Futon Buyers Advice Guide 2014

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Don’t Buy Your
Next Futon Until
You Read This.

The Futon Buyer's Advice Guide
futonsonline.co.uka
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futonsonline.co.uk a
A
futon may appear on the surface to be a simple
purchase. But if you are not fully in possession of some
key facts to help you make a good decision, then you
are in danger of throwing hundreds of pounds down the drain.
My name is Keith Holleyman, I’m the owner of futonsonline.co.uk.
I have spent more than 34 years involved in all aspects of
the futon furniture marketplace and I’d like to share that
experience with you.
Although my opening paragraph may seem dramatic, I can
assure you that people are definitely throwing a lot of good
money away by making poor buying decisions.
Not understanding the differences in structure, quality and
materials can make your futon purchase rapidly turn into an
item of furniture you grow to loathe and eventually give away or
take to the tip.
You want your futon to be a sofa bed that gives you the best
quality product at a reasonable price. Getting that balance right
is much easier when you understand the key decisions involved.
Once you have read through this indispensable guide you can
make the right choice, which means a futon you will be happy to
offer friends and family a comfortable option when they stay.
INTRODUCTION
“ONCE YOU
HAVE READ
THROUGH THIS
INDISPENSABLE
GUIDE YOU
CAN MAKE THE
RIGHT CHOICE.”

futonsonline.co.uk4
T
he futon as we know it today originated in Asia, and the
word itself means “rolled up mattress” in Japanese.
Long ago when Japanese families were larger and
houses consisted of little more than a single room, space
was at a premium. The futon has evolved from the desire
for a versatile living space and something that can meet the
sleeping needs of an extended family.
The futon that is familiar to us in the West is actually very
different to the original Japanese version where only cotton with
lots of air “blown” into it was used. In Japan after use at night
the mattress was folded or rolled up and put over something
like a banister or railings to “air” during the day.
However, the futons we buy now are truly multi-purpose
furniture items that are both functional and can also look
attractive as versatile pieces of furniture.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS A FUTON?

S
ince the late1960’s designers in Europe and North
America developed frames that were designed to be
used in conjunction with a futon mattress. Japanese
futon mattresses are totally different to anything we see in
Europe but the concept is similar, a healthy and versatile
mattress that can be used by all the family.
Over time the addition of other materials for filling the mattress
and the use of buttons or tufting to keep the mattress filling in
place has meant that a futon is much closer to a proper bed
mattress than its original Japanese form.
These changes in the shaping of the mattress made it easier to
design folding frames, which in turn allowed the futon to evolve
into a truly multi-purpose furniture item in homes worldwide.
With the use of latex, coir, high density foam, lamb’s wool
and even pocket springs, a futon sofa bed is now suitable for
constant use, both as comfortable furniture to sit on and bed for
healthy restorative sleep.
HOW A FUTON IS STRUCTURED
“JAPANESE FUTON
MATTRESSES
ARE TOTALLY
DIFFERENT TO
ANYTHING WE SEE
IN EUROPE BUT
THE CONCEPT IS
SIMILAR”

futonsonline.co.uk6
I
n the past decade futon retail prices have remained quite
static. In that time, the quality and versatility of this type of
furniture has improved dramatically, but not so much at the
budget end of the market.
The first thing to determine is at what price point do you stand a
chance of buying a futon that will last you more than a couple of
years, or be acceptable to use more than very occasionally?
You may have seen futons as low in price as £150.00. But before
you shout “bargain” and run off and buy one, consider why they
seem such a bargain. These budget pieces of furniture are
usually sold by the big retail chains such as Argos, Tesco or
online giants such as Amazon. If your entire buying decision is
based around price alone, then you may well fall into the trap of
buying a futon that is not actually fit for purpose.
Those cheap futons are usually made with substandard timber
and low quality fillings in their mattresses. On top of that, the
mattresses are usually very thin, sometimes as thin as 4”/10 cm.
A cheap mattress will also usually lack the required density for
a meaningful and comfortable sleep.
Your futon frame at that low price point will be cheap but not
very cheerful. It will not be designed for comfort and support.
It will usually be low to the ground, potentially straining you as
you get on and off it, both when used as a chair and a bed.
UNDERSTANDING FUTON PRICING:
“THE QUALITY
AND VERSATILITY
OF THIS TYPE
OF FURNITURE
HAS IMPROVED
DRAMATICALLY”

