Futons have grown up

Futons have changed since they were brought from Japan to the United States during the 1980s. They used to be an inexpensive fad for college students or for those just starting out. Futons are now featured in decorating magazines and used in upscale homes, they walk hand in hand with the classy latex mattresses and beds. This is partially due to the more sophisticated and higher quality futons and futon frames. Futon mattresses are now made with higher quality craftsmanship and advanced technology. The surge in popularity is also based on the variety of high quality futon cover colors and styles.

Futons are being used as beds. However, they also serve a dual purpose of a stylish living room couch that can that easily convert into a guest bed. Futons can function as a seating area in a spare bedroom or home office. Then when an overnight guest arrives, they can be easily pulled out into a bed. The ability to fold out the futon when needed is a great space saver for small rooms.

Protecting Your Futon

Whether your futon is being used as a bed, a couch or both, it needs to be protected. A futon cover will sustain the life of your futon for many years. Futons are made of absorbent materials such cotton and foam. Most futon mattress damage is due to liquids directly on the mattress. Futon mattress covers protect the futon from exposure to moisture and liquids. A futon cover also protects the mattress from dirt and rips or tears in the futon mattress.

Affordable Cost

You can spend good money for your every night latex mattress topper. But if you’re looking for an affordable way to preserve your futon, futon covers are not expensive. The price ranges from $20 to $300 depending on the type of cover and size. The wide selection will insure that you find a cover that suits your personal preference and is within your budget.

Easy to Remove and Clean

Futon covers are very easy to put on and take off. Most have a zipper around the cover for a secure fit around the mattress and simple removal Button closures are also available but they are not as secure. If there is a spill on the futon, the cover can be removed in minutes to be washed. Most futon covers are machine or hand washable. The easy cleaning is a great advantage for families with children or pets.

Accommodates to Decor

Using a futon as a couch in the home is very convenient because it easily converts into a bed for a guest. The wide range of frame colors and styles will suit most home decor. If you are using your futon as a couch, the easy replacement of the futon cover with a different color or material can change the appearance of the living room.  Instead of spending a lot of money on a new couch, you can simply replace the futon cover. This is very convenient when you become tired of the color or want to coordinate the futon with a new living room decor. Another advantage is that over time covers wear out and can be easily replaced.

Futon Cover Materials

Futon cover materials come in a wide variety including leather, faux leather, faux suede, vinyl, denim, silk and most fabrics. A futon cover with stain resistant fabric or leather is useful if you are using your futon primarily as a seating area for entertaining. A silk, faux leather or micro fiber cover is a more sophisticated look. Fabric covers have a warm appearance and offer the largest selection of patterns and colors. The choice depends on your personal taste and decor. Organic materials and hemp are available for people who want environmentally conscious futon covers. Organic futon covers are beneficial for a futon in the bedroom. They are made with natural dyes and are free of chemicals. Organic cotton is made from cotton grown without pesticides.

There is specialty futon covers for specific types of protection. Waterproof futon covers offer stronger protection from liquids seeping through to the mattress. There are several futon covers made with hypoallergenic materials and dust mite protection. This prevents dust mites from invading your mattress. Dust mites can cause allergies and skin irritations in sensitive people.

Styles and Colors

Futon covers are available in a wide range of colors and patterns. The color and pattern choice depends on the desired mood of the room and your aesthetic preference. Most patterned futon covers have a solid color on the other side. This cover can be alternated depending on your aesthetic desires or mood. You can purchase a futon cover off the shelf or special order a color from a selection of swatches.

A skirted futon cover is an innovative design that gives an upholstered appearance to the futon. There is a skirt on both the front and back of the cover. This completely hide the front and back of the futon frame. The front cover can be tucked under the mattress to expose the front of the frame.

Selecting the Right Size

Futon covers typically fit a mattress up to 8 inches. If your futon is 6 to 8 inches this standard size will fit well. However, if you have a 9 or 10-inch thick mattress, you can special order a larger sized cover from the manufacturer. When you order, tell the manufacturer the exact thickness of your mattress and they will make it to your specifications. The width and length of your futon mattress will determine the size of the cover. You will need twin, full or queen futon cover depending on the mattress size. There are also crib, ottoman, loveseat and chair sizes available.

A futon cover adds style to your home and extends the life of your futon. There are a wide range of styles and colors to suit any home decor. One of the best advantages of futon covers is that you can change the appearance by replacing the cover instead of purchasing another piece of furniture.

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Here you are at the website dedicated to covering topics regarding all things about futon covers. Our hope is that you will find answers to the most common questions regarding the ways to protect and enhance the look of your futon and your living space. As you know, it isn’t just all about function when you are trying to cover anything, whether that is a bed or outside furniture. If that was all there was to it, you could just throw a plastic bag over your sofa-sleeper and be done with it. Many of our grandmothers did that and we know how that turned out. Their couches never got old, but you always had to sit on that uncomfortable plastic stuff that you would stick to or slide on in the hot summers. No, the new covers are nothing like those.

