Should You Buy a Mattress Or a Futon?

If you live in a small apartment or even a studio, you may want to consider purchasing a futon instead of a mattress. Futons are very multi-functional, because they can serve many purposes within a given space. Mattresses, on the other hand, are for the most part limited to providing a comfortable place to sleep. Perhaps that explains why futons have continued to grow in popularity throughout the years. Keep reading to find out if a futon is right for you and the space that you live in.

So what exactly is a futon? This piece of furniture originally came from Japan (which is why they are sometimes called Japanese beds). While traditional Japanese futons were filled with beans or other natural substances, today American futons are generally composed of small pieces of plastic. Because of this fact, futons generally are not as comfortable as mattresses. The latter is generally a combination of springs, foam, and latex. These components come together to create a supportive surface for the entire body. Futons, on the other hand, consist of one uniform material that does not support that body as well. In short, that means that your futon will likely be less comfortable than a mattress of comparable price.

So if that is true, why would anyone even consider purchasing a futon? The answer lies in its versatility. A user can manipulate a futon into virtually any shape, unlike the stiff, unyielding springs of a bed. That means that the futon can be fit into a frame that is adjustable. As you can imagine, this makes any piece of furniture much more adaptable to the needs of its owner.

During the day, your futon can serve as a couch for any visitors that may come into your home. If you've ever tried to sit on a bed for a long period of time, you know how uncomfortable that proposition is. Because your body sinks so deep into the mattress pad, there is absolutely no support for you back. That's where a futon comes in. While it is set up as a couch, the frame of the futon has a back piece that will provide excellent support. When you're ready to go to sleep, with one quick adjustment the futon turns into a bed. It's almost like magic!

In a small space, the ability to convert a bed to a mattress (and then back) is invaluable if you are planning on often entertaining guests on a frequent basis. Some smaller apartments (especially in large cities like New York or Los Angeles) simply don't have the room for multiple pieces of furniture. By consolidating all of your furniture needs into one piece, you'll save valuable space that can then be used for other purposes. While you will be making some kind of sacrifice in terms of comfort, it is likely that it will be well worth it when you think about all of the space that will free up now that you can get rid of your bed or couch.