The Futon has its origin in Japan. As a Japanese mattress, the Futon is designed to be used with the Japanese Tatami flooring. In America, the Futon has taken on a different shape then its Japanese counterpart. The Japanese Futon is about two inches thick where as the Western Futon, are filled with batting and are similar to a standard mattress in size.

In America, the Futon has become a very popular choice when selecting a sofa or when looking for more options in bedding. The Japanese Futon is picked up and stored away during the day, but here in America, the Western Futon simply doubles as a sofa and bed.

Typically, Japanese wouldn't consider the Western Futon to be a traditional Futon, however the Western styled Futon is gaining in popularity and acceptance across Japan.

One of the major appealing qualities of the Western Futon is the fact that Futon mattresses do not have springs but instead are filled with a cotton batting. This makes the Futon an acceptable choice to those who are looking for a softer mattress that doesn't contain the traditional metal springs.

Futon Styles Abound

Futon styles abound and there are Futons that will appeal to all genres. Some Futons have a futuristic look and feel while others may be more similar to the traditional sofa or sofa bed. The Futon frame can be assembled from hardwood or metal.

Remember, this is in contrast to the Japanese Futon that does not use a bed frame whatsoever. Because of their ability to double as a sofa and bed, they are the perfect choice for those who have small living quarters, such as college students or those in small apartments.

They also make a wonderful compliment to any guest room, cutting down on the need for a bed and a sofa. Typically, the back of the Futon will fold down, and the cushion then fits the entire bed frame, as any other mattress would accommodate a bed. Futons are typically less expensive than other choices of sofa beds, which also increases its popularity.