In my younger days...we always had the type of futon shown in my link - where you pick the style of frame and the mattress cover. I only used mine as a bed when I had guests, but my roommate slept on hers all the time and she thought is was very comfortable. (I don't think I would care for it).

Here is a link that might be useful: futons

I think futons are more comfortable than hide-a-beds. With a hide-a-bed, unless you pop for a upgraded mattress, the bars in the bed always make themselves knows.

Yes. I have a very comfortable futon and it's much more comfortable than the mattress on my sofabed (and my sofabed actually has a good quality sofabed mattress). I bought the futon at a local futon store. Like yaya says, it's the mattress that counts. I tried various futons on display until I found a mattress that I liked. My futon mattress is almost as thick as the mattress on a real bed. We don't have room for the futon in our study, otherwise I'd definitely use it for guests; so I just took out the extra piece (it's a 2 piece mattress b/c it's really too thick to look good folded over the back of the frame) and we just use it as a small loveseat on our enclosed porch.

A lot of people I know prefer a futon and nothing else. It all depends on the quality of the futon. Most are custom made.

But it sounds like to me that your son means he wants a convertible sofa/bed and not just a futon. I can't see a convertible being used everyday. They are great for a guest room. But is he going to want to go through the hassle of opening and closing the thing all the time? What about the sheets to protect the futon? And hauling out the blankets and pillows? It sounds like a lot of work.

If he really wants a futon for comfort just get a platform.

You may want to look into a day bed.

yayagal & robin - Do you have a picture of your futon?

dilly_dally - I think my son actually wants a futon. I was just looking at the convertible sofa beds because I thought they might be more comfortable. Is a platform the same size as a regular bed? His room is small, so he's wanting a futon because it takes up less space. BTW, can you go back to my insurance question on the conversation forum when you get a chance. I wanted to know more about you were talking about.

mcps - I was wondering if there was such thing as a futon store. I'll have to see if we have one in this area.

Laurie

You can get a futon platform in any size. You can get a futon in any size too. Your best bet is to go to a futon store that sells nothing else but futons and the platforms to go with them.

Platforms tend to be rather minimalistic in design but maybe your son is trying to tell you something - he doesn't want anything "fussy". Maybe he want a 'blank slate' room he can decorate himself?

Twin size platforms. One with storage underneath:

{{!gwi}}

A futon on a folding frame will take up less floor space when folded.

Maybe he want a "couch" in his room so he can hang with his friends without having to sit on the bed? Boys can be funny about things like that. Here is a bunkbed style.

yayagal & robin - Do you know if your futon mattress has springs in it? I went to look a them today and they had 4 different mattresses to choose from. The one with the springs was $120 extra. The Serta was even more than that, but I think the one with the springs felt the most comfortable.

Laurie

Springs?? Futons do not have springs.

If you want a decent futon you have to go to a futon store. Sure they sell futons at some other places but it looks like since they do not sell many of them, the sales personnel do not know what a futon is. Or maybe they just want to make a quick sale and move some stock.

Here is a link that might be useful: Futon Definition

dilly_dally - Here's an article I found yesterday. It says the original futon mattress were made from cotton batting, but now people are wanting more comfort and longevity from their mattress and so the innerspring mattress was created 10 years ago.

Here's a picture of one with the springs. It still looks like a futon, just with a different type of mattress.

{{!gwi}}

Laurie

Here is a link that might be useful: Futon mattresses

Wow. That is fascinating. I did not know about the hybrid models. And they have a hinge in the middle for folding! I love learning new things like this on this forum.

Thanks for the link!

I bought a futon and mattress about 10 years ago. The mattress has springs in it and my Mom, who is pretty much the primary guest who sleeps on it, loves it. She hated the one I had before that had no springs. It was made by a name brand compnay but not Simmons. It looks similar to the one Laurie posted.

Robin

If he is going to use it every night the one with springs would probably be best and most comfortable. That is why some on them come with the two cushions now because they can't be folded like the others.

DD

Mine has springs and can be folded.

We got rid of our futon because we got such a great mattress it wasn't comfortable to sit on when in upright position.

I've found that if you want a futon that is comfortable to sit on you shouldn't get the queen size. The queen size is just too wide. Your feet won't touch the ground and the top is too high in the back. The other thing I figured out is the futons in the store have been sat on and moved up and down etc. so they're broken in. Our new one was so stiff it was impossible to get back to the sitting position from the bed position - also because it had springs and was very heavy.

If he's going to sleep on it it will take up the same amount of room as a bed. They are not the easiest things to open and close for one person. If he definitely wants to be able to use it as a couch and a bed you should get a light weight thin mattress. The thicker ones are great as a bed, but not as a couch. Also, how much does he weigh? Unless he's a teenager pushing 180 lbs + he doesn't need the extra springs etc...

Just my experience. Our $1000+ futon was sold on Craig's List after hardly ever being used. We now have a couch!

Caroleoh - The salesman told us the new mattress will be harder to fold up. It didn't look that hard when he did it, but I didn't think about it being broken in. My son will use it more as a bed than a couch, but he wants the option to close it if he needs more space in his room. Even though a part of me would still like for him to get a bed, he's been begging me for a futon for awhile, so I think we're going to get one. The only problem is it doesn't come with matching bedroom furniture, so I'll have to try and find something close to the color of the wood.

Laurie