Your search online will give you many different types of results depending upon how you are searching for items related to your futon. Not only must you consider how you will cover the thing, but also what it is made of and the type of bed frame you use. With the choices available to you, you may never have to get bored of your sofa-sleeper ever again. Also, because there are chaise lounge futons and chairs that are made of futon mattresses, the various types of covering materials, patterns, styles, colors and choices are everywhere.

How You Will Be Using Your Mattress Affects The Type of Futon Cover

If you want to get a hip feel, use this type of animal print on your futon.

Here, we will discuss these various topics as well as cover some questions that come up in the process of owning convertible sleeper-sofas, overnight guests, home decor and such. Consider this article your introduction to the world of futon covers and their many benefits. Like with traditional couches, normal wear and tear is to be expected. Depending upon the uses that your futon sofa must endure, whether it is for mostly extra seating in an entertaining area or you have occasional, even frequent overnight guests, it will need to be protected.

Protection of your futon does not need to be strictly functional without fashion. Futon slipcovers come in a variety of patterns that can match nearly every taste. Again, depending upon the type of look that you are going for, you can use your cover to enhance the look of the space without overpowering. Covers come in varieties from basic solid colors of primary colors, muted tones on up to your favorite ’80s colors in bright pinks or neon. Patterns can also be found with animal prints, florals, and more elegant looking styles as well.

Think About The Function When Deciding On Fabrics For Your Futon Mattress Cover

Fabric choices will also be a factor when you are deciding on your choice of futon cover. It is suggested that you

Here is a sample floral print by Aya Fabric (www.ayafabric.com) that can be used to get a custom futon cover made.

match the fabric with its most frequent uses. For example, using a microfiber suede or linen type cover is not recommended where kids and animals will be jumping up on it. Common sense applies here of course. You might, however, opt for a leather option as it can wear quite well with pets and children. For a child’s play area, the best fabric choices are cottons and cotton blends with usually some kind of patterned print or something dark for obvious reasons.

With the resurgence in the popularity of futons in many homes, there has been a shift towards modern looks as well as the more traditional Japanese appearance. Futon beds and basic frames are still popular for college dorms and serve a much more utilitarian over fashion function. However, in finer homes, futon sofa-sleepers are the perfect solution for the empty-nesters who have the occasional house guests coming to stay for a short period. They work very well in a guest room or home office/guest room.

If the case is one where you use yours for extra seating in an entertaining area and crave variety, then futon covers are your perfect solution. When you put a slip cover on your futon, you give yourself options that didn’t exist before. If you are thinking ahead, you can even get several covers and have them ready to change out when the mood strikes. In times that call for more spark, go for the animal print or bold color or pattern choice. Trying to create that more intimate or subdued feel, then use a muted color or elegant pattern.

This is how restful and zen-like your space could be, you would need to consider this for your choice of the right futon cover.

Covers for your futon can be the ultimate expression of your creativity and personality. Green conscious home owners even have natural organic materials and hemp as possible options for futon covers. When it comes to something so seemingly simple as putting a cover on a sofa or couch, you might never know how much your personality can come through. It is cheaper and definitely much quicker than painting a room or buying new furniture. In fact, you can order your a cover for your futon online, have it shipped to your home, wash it and have it on your couch in under a week. Best wishes, thanks for stopping by and happy shopping!

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What Size Futon Are You Trying To Cover?

What particular size futon do you own or are looking to cover?  If it’s a bed you’re looking to protect or spruce up, you’ll find full futon covers and queen futon covers much more easily.  King sized ones do exist but for some reason they are harder to find.  It may have something to do with the fact that as people move up in bed size, they typically go for a more traditional mattress choice.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that….we’re just partial to the futon.  If you’ve got a twin, these are also popular because sometimes the manufacturers interchange full/twin language and/or combine them in description pages etc.  So, remember this as you search.

Do Futon Covers Exist For Other Pieces of ‘Futo-niture’?

Here is a futon chair covered with a royal blue cover.

If it is another piece of furniture for a guest room or lounge area, you are also in luck.  Many people choose futon sofa covers for areas where they don’t want to commit to painting or changing the whole look of a room, so they’ll opt to change out their slipcovers instead.  It’s much less effort and depending on if you go for, say,  cotton twill futon covers vs. more expensive suede or leather fabrics, it can also be less expensive than painting a whole area.   Many people will not even notice that it is the same piece of furniture if you have several different futon couch covers.  The whole look of your room can change so easily, that their attention can be drawn to the other elements in the room that you wish to highlight.

