The traditional Japanese futon as gone through a lot of changes since it was brought to the west. Take a look at some of the basic changes that most have seen, as well as some new innovations that had not been considered before.
As you probably know, the traditional futon is from Japan. The original futon was not designed to be folded up into a sofa, but was designed to be folded and put away so that the room could be used for other purposes. The futon was more of a bedding set that had two main parts: the bottom mattress (shikibuton) and the thick quilted bedcover (kakebuton). The mattress is only about 2.0 inches thick and is filled with a cotton or synthetic batting. This makes them easy to fold away and store in a closet. The Japanese futon needs to be regularly aired out in the sun and are often beaten using a special bamboo tool similar to a carpet beater.
I am not sure when the futon was introduced in the US, but I remember first seeing them in the 1980's. However, the western futon has some major differences from the original. The primary difference is that they are put on a wood or metal frame that folds in the middle, allowing them to be used as convertible sofa beds. During the day they can be folded up in the sofa position, and then they can be flattened out at night to be used as a bed. Almost all of these that I have seen have wooden arm rests.
The next major difference is the mattress. First, it is thicker. A high end futon will have a mattress that is up to six to eight inches thick. A cheap, discount store futon's mattress is usually only about 4" thick. Though this is still twice the thickness of the traditional Japanese futon, it is often needed because of the metal frame it rests on. Besides being thicker, the mattresses often have a removable cover for easy washing or replacing. The cheaper mattresses are made of foam and batting. The thick mattresses have multiple layers of foam and batting. Some of the higher quality futon mattresses actually have coils like a real mattress.
The latest evolution in the western futon I had never seen before until today. This type of convertible sofa beds are called a futon, but looks just like a regular sofa. The ones I saw were made by Handy Living and had a really nice microfiber upholstery with full padded arms and throw pillows. You can get them in a full sofa size or the smaller love seat, and in a whole variety of colors to suit any decor. Besides looking like a regular sofa, these convertible sofa beds not only fold flat for sleeping, but also can be partially reclined. They also claim that they easily convert from one position to another, using just a touch of a hand. This sure beats the wood or metal framed futon! We have a fairly nice one, and though laying it flat is not a problem, it is a two person job to get it upright again. One last improvement worth mentioning is that the back and seating area is 10" thick with coils, so very comfortable - especially since there is no bar in the middle of your back as in the cheap futons!
Yes, the futon has come a long ways in different styles from the traditional Japanese style. So, if you are looking at convertible sofa beds, consider the latest innovative style to see if it would work for you.
Garage Overhead Storage: Something to Think About
Garage overhead storage is something you may not have thought of to include. You should, for there are a couple of great options available.
Sentry Safe: Part of Your Protective Defense
A Sentry safe acts as a part of our efforts to protect our valuables in a world of threats.
5 Tips when Looking at Foosball Tables
Since more people have been aware of soccer in recent months, foosball tables have also enjoyed more popularity. If you are in the market for a foosball table, here are 5 tips to keep in mine while you shop around.