: HOW TO GET VALUE FOR MONEY
Even if you think “that will do”, have you really
considered who may sit and sleep on it? You
might get on and off it, but what about eighty
year old Aunt Mavis?
There is also the problem that if low quality
wood or metal is used in the construction
of the frame warping could occur, meaning
bending or breakages are far more likely.
And it’s not just the mattress quality, or the
frame quality you have to think about when
you compromise completely and buy at a
low price point. Budget futons only offer a
permanent cover. Removable covers that
can be easily put on or taken off give a more
flexible option. 100% cotton drill futon covers
can be machine washed at low temperatures,
but washable removable covers are an
extra cost so are not part of the “buying
cheap” mindset.
Because the domination of big chains
translates to pushing purely low end products,
people have become used to seeing futons
available at low prices. So it has become
accepted by the general public that the cheap
futon price point is “normal”, when in fact it is
not. You get what you pay for and as the love of
my life tells me, “there’s no free lunch”.
Low price points and promotions has led
people to believe that futons are cheap and
functionally limited items that you should simply
replace every two or three years, rather than
quality furniture items with a lot of choice that
represent real value for money.
The reality is that for a little more money you
can pick up a product that will last a long time
and deliver a very high quality experience.
In terms of what you should be paying, it is
possible to pick up a good quality 2 seat double
futon for as little as £300. At the higher end, a
three seat futon with a good quality mattress
and cover will be in the £450.00 region, more or
less, including delivery.
Although these prices are obviously higher
than your £150 bargain futons, the difference
is that you and your loved ones will get
a good quality night’s sleep on a decent
mattress and your futon will last for at least
ten years rather than two. Worked out year
on year, the higher priced futon can actually
workout cheaper.

futonsonline.co.uk8
I
t is amazing, but the last thing people usually think about
when they buy a futon is how it will feel when they sleep
on it Go to a bed shop and watch people agonise over the
purchase of a £100.00 regular bed mattress. They lay on it at
all angles and take an age to decide if it’s right, even if it’s for
a guest room that is rarely used. When have you ever laid on a
futon before buying it? Do you know anyone who has?
As with any mattress one of inferior build will compromise
the quality of your sleep and potentially have negative health
benefits now and in the future. You could easily get a bad back
or suffer from overheating. If you can excuse the pun, buying a
cheap futon may mean you are sleepwalking into poor health
for you or your loved ones.
A quality futon mattress will give you the best chance of healthy,
restorative sleep. This of course will mean you awake feeling
refreshed and invigorated.
The density of a high quality mattress will also mean better
support for your back during the night. Just one night on a poor
quality mattress can give you health issues that last a long
while, so for the sake of a little extra money is it really worth
taking that risk?
In addition to health issues, is of course the importance of
comfort for your guests. Do you want them to wake up feeling
stiff and uncomfortable? I’m sure you would prefer them to
have a good night’s sleep and to then be able to genuinely
CONSIDER THE HEALTH AND
SLEEP QUALITY OF FUTONS

thank you for your hospitality, rather than grunt misgivings as
they hobble out the door.
By spending a little more money for a high quality futon
mattress, you will benefit indefinitely from proper support
for your spine, hips and shoulders during the night. Look for
a mattress that is around 6”/15cms deep for a 2 seater and
8”/20cms deep for a 3 seater futon.
The filling of the mattress is important. One made entirely from
man-made materials will be cheaper, but usually will not last
very long. The filling will compact more easily and be unable to
recover its shape and form. As the futon is used and the filling
flattens out, the mattress will become harder and harder over
time. When this happens in combination with the purchase
of an already firm mattress, it can make the sleeping surface
almost unbearable in a surprisingly short space of time.
Our futon mattresses have no chemicals in the filling
whatsoever and yet still adhere to UK fire regulations.
The Natural Futon Mattress we offer uses a wool/hemp
mattress casing, a unique feature for those with allergies and
environmental concerns.
A good futon mattress will use mostly natural materials, such as
lamb’s wool, enriched cotton and coir.. Nowadays a good quality
futon mattress will also contain layers of different materials,
such as latex, High Density foam and even pocket springs.
You should also be aware that most futon mattresses will
require little maintenance, but like any mattress regular
rotation will help more even wear across the surface and
interior, maximising the life of the product. Sunlight beating
down through an open window or outside in an open space
is the very best way to care for any mattress and eliminate
moisture, although never do this on a humid day.
“LIKE ANY
MATTRESS
REGULAR
ROTATION WILL
HELP MORE EVEN
WEAR ACROSS
THE SURFACE
AND INTERIOR”