You may or may not be aware that there are many different types of furniture made in the futon way.  You may just own a mattress and frame and be unaware that futon chairs, loungers, and other styles existed.  These versatile pieces of furniture are actually making a comeback in homes where space is at a premium and people the flexibility they provide.  Some people entertain guests and this gives them instant sleeping options.  Now, with the myriad of futon covers to choose from, they can entertain often and not feel like their guests are ever getting bored.  In fact, some people buy several styles that match their guests’ interest and can change them out quickly and easily to add that personal touch for their guests to feel welcomed and at ease.  Remember, there are so many options, don’t limit yourself to one.

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What’s The Deal With Hemp As A Futon Mattress Cover?

Hemp comes in various ounce styles - this is a 14 oz. sample - that have different 'tightness' to the fabric. All hemp will feel rougher at first, then soften with use.

Now, because of its popular uses in health, nutrition and its ‘green’ qualities, it’s making a comeback.  Hemp material is making a big impact in the clothing and apparel business.  Because of this, hemp fabric has become much more readily available.  There was a time when hemp would have been much more prohibitively expensive, but not any more.  Some top designers and fashion icons have used hemp in some of their lines over the last several years.  Various celebrities have also been quite vocal about their support of hemp and wear hemp clothing to some award shows.  The obvious standout here is Woody Harrelson who – ahem – may also be indulging in the ‘hemp-related’ smoke-able product.

What makes hemp such a great choice for futon covers?  Basically, it is a plant whose properties allow it to be grown and created into fabric; not a totally foreign idea (hint:  organic futon covers).  Hemp is a quite hearty plant and can tolerate harsher growing conditions, making it less likely to need chemical treatment to produce a profitable yield.  The abundance of organic hemp fabrics are a testament to this.  Hemp is also very durable.  It can take a lot of abuse and still maintain its strength, shape and form.  These qualities make it great for futon slipcovers.

Another quality, just briefly alluded to is hemp’s propensity to be a greener product.  Just mentioned is its heartiness in various growing conditions.  Less chemicals are needed to grow it and thus less is put into the earth.  Another green property is its ability to grow quickly.  Much like bamboo, that can be grown and harvested rather quickly, it is a sustainable resource in some respects.

One unique property of hemp is that it wears a bit like denim.  Like your favorite pair of jeans that get better with age and wear, so goes hemp.  Hemp feels a bit more stiff or ‘abrasive’ at first.  But, with normal wear and use, will soften to a more comfortable feel.  This simple fact alone will cut down on any futon cover repair bills.  Many hemp fabrics will maintain their natural look at market and will have a light caramel or tan color.  The unique properties of hemp fibers give it a more natural and organic feel about them.  Much like their organic cotton fiber friends, hemp fabrics can be laundered similarly.  In fact, if your chair covers (or bed) ever get too ‘ripe’ you, rest assured your futon cover cleaning is a snap.  If the choice is between organic cotton or hemp futon covers for similar colors and uses, you might find hemp to be a great choice.

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It’s been well established that the contents of many typical brand name and popular ‘traditional’ mattresses contain several different types of chemicals and compounds that will ‘off-gas’, especially when new – which is how most people prefer to buy their mattresses.  Now, while futon covers won’t necessarily block this off gassing as they are fabric and allow gases to come through, they will be a wonderful complement to protect your organic futon mattress.  So, what’s so special about organic covers, sheets, or bedding you might be wondering?

Other Types of Futon Slipcovers Are Available

Look at all these futon cover fabric options to choose from.

What makes organic cotton slipcovers so appealing is for their health benefits to you and the guests you care about.  You might now want to put one on the in-laws futon, but that’s your business – hehe.  Really, wouldn’t you rather know that just a few inches away from your nose and mouth is a totally safe, organic fabric that won’t irritate or harm you?  Whether you use your futon as a couch, lounger, or bed – the benefits of organic are clear.  There are other health benefits as well.  Because organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides and such, you can be comfortable knowing that your other ‘resting place’ (ie. planet earth) will not be harmed by such chemicals.  Many times, the companies that make and market organic cotton futon covers will also use natural dyes or some stitching to enhance the look even further.  Not only that, many of these companies will also employ fair labor practices by paying fair wages and avoiding sweatshop labor.  This is certainly an added bonus – and think, you just thought you were helping yourself with your new organic covers.

Since there are several manufacturers of these futon bed covers, you’ll want to do a little more research before settling on one.  Check to make sure that all these qualities exist with the company you choose.  Also, if your slipcover has a zipper, brass is the way to go.  One more important note:  make sure to order the size of your futon cover about 2″ deeper than your futon mattress height to allow for shrinkage that will occur.  For example, your futon mattress is 6″ tall, order the 8″ size cover.

