Futons seem to have become more of a “classic” item rather than some of the more fashionable furniture systems we see in our homes today – but don’t write them off just yet.

Budget friendly, easy to store and easy to transport, futons remain one of the most innovative space saving sleep solutions for small spaces the world over, 

If you’re not blessed with bedrooms five and six ready for impromptu guest stop overs, then futons offer multi-purpose room functionality. These clever sofa bed alternatives are ideal in your home office, playroom or a student pad.

What is a Futon?

The futon originated in Japan, and it is essentially the Japanese style of sleeping on the ground. Traditionally used to describe a bedding system (base, mattress, blanket, pillows), today it is commonly used to refer to just the mattress. The western style of futon was designed in the US in the1970’s to service smaller living spaces, these mattresses were thicker and softer than their Japanese counterparts and were designed to be used on bed bases, much like the ones designed today. 

What’s the difference between a sofa bed and a futon?

Generally, a sofa bed has more use emphasis as a sofa, the bed element of the unit is squashed under the seats, leaving very little room for a mattress which means a thin foam block is used, invariably leading to an uncomfortable nights sleep. 

The mattress is the hero of the futon, it is foldable and sits on top of the frame, used as both the seat and bed mattress, so it is much more comfortable. 

There are 3 main elements to consider when purchasing a futon, the frame, the mattress and the cover.

The Frame

Futon frames are made from either wood or metal and come with or without arms. Deciding which type of frame to use should be based on your own interior styling preference.

Wooden frames made from pine without arms are traditionally known as “A” frames, they will usually take a tri-fold futon mattress and are available in single, double or king size (76cm – 150cm).

Hardwood frames such as Cherry or Oak are often considered a more elegant option of futon, generally available with arms they convert easily from bed to sofa and back again. Typically available as a 2 or 3 seat and known as a bi-fold they fit a double of king size futon mattress. 

Metal frames are also generally available as 2 or 3 seat futons and are known for their ease of use when converting from sofa to bed. 

The Mattress

Futon mattresses are filled with a variety of materials, most machine-made, mass-market futon mattresses use synthetic foams laden with fire retardant chemicals. 

At Cottonsafe® we use all the same toxic free, natural fibres as we use in our bed mattresses. Natural fibres such as cotton and wool provide superior comfort and breathability, aiding your body’s temperature control and supporting with a more settled night’s sleep whatever the weather.

The fibres within the futon mattress will dictate the feel and support, for more information about the different types of futon mattresses we make at Cottonsafe® read on. 

The Standard

Our Standard Futon Mattress is designed for use on all traditional “A” Frame Futons and hardwood or metal two-seat futon frames.

Filled with layers of Cotton felt and a top and bottom layer of pure British wool, it includes a central core of breathable rebound polyester for added support as well as increasing the loft and comfort of the futon mattress.

Recommended for occasional bed use, the Standard Futon Mattress offers a medium feel and is the perfect solution for your guest room futon frame.

The Flexi-Pocket

Designed for regular bed use, our Flexi-Pocket Futon Mattress is ideal for futon frames and solid or sprung slatted bed bases alike.

The 2 inch flexible pocket spring is nestled between 3 layers of Cotton felt and a top and bottom layer of pure British wool. The cotton and wool offer the traditional feel of a futon mattress with the flexi-pocket spring adding a soft, gentle supportive feel.

Twin Loft Futon Mattress

Designed for both futon and bed frames alike, the Twin Loft Futon Mattress is a cost-effective solution for you guest room bed or three-seater futon.

Designed with occasional bed use in mind it is layered with the finest quality British wool and cotton felt with two supportive layers of breathable high density polished thread polyester it has a medium support, offering both durability and comfort.

Pocket Sprung Futon Mattress

Our top of the range Pocket Sprung Futon Mattress has all the advantages of a traditional pocket sprung bed mattress with the benefits of a space saving, cost effective futon mattress.

We’ve designed our Pocket Sprung Futon mattress for Three-seat futon frames and solid or sprung slatted bed bases alike.

With a 2-inch Pocket Sprung unit nestled between four layers of luxuriously soft cotton felt and two layers of the highest quality British wool, this is our softest futon mattress. The spring unit helps to recirculate the air through the fillings allowing them to rebound time and time again, offering longevity and durability.

TradLux

If you’re looking for a traditional feel futon mattress which is comfortable and supportive enough for regular bed use then our TradLux Futon Mattress is the perfect choice.

This super product creates a very solid deep mattress which is particularly suitable for use as a frequently used bed or on a Three-seat frame.

Filled with five luxuriously thick layers of cotton felt nestled between two layers of the finest quality British Wool, the cotton felt gently cradles the body whilst being highly breathable, supporting the body with night-time temperature regulation, so it will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Cocoloc Futon Mattress

The Cocoloc Futon Mattress is made with 4 luxurious layers of cotton felt, two outer layers of the finest British wool and a central core of Coir - this is a natural filling made from coconut fibre bonded with natural latex.

It is the central layer which makes it our firmest futon mattress, it provides a superior level of firm support with added resilience and durability for everyday bed use. 

The Cover 

With a wide variety of fabrics and colours available to cover a futon mattress it is easy to style a futon in keeping with your own home interiors.

At Cottonsafe® Natural Mattress we are committed to chemical free living, we have a range of natural fibre fabrics in a selection of colours to suit any taste. Let us envelop your life with warmth, texture and colour.

We highly recommend requesting fabric swatches before you order to see the colours in the light of your home, particularly as there may be colour variation on your screen and these images should be used as a guide only.

All Cottonsafe® futon mattresses are tufted with matching solid tufts, however if you are using your futon mattress regularly it is worth considering soft tufts to increase your nighttime comfort – if you would like soft tufts, get in touch with our admin team who will sort this for you free of charge. 

The cover on a Cottonsafe® futon is not removable so we highly recommend protecting your new futon mattress with a waterproof protector to ensure longevity of the cover and the internal fibres of the mattress.