Before you go out and buy a futon mattress and bed, make sure you buy a futon mattress that best suits your needs. Buying a futon can be an inexpensive alternative to buying a sofa bed, but if you don’t know exactly which futon you want, you may live to regret it.

Futon beds have become increasingly popular. These dual-use pieces of furniture are ideal when you don’t have a lot of space or if you want a sofa that can be used occasionally as a guest bed. Futons also tend to cost less than more traditional sofa beds. However, before you buy a futon bed and mattress, you need to decide exactly what function the futon bed will use.

First, futon beds tend to come in two varieties; a two-fold frame or a three-fold frame. A double-folds futon bed is where the frame folds the mattress in half; down the middle, along. A tri-fold futon bed is where the frame folds the mattress in thirds, across the width; one third forms the seat, one third the backrest and the final third folds over the backrest or under the seat. When folded, the double futon mattress has a larger sleeping area than the triple futon mattress. The two-ply futon looks much more like a traditional sofa, while the three-ply futon looks more like a loveseat. If space is very limited, you may want to consider purchasing a three-ply futon mattress, but if not, the two-ply futon mattress generally looks much more pleasing to the eye.

Second, keep in mind that it is not the futon frame that provides the comfort when sitting or sleeping on a futon – it is the futon mattress that provides the comfort. A futon bed mattress made for a triple futon frame is not as thick as a double futon bed frame. So if you intend to sleep on your futon on a regular basis, your best bet would be to buy a two-fold futon-type bed mattress – a thicker mattress tends to provide more support. But if space is at a premium and you will only occasionally sleep better on your futon, then the triptych will suffice.

The best futon bed mattress is the one that best suits your needs. Consider the space you have available and what will be the main function of the futon bed mattress. If the futon is to be used regularly for sleeping, then the majority of consumer reviews of futon beds tend to favor the frame and the two-ply futon mattress. Finally, always buy the best you can afford. There are many top-notch futon mattresses to choose from. You can find them in many department stores these days, or you can find many futon makes and models on the internet. Remember, know exactly what type of futon mattress you need before you go out and buy one.