Futon Buyers Guide For Futon Frames,
Mattresses, And
Covers
If you're shopping online for a futon frame,
futon mattress, or futon cover, our convenient futon products 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 15 years of in the trenches experience in the
retail futon industry. Should you buy a futon product online, or try to
find a retailer in your local neighborhood? What should you look for when
buying a futon?Right off the bat, there is a
great resource for many futon topics that both retailers and customers can
use. Futon Association International, www.futon.org, provides a store locator
you can use by entering your zip code. Members of FAI are typically
involved dealers who follow industry trends, are dependable, and pay a
hefty fee to join this elite organization, which keeps them in the loop
with futon frame manufacturers, fabrics for futon covers, futon
mattress suppliers, and more. Buying a futon from an FAI member in your
area means that you will probably have access to spare parts if you need
them (a large mixed product furniture showroom does not specialize in
futons, so aftermarket problems could be an issue) and they will more
likely offer 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
offers primers 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 futon biz.
Read it, and you will distill a lot of information and misinformation
about the product. It is important to understand that when you are
shopping for a futon, there are lots of "bells and whistles" you may not
need, and any good futon store salesperson or futon product website is
going to try to sell you the most expensive package you can buy. Not to
say that all salespeople are evil, but if they are working on commission,
it's volume that counts. It's also expensive to ship
futon frames and mattresses from distant locations to you, so much of
you pay (read more below in 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, with the largest percentage of
sales falling between $399-$499. This is most likely what you will pay for
a fairly decent and reliable hardwood futon frame and a fairly high
quality foam and cotton futon mattress. The mattress will
most contain a piece of high density foam (get one that has a foam
section at least 2-3" thick, since you will experience settling with any
futon mattress). A decent futon cover with a good quality zipper, double
sewn stitching, and an acceptable fabric weight, will cost you another
$40-150, depending upon the fabric and quality. Our own site, which
specializes 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 decent
promotional grade mattress if you don't want to dump a ton of money into
something that is a guest bed, temporary sleeping arrangement, or for your
kids playroom. A direct link to our mattress page: www.futoncoversonline.com/futonmattress.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 crafted from 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 find
hundreds of frame styles to choose from. The best way to narrow down your
choices is to determine a few basic need factors. How much money you are
willing to spend, where you are going to put the frame, and how often it
will be used (is it for the guest room primarily to be used as 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 is considered promotional or "entry level" but still
of good quality, and $200-225 for a basic tube steel frame, although a
well crafted contemporary designer type metal frame may cost you $450 and
up. A company called Innovations makes some really great metal frames with
wooden support slats, wheels, and even add-on fabric arms, that fall
within the higher price point category.
Futon Frame
Definitions: Bifold Vs. A-Frame or Tri-fold
A bifold futon
frame looks just like a regular couch. The mattress lies on the long edge
is perpendicularto the arms
or ends , and when converting it from couch to bed, you typically pull it
out from the front, and pull it up from the side or back to close it from
bed back to couch. About 95% of all futon frames sold are of this type,
and it works well for most applications, because it is easy to handle, and
it seats 3-4 when in couch mode.
