Advantages of futon sofa beds
Futon sofa beds and futon chair beds have become popular in the west for many of the same reasons you see them in the east: economy of space. If you live in tight quarters, a futon sofa bed is a great way to save money on furniture by buying a single piece that doubles as a bed. College students or young people just starting out find futons a good basic furniture option.
Futon sofa bed frames
If you are using a futon bed or futon sofa bed both day and night, you will be reconfiguring the frame for sleeping at night and back into a sofa during the day. That means that you need a frame that can stand up to the special wear that comes with being converted on a regular basis. Hardwoods or metal are essential materials. Also check the hinges and movable joints for good construction. Generally, if you get a well-built frame, you'll find it tends to look better as well.
Choosing a futon sofa bed mattress
Choosing a futon mattress for a futon bed versus a futon sofa bed or futon chair bed means you need to consider some different factors. The weight of a futon will influence how easy (or hard) it is to reconfigure the futon sofa into a bed. Rigidity of the futon mattress will determine how easily the mattress folds over the frame when it's serving as a sofa or chair. Many futon mattresses have ratings for rigidity as well as the weight. Talk to your dealer for more information.
Futon bed covers
Just as you would pay attention to the upholstery of a good couch, you must do the same for a futon sofa bed or futon chair bed. The futon cover is primarily decorative but it also serves the very important function of protecting the mattress from dirt and spills. There are a variety of fabrics available, but one advantage is that the more casual look of futon furniture makes it easier to use hard-wearing fabrics like denim for a futon cover.