pay a hefty fee to join this elite organization, which keepsthem in the loop with futon frame manufacturers, fabrics for futon covers, futon mattresssuppliers, and more. Buying a futon from an FAI member in your area means that you willprobably have access to spare parts if you need them (a large mixed product furniture showroomdoes not specialize in futons, so aftermarket problems could be an issue) and they will more likelyoffer higher end futon frames and better quality mattresses and futon cover fabric selections.Another great resource online is Futon Life Online,www.futonlife.com/primer , which offersprimers and lots of basic information about the history of the futon industry and where it is today.The primer was written by Joe Tatulli, probably the most knowledgeable person in the retail futonbiz. Read it, and you will distill a lot of information and misinformation about the product. It isimportant to understand that when you are shopping for a futon, there are lots of “bells andwhistles” you may not need, and any good futon store salesperson or futon product website isgoing to try to sell you the most expensive package you can buy. Not to say that all salespeopleare evil, but if they are working on commission, it’s volume that counts. It's also expensive to shipfuton frames and mattresses from distant locations to you, so much of you pay (read more belowin our 5 Biggest Mistakes section) is actually for shipping costs and not for the futon frame or futon mattress you have just purchased.To give you an idea of what other people are spending to buy a futon frame and futon mattress,according to a poll by Futon Life Online, folks on average spend anywhere from $299-$799, withthe largest percentage of sales falling between $399-$499. This is most likely what you will payfor a fairly decent and reliable hardwood futon frame and a fairly high quality foam and cottonfuton mattress. The mattress will most contain a piece of high density foam (get one that has afoam section at least 2-3" thick, since you will experience settling with any futon mattress). Adecent futon cover with a good quality zipper, double sewn stitching, and an acceptable fabricweight, will cost you another $40-150, depending upon the fabric and quality. Our own site, whichspecializes in a wide price range of product,www.futoncoversonline.com, sells a large variety of futon covers with free shipping and the option to purchase matching pillows and bolsters as well.We also sell a top of the line futon mattress made by Otis Manufacturing, as well as a decentpromotional grade mattress if you don't want to dump a ton of money into something that is aguest bed, temporary sleeping arrangement, or for your kids playroom. A direct link to our mattress page:www.futoncoversonline.com/futon_mattress.htm.

Futon Frame Facts: How to Choose the Right Model and Style

There are three key ingredients to a futon couch: the frame, which is the base, usually craftedfrom wood, metal, or a combination of wood or metal, the futon mattress, and the futon cover which covers the mattress. Whether you are shopping online or in a retail storefront, you will findhundreds of frame styles to choose from. The best way to narrow down your choices is todetermine a few basic need factors. How much money you are willing to spend, where you aregoing to put the frame, and how often it will be used (is it for the guest room primarily to be usedas a couch and only occasionally as a bed?) should be considered in your selection. Expect to

spend at least $300-450 for a good quality hardwood frame, $250 for a pine frame that isconsidered promotional or “entry level” but still of good quality, and $200-225 for a basic tubesteel frame, although a well crafted contemporary designer type metal frame may cost you $450and up. A company called Innovations makes some really great metal frames with woodensupport slats, wheels, and even add-on fabric arms which fall within the higher price pointcategory.

Futon Frame Definitions: Bi-fold Vs. A-Frame or Tri-fold

bi-fold

futon frame looks just like a regular couch. The mattress lies on the long edge isperpendicular to the arms or ends , and when converting it from couch to bed, you typically pull itout from the front, and pull it up from the side or back to close it from bed back to couch. About95% of all futon frames sold are of this type, and it works well for most applications, because it iseasy to handle, and it seats 3-4 when in couch mode.

A tri-fold or A-frame style

futon frame has typically 3 sections, and the futon mattress oftenfolds over the top of the unit, so that when it unfolds, the long edge of the unit is parallel to thearms or ends, and it is more complicated and cumbersome to open and close, but the advantageis its ability to save space, since in a full or double size, for example, it consumes roughly 54” inrunning width (without the arms) whereas the bi-fold couch consumes the full length of themattress (we’ll use full or double size as an example again) of 75”. If you are looking for something inexpensive, for occasional use in a guest room, TV room, kidsroom, or basement, and you will rely on it for periodic use as a bed, but mostly for seating, buy ametal frame or pine lounger type either in bi-fold, or tri-fold (A-Frame) if you need a space-saver.If you are buying a pine frame, make sure it is Southern Yellow Pine. This is the only species of pine that can stand up to the daily opening and closing of a futon frame and its mechanism. If youcan get it, buy a Rubberwood futon frame, (Hevea brasiliensis), and you should not have tospend more than $250-300 maximum. If you pay more than that, you’re paying too much. If youdo plan on using the futon frame a lot, and you plan on moving frequently or you are placing thefuton frame in a high traffic area or in an environment with active children, or with dogs that gnaw,buy a metal futon frame. Again, the price will vary from $200 or so for a promotional metal tubefuton frame (Coaster Manufacturing makes some sturdy models) to $400-450 for a designer futonframe with a really decent enamel paint finish.

