This is a great video to watch to get a good idea on how to assemble a futon. Even if your futon is not made from the same brand, the steps in assembling your futon bed should be very similar. Check it out! I hope the futon instructions will help out anyone who is having difficulty in setting up their futon.

It’s an . . .{read more}]]> Consumers starting to shop for their own futon covers will no doubt come across this name…SIS Covers. They have been around for a long time and well known in the futon industry and also bedding industry. They offer beautiful textiles for covers, bedding, and even drapes. If you want to purchase these covers, you can find them at Futon creations. Otherwise, here’s some history on them below.

It’s an engaging story. Twenty-something sisters, Shari Hammer and Cyndi Ritger, wanted to hang with their young kids and make a living. One day the young women were out shopping and spotted a mattress (what is now called a futon mattress) displayed on the floor of Depth of Field. No frame. Just mattress. A new piece of furniture! Discovering there were only black and white covers available, Shari and Cyndi figured this mattress needed some style and color. Whoa! A perfect opportunity for two smart, stylish, artistic and energetic young women.

Around this time, the Futon Association formed, and it was tiny. Shari and Cyndi were able to swing a trip to its second tradeshow in Montreal in 1987. In preparation for the show, the sisters haggled three fabric samples from a mill. Then they promptly sewed the samples into three covers. To increase the options, Cyndi and Shari hand painted futon covers to market at the show. The retailers (lots of groovy people) wanted to buy the new product, the futon. (This show displayed one of the first convertible frames.) And they were thrilled with SIS’s product: Wow! Covers for the futons!

Shari and Cyndi returned home with a handful of orders. They set to work sewing covers in Cyndi’s basement and hand painting covers in the backyard along with changing diapers, wiping noses and kissing booboos.

Between 1988-1990, the futon business exploded, and SIS was in the middle of all the excitement. Eventually, Cyndi left the business while Joe Hammer, Shari ‘s husband, came on board as CFO. Because of his strong belief in Shari and SIS Enterprises, Joe was willing to give up his successful career in finance to help move the business forward.

SIS’s space has grown from 800 square feet to 76,000 square feet and from stocking 150 yards of fabric to 500,000 yards of fabric. SIS has also expanded its product line to include daybed covers, top of bed and window treatments.

Contemporary futon covers are very popular and offer a modern style for your home. . . .{read more}]]> Futon Covers come in many different patterns to suit your taste. This is a main aspect of using futon covers as it allows you to quickly change the way your room looks quite easily. Retailers usually offer covers in many categories and specific themes. I will talk about some of these choices here.

Contemporary Futon Covers

Contemporary futon covers are very popular and offer a modern style for your home. These patterns feature abstract art, geometric shapes, vibrant colors, and cool designs. It will be good to take a look around your room and see how you’re currently decorating your room. The color of your walls, rug, and wall art can all be used as a guide to which type of futon cover you choose. You can play off their colors and choose a cover that nicely complements the rest of the room. The style of your futon frame may also be use to determine if you go with a contemporary cover or something more traditional.

Floral Futon Covers

Floral futon covers offers patterns featuring flowers, foliage, leaves, and tropical plants. You can get a good variety of colors spread out all over the cover. Usually there is a main color background combined with layers of different color patterns of leaves and flower designs to create a wonderful  palette. These covers can be used in both a traditional or modern room setting. They are especially great for creating a tropical or floral theme for your room.

Solid Futon Covers

If you are looking for a single color to go with your room, consider a solid color futon cover. With no patterns of other colors implemented, a solid futon cover can provide the perfect contrast for the room or act to enhance your room’s colors. Some people don’t like pattern covers and prefer a simple clean look. Solid futon covers are often found in the economy price category using twill fabric and more sophisticated materials such as microfiber, chenille, and leather at higher price points. Solid covers are a great option for those who find pattern covers too busy for their taste.

Which Type of Cover to Choose?

Choosing the right futon cover is purely subjective and ultimately due to your personal taste. Have fun with it and play with different patterns and colors by having several covers at home to choose from. You can rotate them through the seasons and enjoy the benefits of having new colors for your room quickly and easily!

The futon frame is the underlying structure . . .{read more}]]> When shopping for your futon sofa, it’s important to understand the 3 components that make up the furniture piece. The futon frame, futon mattress, and futon cover all work together to create the perfect sleep solution. Taking some time to choose the right components will result in getting something you will be happy with for many years to come.

The Futon Sofa Frame

The futon frame is the underlying structure for your futon sofa. It provides the conversion mechanism necessary to convert the sofa into a bed. It also provides support for you and acts as the foundation for the futon mattress.

The frame can be made of wood or metal and sometimes even a hybrid of both. Usually the arm design is what gives each style of frame its visual uniqueness. The two stretcher rails connect the two arms together and create the base for which the seat decks rest. You can think of them as the bed rails in a conventional bed setup where the box spring rest.

The back and seat decks of the futon frame is what supports the mattress. It contains wooden slats that work to provide proper support throughout the entire futon mattress area. In the up position, it provides the back and seating area for the futon sofa. In the down position, the two decks collapse flat to create the bed surface.

The Futon Sofa Mattress

The futon mattress is one of the most critical choices to make in getting a comfortable futon sofa. If budget is a concern, it’s wise to spend more on the mattress and spend less on the frame and futon cover.

Different mattress types are available for all types of budget and personal preference for firmness. You can choose from having soft support to firm support with anything in between. The ingredients used in creating the mattress are what changes how each futon feel. A combination of cotton, foam, springs, or wool can be used to create different types of futon mattresses.

Generally, a 6 inch thick futon mattress is consider a standard entry level futon. If you can spend just a bit more, I would recommend getting an 8 inch thick futon which will contain more cotton and layers of foam. This provides some extra reassurance that you will be happy with the comfort level as it will give it more cushion from the frame slats. The most common issue with complaints that a futon sofa is uncomfortable is the result of purchasing a cheap mattress which is too thin (they do come in 4 to 5 inches).

The Futon Sofa Cover

The final component to your futon sofa is the futon cover. This gives your furniture piece personality and makes it unique. When choosing a futon cover, I personally look at my room surroundings to see what goes well. The wall color, carpet, and wall art can be used to determine what colors should be on the futon cover to go well with your existing décor.

Besides just good looks, the cover does provide some functional purpose for your futon sofa. It acts as protection for the mattress from dirt, stains, and spills. It’s much easier to clean a futon cover than it is to clean the mattress itself. The cover has a zipper to go around all three sides of the mattress to make installation or removal of the cover easy. Usually, the zipper is hidden under a flap so it’s not noticeable and doesn’t take away from the aesthetics of the futon cover.

Futon Sofa – Frame, Mattress, and Cover

As you can see, all three components are important in the final makeup of the futon sofa. Take some time to decide on purchasing each of the three and you will be much more likely to have a futon sofa that’s comfortable and enjoyable for many years.

There was a floor model so I gave it a try to see how it feels. . . .{read more}]]> While I was out shopping this weekend, I came across a futon on sale at a big merchant store. I couldn’t believe the price. They were offering the entire futon set for just $169. That’s right…$169 for the frame and a futon mattress with a sewn on cover which comes in a single box.

There was a floor model so I gave it a try to see how it feels. I already liked the stylish cover it came with but want to make sure the mattress feels okay. When I started to lay down, the frame shifted and became off balance from my weight. I had to shift my body to the middle to keep the bed level.

Not a good start but I proceeded to lay there for a few minutes. I noticed I could feel some discomfort though my entire back like I was laying on something hard. I flipped up the mattress and found the problem to be the mattress support deck. It was made of metal with tubular bars which runs across to support the mattress. With the futon mattress already being thin, these bars didn’t help at all for comfort.

Well the price can’t be beat and I like the idea of having to deal with only one box so I can fit it in my car easier. The problem is by making everything being able to fit in one box, the mattress is much thinner than normal, the frame is in many pieces so you can assemble it at home, and the overall feel of the frame is flimsy.

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad if you’re looking for a futon that only gets use twice a year. Perhaps have a small child take naps on it since they don’t weigh much. For me, I think I will stay away from the Futon-in-a Box idea.

On a rainy . . .{read more}]]> So you’re thinking of buying a futon for the next visit from your relatives. At first thought, you figure this will be an easy task as how many options can there actually be? You think back on all the futon frames you’ve seen in the past such as those in your college dorm or your neighbor’s guest house and remember they pretty much all look the same.

On a rainy weekend at home, you decide things are slow, why not search for that futon you’ve been putting off on buying. You fire up your computer and search for futon stores which come up with a few interesting prospects. As you make your way around each site, you notice the futon frames are put into certain categories: wood, metal, traditional, contemporary, size, etc. You’re surfing around, grab your coffee, and sit down to shop some more while getting excited on all the different possibilities. You glance at the clock and was shocked to see you just spent an hour online!

A futon frame is just a few pieces of wood put together to hold a mattress, right? Well maybe the one you remember at the dorm was certainly that way. However, futon manufacturers have been working for past many years to change this pre-conception of consumers by making styles that are appealing and of high quality so it won’t be an embarrassment in your home.

Using creative talent and innovative design applications, futon frames now come in a wide variety of styles and materials. If you want something better than a low end futon, you can find high quality frames made with thick solid wood construction, beautiful stained finish, and fine luxury grade details. Your futon can be a showcase in your room and not something hidden out of the way only to make its existence known on those rare occasions.

Stay tune for more upcoming articles on futon frames….

People change their futon covers all the time. Having a great selection of . . .{read more}]]> Purchasing a selection of futon covers in multiple styles is definitely the cheapest way to improve decoration possibilities for your room. When you are tired of looking at the same old furniture in you home, instead of buying new furniture, you can simply purchase some new futon cover patterns and change the whole look of the room.

People change their futon covers all the time. Having a great selection of covers handy will make an impact on your guests. They won’t get tired of your room decor and will be happy to see a refreshing new look. The futon is more popular than ever and rightfully so given the ease and practicality it offers.

With so many futon cover designs available, you wouldn’t run out of options in changing out the look. Covers are relatively inexpensive compared to having to buy new furniture. They also protect your mattress too, and prevent rips and tears from happening to your futon mattress.

It’s easy to find a cover that’s right for you. Covers come in all price rages. There are your basic solid color twill futon covers which are pretty cheap. There’s also contemporary designs, textured, leather look, novelty prints, velvets, and microfiber covers to name a few. It all comes down to your own personal preference on which to go with.

Don’t be afraid to try out different covers for your room. Switch them up during every season for a whole new look. Enjoy all of the different possibilities futon covers offer. You can find quite a good selection of name brand futon covers online.