When my futon couch was to be used as a bed, I put a mattress pad (I used a breathable waterproof one to protect the futon cover) and fitted sheet right over the cover. The covers were a bear to take off and put on so I preferred to fool with that as little as possible! Waterbed sheets are great for futons - the top sheet is fitted at the foot, just like a bottom sheet, so the darn thing stays in place. Since a futon mattress is more flexible than a conventional mattress, it's easier for the top sheet to pull out. They're not easy to find, though. (The older style of waterbed sheets where the top sheet is sewn onto the bottom one at the foot is a stinker to wash and dry.)

As for whether your middle-aged house guests will be cursing you, that's a big YMMV. A thick, high-quality futon mattress with springs and plenty of foam padding (conventional foam, memory foam, or both), is FAR superior to the old-style all-cotton or all-wool ones that mat down something fierce and become hard and lumpy. You want one that can be flipped because the cotton/cotton-like batting that is the outermost padding layer on most futons can pack down and flipping and turning the futon can minimize the effects.

If you haven't already chosen your frame, I suggest looking for a "wall hugger" style that doesn't need to be hauled away from the wall to be converted to bed form, and a mechanism that one person can open or close. Some of them really have to be wrestled around and that's a pain (sometimes literally!). If you can, sit or lie on the futon you're considering in the store, when it's in its bed position, as some of them can be tippy.

mari, thanks for your guidance. I was considering buying this West Elm futon (link below), I found it on Craig's List. The mattress has foam, but no springs. Of course, I don't know if it is easy to arrange, but I'm assuming it isn't or they would have mentioned it, don't you think?

I'm thinking I should pass. Do you agree?

Nicole

Here is a link that might be useful: West Elm futon

Some of my worst "guest" experiences have involved futons. Nothing worse than a grouchy houseguest...especially if its me. :-)

I'd look into a high quality air mattress instead. A Select Comfort mattress can be stored rolled up and can be found on CL. Yes, getting up from a mattress on the floor is also difficult, but far less of an issue than the pain potential of a futon or another bad mattress.

We have a great sofabed for guests, purchased at Pottery Barn (Mitchell Gold) about 7 years ago. It cost a fortune, but it makes the guest room a room we can use between visits. Two separate guests, each with back troubles, claimed to feel better than usual after sleeping on the sofabed. Go figure.

"Some of my worst "guest" experiences have involved futons."

Amen to that!

I would rather sleep on an AeroBed that any futon... any futons I tried were too uncomfortable! One had me roaming the house with a kinked back at 3 am.

Some of my worst "guest" experiences have involved futons.

Heh. Last time I said that I got practically burned at the stake (medium rare) by all the people who thought futons were the best thing since the ballpoint pen. I've had several futons over the years, as my primary bed and as living room seating and guest sleeping accomodations, so I think I have a pretty informed opinion when it comes to disliking them, but I insist on covering my @$$ with a "YMMV"!

Anyway, Nicole, even if you are bent on futon-ing, I would pass on that particular one. The style of the frame is very "broke college student" (the exposed slat ends are a dead giveaway), the mattress is chintzy, and it would be a real bear to get in and out of when it's in bed form because it's so low. That more than anything would have your middle-aged guests cussing.

The style of the frame is very "broke college student" (the exposed slat ends are a dead giveaway)

Well, ironically I wasn't really looking for a futon until this one caught my eye. I liked the exposed slats and the armless structure - it looked more Asian to me. Which is, I guess, what I expect a futon to look like. It seems every other one I have seen try to pretend they a Mission couches. Who are they fooling?

But you are right that it is too low and the mattress is not good.

Thank you again for your feedback, I appreciate it. You all have convinced me that futons are not for me!

Nicole

Just to add fuel to the fire---liking or disliking a futon may be related to how soft a mattress one likes. We lost our home to the 2004 hurricane season and have been sleeping on a futon in a rental condo until this past weekend since then. We furnished the condo as cheaply as possible while still trying to maintain some sense of style and comfort and the futon was a good choice for us. I tend to like a firmer mattress and never felt the futon was to hard or lumpy as some told me it would be. This past weekend we moved into the new house and I slept on the new pillow top mattress and it felt like heaven, literally sleeping on a cloud. Maybe this was because we worked so hard moving and setting up everything in the new house. In any event, sleeping on a futon for me is so far preferable to sleeping on any convertible sofa bed I've ever tried that if it is only for a night or two for guests with no back problems then I think a futon is a good choice. I must say though that the West Elm futon pictured above may be good for sleeping but I question its day to day seating ability.