futonsonline.co.uk10
The latest development in our mattress filling department is
the use of low profile pocket springs. These can be used in a
Regular 6” thick futon mattress, suitable for use with 2 seat
double size frames, or even single chairs. The individual flexi
pockets are sandwiched between layers of other materials,
creating a combination mattress, one that mixes the excellent
“recovery” properties of a futon mattress with a greater
degree of comfort.
It’s really easy when viewing a futon to be driven in your
decision-making by the look or visual appearance and how
it will fit within your home and decor. Hopefully, you will now
understand that the choice of mattress you get, or purchase
with the sofa bed frame, is actually more important.

A
n important consideration is how versatile and durable
your futon will be. This covers the three main areas of
its construction:
• The quality and durability of the cover
• The quality and construction of the mattress
• The quality and construction of the frame
The Quality And Durability Of The Cover
We’ve already covered the considerations in choosing a good
quality mattress, so let’s talk about the cover on the mattress.
Unlike a normal bed, a futon may well have to deal with being
used as an everyday sofa or chair as well as a bed. So not
only does the fabric have to be tightly woven for strength and
comfort it has also to be durable and have those properties that
will make it suitable for use as a sofa and bed.
A good quality futon cover or mattress casing is usually made
from a relatively thick and high quality 100% cotton drill. The
texture of these covers often resembles twill or cambric, giving
it the resilience it will need.
Of course you don’t have to have a purely functional cover.
Removable and washable covers, in a variety of fabrics, will
allow you to get a perfect fit. They will also allow you to get the
exact look that you want for an item of furniture that blends
with your decor, without sacrificing practicality.
VERSATILITY AND DURABILITY

The Quality of The Frame
A long-lasting and durable wooden futon frame will have no
visible knots within the timber and definitely no weeping sap
or warping.
If possible go for a hardwood frame, consisting of something
like American Oak or Rubber wood. Hardwood offers the best
chance of lasting a long time and being robust for everyday use.
In cheaper products, generally made of soft wood using lower
grades of pine, you will see wood pieces that contain unnatural
finger jointing, this is where two or more pieces of wood are
hammered and glued together using a zigzag interlocking
pattern. This obviously does not create the strongest piece of
wood and should be avoided.
Some futon frames are made completely of steel, or a
combination of steel and wood. In the distant past metal frames
suffered from extreme quality problems, especially at the
budget end of the market. Mostly uncomfortable and poorly
built, those metal frame futons suffered from a poor reputation
and rightly so. The manufacturers in China used lower grade
materials and cheap labour to keep price points low.
In contrast, a good quality hardwood frame or top quality metal
frame may well come with a guarantee of up to 10 years.
This will give you confidence that your futon is a long-term
investment, rather than an often replaced stop-gap option.
So by all means consider a metal frame if it is from a reputable
source, but a high quality hardwood frame should always be a
consideration as well.
“A GOOD QUALITY
FRAME MAY WELL
COME WITH A
GUARANTEE OF
UP TO 10 YEARS”

I
n these environmentally conscious times, the
sustainability of the materials used to create
your futon needs to be part of the equation.
Here in the UK, wooden frames are mostly
imported from Malaysia and Vietnam. Steel
frames invariably come from Europe or China.
It tends to be the case that the more you pay,
the greater the likelihood the materials used
in the construction of your futon mattress and
frame will be sustainable. This is because at
this higher price point sustainability can be a
built in consideration, whereas at the budget
end of the market decisions are taken to keep
costs down.
Frames fall into four categories:
• Softwood frames
• Hardwood frames
• Metal frames
• Wood and metal combination frames
If sustainability is important to you then you
should always look for a futon that carries proper
sustainability certification. Kite marks and
FSC timber are guarantees that the materials
used are from sustainable sources and that
accreditation is highly prized.
The same applies to covers and mattresses;
companies that have an eco-friendly approach
and are environmentally aware are more likely
to want to use natural fillings such as latex,
wool, coir and similar quality materials.
Although you will be paying a premium for
these products you should get a corresponding
increase in quality from that investment.
SUSTAINABILITY OF MATERIALS