Futon Frames with Bells and Whistles

Remember that the one component of a futon frame that causes the price to rise, is the degree of sophistication of the arms. The guts of the futon frame are the same, the mechanical and movingparts identical all across the board, but the arm style may vary greatly. Some will be a simplisticMission style arm with not a whole lot of elbow room, and other models with have built inmagazine racks, hidden cubby holes for remote controls in the top of the arm, they may be madeof wicker or fabric, but none of them will make for a better quality frame..you are paying for aesthetics and design. There are new, hybrid style frames that look exactly like a conventionalsofabed beginning to showup in the marketplace. It is almost indistinguishable from a futon couchexcept for the price..it will be much more because of the upholstery costs..and, if you spillsomething on the fabric, you can’t change it out like you can with a futon cover!

The 5 Biggest Mistakes To Avoid When Buying A Futon Mattress Online

If you are considering purchasing a futon mattress, you may want to read the next fewparagraphs, to avoid making the mistake that hundreds of people make when shopping for whatthey believe is a good quality product. We've been in the futon business for over 11 years, andhave sold almost every brand made in the USA in our retail stores. Remember, that if you buy afuton mattress online, it is probably being drop-shipped from a vendor, and if the retailer you arebuying from does not have “in the trenches” experience with this kind of product, hands-on with

the mattress you are buying, chances are they’ve never even seen one in person, and probablyknow little more than you do about what you are buying.

Mistake #1: Buying The Cheapest Mattress You Can Find On The Internet

It goes without saying that you get what you pay for, but I promise you, when you are buying afuton mattress, nothing can be more truthful. If you are paying $100-200 for a futon mattress andit is advertised with free shipping, about $80-100 of what you are spending is being used for shipping costs, so the mattress you are buying has a value of about $60-80 at wholesale cost.This might buy you a very basic, promotional grade, entry level mattress with a poorer quality fillmaterial (which could be garment fiber or a blend of some cotton and garment fiber). To get adecent mattress, which should be a foam filled futon with very little fiber or cotton content (so itdoes not pack down), be prepared to pay $250-350 for something that will last for years rather than weeks, and will be far, far more comfortable than the basic model. Look at the dollars youare spending over a five year period of time, which is the truthful and accurate amount of time theaverage person keeps and uses the same futon mattress, before they get dirty and tattered fromspills and accidents. If you are spending even $500 on a really good mattress, that’s only $100per year, or about $10 per month!!

Mistake #2: Buying Unknown, “Knock-Off” Brands On E-Bay or From Small Stores ThatAre Not Properly Packaged For Shipping

Who you buy from will either come to haunt you or make you happy. Many people who have E-Bay stores, bulk buy promotional mattresses that may be improperly stored, may have gottenwet, and these vendors do not subscribe to State Laws governing Sanitary Bedding rules andpolicies. After all, you’re going to be sleeping on this mattress. We’ve heard stories aboutimproper packaging, using thin, Saran wrap style plastic sheeting, and mattresses showing up ondoorsteps covered with grease, mold, and soaking wet. Worse, getting hold of the shipper becomes a nightmare. This is compounded by the fact that almost all vendors do not allowreturns of futon mattresses because in most states, bed purchases are final. Make sure you’rebuying a mattress that is bagged, vacuum packaged, and properly sealed for the rough ride it willtake on a common carrier freight truck. Incidentally, we bag our premium mattresses in heavyplastic, remove the air, place the bag in a heavy box, strap the box, and ship it out.

Mistake #3: Buying So-Called Deluxe or Premium Futon Mattresses With Poor MaterialsUsed In Construction

Since very few people are foam experts, or know the difference between a good muslin cloth anda terry cloth towel, it’s hard to know what spending a little bit more money on a futon mattressreally gets you. Guess what, though...I can tell you. First, you want a mattress that is covered witha heavier, muslin material that resists ripping, tearing, and punctures..and stains. You wanttuftings all over the place. Tuftings are the dimples across the surface of a futon mattress that arecreated when a nylon (we use nylon, not cotton thread) thread connects one side of the mattressthrough to the other side, to prevent shifting of contents. If a futon mattress is not tufted, don’t buyit. A year from now, you will have a big bag of shifted contents, like a giant bean bag chair. Also,the foam used on the inside is the absolute key ingredient to the comfort of the futon...and the keyto it’s durability. High density foams, with good elastic quality, at least 2 lb. density foam,handstuffed, with a layer of either polyester fill to “buffer” and add a soft cush to the outer feel of the mattress is critical..and will add lifespan. Our Otis brand mattresses are bench built by hand,using all the ingredients talked about above. I have not found another company in 11 years thatstill completely hand makes their mattresses one by one, using top of the line ingredients.

Mistake #4: Buying A Mattress That Is Too Thin..or Advertised As One Thickness AndDelivered Much Thinner

Beware the company that advertises their “Premium 8 Mattress”, but amazingly, when it arrives,