A trifold or A-frame style futon frame has
typically 3 sections, and the futon mattress often folds over the top of
the unit, so that when it unfolds, the long edge of the unit is parallel
to the arms or ends, and it is more complicated and cumbersome to open and
close, but the advantage is its ability to save space, since in a full or
double size, for example, it consumes roughly 54" in running width
(without the arms) whereas the bifold couch consumes the full length of
the mattress (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, kids room, or basement, and you will rely on
it for periodic use as a bed, but mostly for seating, buy a metal frame or
pine lounger type either in bifold, or trifold (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 you can
get it, buy a Rubberwood futon frame, (Hevea brasiliensis), and you should
not have to spend more than $250-300 maximum. If you pay more than that,
you're paying too much. If you do plan on using the futon frame a lot, and
you plan on moving frequently or you are placing the futon 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 tube futon frame (Coaster Manufacturing makes some
sturdy models) to $400-450 for a designer futon frame 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
moving parts identical all across the board, but the arm style may vary
greatly. Some will be a simplistic Mission style arm with not a whole lot
of elbow room, and other models with have built in magazine racks, hidden
cubby holes for remote controls in the top of the arm, they may be made of
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 conventional sofabed beginning to
showup in the marketplace. It is almost indistinguishable from a futon
couch except for the price..it will be much more because of the upholstery
costs..and, if you spill something 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 few paragraphs, to avoid making the
mistake that hundreds of people make when shopping for what they
believe is a good quality product. We've been in the futon business
for over 11 years, and have sold almost every brand made in the USA
in our retail stores. Remember, that if you buy a futon mattress
online, it is probably being drop-shipped from a vendor, and if the
retailer you are buying 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
probably know 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 a futon mattress,
nothing can be more truthful. If you are paying $100-200 for a futon
mattress and it 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 fill material (which could be
garment fiber or a blend of some cotton and garment fiber). To get a
decent mattress, which should be a foam filled futon with very
little fiber or cotton content (so it does 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 you are spending over a five year
period of time, which is the truthful and accurate amount of time
the average person keeps and uses the same futon mattress, before
they get dirty and tattered from spills and accidents. If you are
spending even $500 on a really good mattress, that's only $100 per
year, or about $10 per month!!
Mistake #2: Buying Unknown, "Knock-Off"
Brands On E-Bay or From Small Stores That Are 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
gotten wet, and these vendors do not subscribe to State Laws
governing Sanitary Bedding rules and policies. After all, you're
going to be sleeping on this mattress. We've heard stories about
improper packaging, using thin, Saran wrap style plastic sheeting,
and mattresses showing up on doorsteps 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 allow returns of futon mattresses because in most states, bed
purchases are final. Make sure you're buying a mattress that is
bagged, vacuum packaged, and properly sealed for the rough ride it
will take on a common carrier freight truck. Incidentally, we bag
our premium mattresses in heavy plastic, 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 Materials Used In
Construction
Since very few people are foam experts, or know the
difference between a good muslin cloth and a terry cloth towel, it's
hard to know what spending a little bit more money on a futon
mattress really gets you. Guess what, though...I can tell you.
First, you want a mattress that is covered with a heavier, muslin
material that resists ripping, tearing, and punctures..and stains.
You want tuftings all over the place. Tuftings are the dimples
across the surface of a futon mattress that are created when a nylon
(we use nylon, not cotton thread) thread connects one side of the
mattress through to the other side, to prevent shifting of contents.
If a futon mattress is not tufted, don't buy it. 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 key to 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 that still
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 And Delivered Much
Thinner
Beware the company that advertises their
"Premium 8 Mattress", but amazingly, when it arrives, is only 6"
thick..this is not unusual, and is typically the result of
deflation. When it is made, layers of poorer quality garment fiber
and cotton are "poofy" and fat, but once sandwiched in and sewn into
the casing of the futon mattress, quickly expel their air,
especially during shipping, and pack down, the curse of an "El
Cheapo" futon mattress. Our solution: overstuffing every
mattress, pre-compressing it, so that it pushes out against the
muslin casing like a fat sausage..it makes for comfort, lifespan,
and durability.
Mistake #5: Not Buying A Futon Cover That
Fits Properly
Hey, we're in the futon cover business, I will
admit. But we're in the comfort business too. If you buy a decent
futon mattress, and then put a cover on it that is either too tight,
or too loose, you lose the flexibility and tactile qualities that
your mattress was meant to deliver. Our recommendation: order a
microfiber cover (velvet, or simulated suede, or chenille) for the
absolute most luxurious result. It allows you to feel the foam
through the mattress casing and futon cover, and also keeps the
mattress cool in summer or winter.
We hope the information provided has helped you with your
futon frame, futon mattress, or futon cover
experience.
