HomeFuton is an English word derived from Japanese ‘futon’, a term referring to the traditional style of Japanese bedding consisting of padded mattresses and quilts pliable enough to be folded and stored away during the day, allowing the room to serve for purposes other than as a bedroom.
WHAT IS A FUTON?
A futon is a flat mattress with a fabric exterior stuffed with cotton, wool, or synthetic batting that is laid on the floor for sleeping, then rolled up and stored away, thus allowing the same space to be used both for sleeping at night and for living during the day. Futons have been a traditional form of bedding in Japan. The bedding set referred to as futon in Japan, fundamentally consists of a shikibuton (bottom mattress) and a kakebuton (thick quilted bedcover).
The Western style futons have little in common with the oriental, original and are more like sofa-beds. They usually consist of a wood or metal frame and a thin mattress with a cover. The frame can be configured either for use as a bed at night or as a sofa (couch) during the day. You can also buy a futon chair which seats and sleeps one.
WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A FUTON?
Though futons were used for centuries in Japan, during the 1980s they were “discovered” by the West and have become increasingly popular. Early Western futon beds tended to be thin (hence uncomfortable) and more of a fashion statement than a sensible choice of furniture. However, the modern futon beds are both convenient and comfortable. The futon bed consists of:
Frame: A futon bed is almost always placed on a configurable wood or metal frame for dual use as a bed and a chair or couch. Typically, the frame folds in the middle, allowing the futon to be used as a couch, and flattens for use as a bed.
Mattress: A good quality futon mattress today will still tend to be rather thin but will be filled and/or sprung, as well as a conventional mattress. It is usually filled with foam as well as batting, often in several layers, and is often much thicker and larger than Japanese futons, resembling a traditional mattress in size. Or, it may have the higher quality, eco-friendly natural fillings of felt and wool. Futons also have a removable and replaceable, fabric cover in a variety of colours.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A FUTON?
Versatile: One of the best features of a futon bed is that it is versatile. It can be used anywhere in the house, where you need an extra seating area. Right from bedrooms and living rooms, to recreation rooms and dens and even home offices, a futon bed can be placed anywhere.
Space saver: It’s the space-saving feature of futons that makes them so popular as an alternative to a conventional bed. The best features of futon beds are that they do not take up as much space as a bed or sofa. They easily fold up as a sofa to allow more space for your guest during the day, and then fold out into a comfortable sleeping area at night.
Economic: Imagine you are getting the comfort of a couch and a bed at a single price!! Futon beds are economical and thus, can be bought by most people.
Easy to Use: With a small motion, you can convert a comfortable couch to have an extra sleeping area and then turn it back to a couch.
Easy to assemble: Another advantage is that they are easy to assemble and dissemble. They are usually packaged in parts that need to be assembled. This can be very helpful, if you live in an area that is narrow or small, because already assembled cots can be difficult to get through many hallways and doorways.
Comfortable: Nowadays, futon beds are thicker and more comfortable than their earlier counterparts. They are mostly made from comfortable materials such as dense foam, memory foam and natural products, such as latex. As such, your futon bed can prove to be more comfortable than the actual bed.
Stylish: Yet another advantage of a futon bed is that it adds style and elegance to the room. Just by changing the cover of the futon bed, you can change the look and feel of the entire room. Another important aspect is that with a futon at your place, you can keep up with the latest colors and designs to match your room decor. All you need to do is, change the cover of your futon mattress.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF FUTONS?
Bi-fold and Tri-fold futon beds: Easy to fold, futon beds are generally available in two varieties – bi-fold and tri-fold bed. While a bi-fold futon bed folds the mattress in half, a tri-fold futon bed folds the mattress into thirds. If you are looking for extra space, tri-fold bed serves the best. However, if comfort is your top priority, bi-fold bed would be a good option to explore. This is because a tri-fold futon bed mattress isn’t as thick or as supportive as a bi-fold one.
Futon bunk bed: Another Western innovation is the futon bunk bed. This usually consists of a futon on the bottom that is used as a couch during the day and an ordinary bed above.
Shiki futon bed: Of late, the Japanese style Shiki Futon has been gaining in popularity. It is a 100% cotton-filled mattress that can easily be folded and stacked in a closet. It can come in Twin, Full, and Queen sizes. The heavy 7 inches of cotton filled Shiki Futon can be placed directly on the floor. After centuries of use in Japan the Shiki Futon is still the bedding of choice since it supports your back for better posture and usually lasts up to 15 years.
Do you have limited accommodation at your disposal? Are you short of an extra room in your house? If yes, then you would also agree that the shortage is more so felt, when you have a guest at home, for a night stay. There is no need to get embarassed about it. The solution for this problem is the Futon Bed.
For information on other Bed Types, go to:
