Futons face bright future
David Mink gatehouse plus

Although traditionally a Japanese household fixture, futons are largely becoming standard American sleeper alternative. Their low cost and lighter frame made them a mainstay of any college dorm room, but over the years their appeal has brought them fully into the mainstream.

American futons consist of a light-weight stuffed mattress and a foldable frame that transforms from a high-backed couch into a comfortable bed. They are available in tri-fold frames and the more traditional bi-folds.

A recent addition to the futon frame catalogue is the “wall hugger,” a frame that can fold flat into a bed without pulling the frame away from the wall.

A zero-tolerance wall hugger can be place flat against a wall in couch form and still not scrap the drywall when converting.

Although usually stuffed with cotton, wool, polyester, foam or latex, futon mattresses are now available with inner springs, mimicking the traditional mattresses Americans have become accustomed to.

Lighter than a sleeper sofa and less bulky than a rollaway bed, futons are an essential addition to the home of any space and energy saver.