W
hen buying a futon there are several points that you
should look out for, so that you can avoid purchasing
an inferior or completely unsuitable product.
Frame
You shouldn’t consider cheap metal frames from Asia.
European constructed metal futon frames tend to use thicker
steel and are almost always a higher quality than those
from the Far East. The Beech laminated slats in the better
constructed metal frames tend to be high quality and deliver
a high level of comfort, whereas cheap imported frames use
bonded wood off cuts, or even worse just a thin metal mesh or
bars for support.
Look for frames that are obviously sturdy in their construction
and that have a good level of finishing, both in terms of the look
and feel of the materials used.
When looking at futon frames there will be clues as to the level
of workmanship used. Check the quality of the workmanship
and materials by looking at the bolts and fixings used on
the frame. Look out for scratches and imperfections. Most
importantly, check any long spans of timber that overly flex.
Flat packed quality frames usually have about 6 pieces, any
more can point to an inferior frame.
PITFALLS TO WATCH
OUT FOR AND AVOID

Mattress
To make sure the mattress is a quality item in terms of its
safety, look at the labels on it. One of those should relate to
fire retardency regulations. Although UK laws are very strict
about this issue and most futon mattresses sold in the UK are
also made in the UK, it has been known for cheap imports that
do not meet our stringent regulations to be put on sale. This
situation can be made worse when own brand labels are then
attached, making them sound safer than they actually might be.
As we’ve already said, look for a mattress construction that is
not entirely man-made or extremely heavy and hard. Any sofa
bed mattress should have enough filling to enable comfortable
sitting and sleeping for a number of years.
Futon cover
When you choose your futon mattress make sure that it has a
cover made from durable fabric. The mattress casing should be
buttoned or tufted so that the filling won’t move. Unless made
from a quality textile, it will stain or mark easily.
If your futon is being used mainly as a sofa it’s preferable to
purchase a removable fitted cover at the same time. Also avoid
non-standard size covers that cannot be replaced easily.
Make sure it fits in the room!
One obvious consideration that can sometimes be partially
or fully overlooked is how big your futon will be in its sitting
position and when extended into its bed position. Most people
tend to make a decision based on the dimensions of the futon
as a sofa, this could lead to a situation where your futon fits
snugly into the space you visualise, but isn’t quite so good once
it’s actually being used as a bed.
“WHEN YOU
CHOOSE YOUR
FUTON MATTRESS
MAKE SURE THAT
IT HAS A COVER
MADE FROM
DURABLE FABRIC”

I’m sure most people during their lives have a memorable
experience of stumbling round a temporary bed that is the
wrong size for the room it’s in. As well as being annoying,
especially after a few drinks or in the dark because you don’t
want to wake your partner, it is also potentially dangerous as it
can cause falls and injuries.
So always make sure you know the dimensions of the room in
which your new sofa bed will be situated, then you can see how
the futon will fit into that space as a sofa and also laying down
as a bed. At the very least there should be 30cms or 1 foot of
space around all sides, but 60cms or 2 feet is a more realistic
space so you’re not cramped when using your futon.

What will be the primary use of the futon I am going to buy?
•• Who will mostly use it and what
are their sleeping needs?
•• What room will this futon live in?
•• Does it need to be purely functional
or look good as well?
•• Will it be used for sitting on a
regular basis or very little?
How often will it be used in a year?
•• Will it be used daily?
•• Weekly?
•• Is it there just in case someone comes
once every few months?
What space will the futon have to be used in?
•• Will it fit in well both when used as a sofa and a bed?
•• How much room around the futon will there be when it
is in the sleeping position?
KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

Does it need to match the other furniture?
•• Will it need a removable cover?
•• Will covers need to be made?
•• How important is it that the futon integrates with the
look of a room, or complement existing decor?
•• What is my budget?
What is my budget?
•• How long are you looking for the futon to last before
buying another one?
•• Will the budget you have match the frequency of use
and therefore wear and tear?

H
opefully this guide has educated and entertained you
enough to make your futon purchase an easy and
enjoyable experience.
Always look for a quality item and aim to buy it from a specialist
source. That way you know you are dealing with a company who
understands everything we have discussed in this guide and
who will only sell the quality futons you will now be considering.
Don’t make a rushed decision and always discuss your
purchase in detail with the company you are considering
buying from. Use the information in this guide to gauge their
knowledge and always check on their guarantees and after
sales service.
Happy futon buying!
SUMMARY

Futon Buyers Advice Guide 2014

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