How do you care for your organic cotton covers?  The recommendations for washing futon covers are to use mild, biodegradable detergents (no bleach) and tumble dry low (remove promptly) – same as you would for many of your other regular cottons.

Finally, what can you expect to pay for one of these organic futon covers?  You should check around online because prices do vary greatly.  You shouldn’t spend more than a few hundred, depending on the size of your futon mattress.

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Here is a modern print cover for your futon that is sure to save you from those boring solid colors.

Because of their ease of use and ability to transform a room in moments by simply changing what you’ve got covering the futon mattress itself.  As you continue your search, you will find that there are styles, fabrics and sizes to fit any futon mattress and any budget.  From roughly $30 for basic cotton covers in a simple pattern up to $300 or more for luxurious fabrics and patterns, like leather.  Or, as one contestant would say on one of those ‘Project Runway’ seasons ‘letha’.  Yes, she was from New York.  Yup, can you believe it, leather futon covers!

Whether you’re used to futon slipcovers or not, it will take you about the time it takes to put away your laundry to have your new cover in place.  The hard part is picking which one to buy.  That’s where this site comes in.  We’re dedicated to covering all the angles you can think of.  If there is something we’ve missed, stay tuned, because it will show up in a future article here.  If it exists in the futon world, it will be discussed here.  That’s what is so great about the internet, we’re actually able to have a forum to discuss specific topics like this.

Remember, the internet is a great place to search for cheap futon mattress covers, but that doesn’t mean you will scrimp on quality.  In future posts we’re going to talk about a specific fabric and its pros and cons.  It’s not necessarily a discount futon cover, but it isn’t made of gold or silk thread either.  If you think you already know what fabric you’re going to go with, hold on!  If you are stuck on leather, then we can’t stop you (it is pretty cool) but you’ll get some benefit from reading our next installment.  Hint:  these futon covers are good for you AND your guest beds for several reasons.

As you can easily tell, this site is all about furnishing your room with inexpensive futon chairs and mattresses. It is also about covering them with a wide variety of fabrics, like leather or cotton, satin, silk, and velvet. When you cover you futon mattress, you want to use a fabric that is highly durable and easily cleanable.  After all, you don’t want your mattress or sofa couch perfume and cologne samples.  All you need to do is take it off and put on a new one.  In fact, you should design your cover with a zipper across one of the dimensions, so that you can remove your futon mattress cover and clean it.

However, as I have mentioned, you do not necessarily need to sacrifice fabric quality to stay within a budget. One approach is to buy a futon mattress, cover it with durable fabric, then using a bit more luxury in the covering that you buy. For example, on top of the cotton sheets or other bedding that you use on your futon mattress, you could use a Discount Satin Comforter. Discount satin comforters can be a real bargain and can make your futon mattress much more luxurious. Decorating your room on a budget can still mean that your futon mattress, bedding, and comforter are all beautiful.

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This is why you might need to get a futon cover - protection from your pets.

Many people just don’t realize how much they can save you in terms of wear and tear and clean-up.  While they may not work as well as using a flea bomb for your pets, they can at the very least keep them from getting into the mattress material.  For example, a cover on a guest couch/sleeper can be changed along with the sheets to keep your guests feeling clean and comfortable each time.  Also, imagine having a few different styles of futon mattress covers and being able to change the look of a room drastically in only minutes flat!  They talk about how easily and cheaply paint change affect the look of a room, imagine what updating and enhancing your covers can do in much less time and no mess to clean up!  There are so many varieties to choose from these days that you’ll find a quick browse online will just get your imaginative juices flowing.

There are so many styles.  Does a worn out looking beige or black futon cover have you feeling dingy and old?  Well, for under $100 in most cases, you can completely change your old dusty and hole-riddled futon slipcover for faux suede or animal print futon covers.  If you like, you can go for leather futon covers (heck, even faux leather covers) are available.  The only limit to the look of your futon is likely your own imagination.  Get online and look around, you’ll see colors and styles that you never thought of!

Are you thinking about going green? No, not the color.  Environmentally friendly style green.  You can even find organic cottons and hemp fabrics as cover materials.  Not only can these be more hip but hemp also has greater durability to it.  While these fabrics may cost slightly more, you will be saving in the long run.  Not only that, your friends will know who to ask next when they are thinking about doing the same thing.

It really all comes down to personal style.  Part of your style is that you like the laid back, comfortable, flexible and simple styling offered by having a futon in the first place.  They are a great way to get a perfect night’s sleep for your weary guests and provide better support and comfort than those air mattresses.  To get more bang for your decorating buck, get some new futon covers and enjoy the rest of your week knowing that at least you don’t have to worry about THAT project for a while.

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