If you’re looking to furnish your living room, you’ve no doubt wondered if it would be better to purchase a traditional sofa or invest in a futon. Traditional sofas are more expensive than futons, but often have a more polished looking exterior and are thought to provide more comfortable seating. But this is not always the case. Not every futon looks like it belongs in a college dorm room, and some futons are just as comfortable, if not more comfortable, than their sofa counterparts. So how can you know if a futon is a better choice for you?
Here are some factors to consider:
How formal is the room you’re furnishing?
If you’re furnishing a formal parlor, you might opt for the upholstered appearance of a traditional sofa. Even so, some highend futon frames are made with such lovely traditional lines, that they would not be out of place. Futons aren’t the metal-barred or wood-slatted monstrosities they used to be, and offer choices ranging from classical to country to contemporary. Chances are, there’s a futon style that will suit you. Moreover, because you can change the futon cover for minimal cost, you can change the appearance of your room with a new dash of color, or pattern whenever you like.
Is your sofa or futon likely to be exposed to much wear and tear?
If you have pets, children, or a lifestyle that takes a toll on your furniture, that’s a strong indication you should consider a futon instead of a traditional sofa. To keep a sofa clean, you’ll have to cover it almost all the time. This is inconvenient, and can mar the appearance of your furniture on a day-to-day basis. With a futon, you can change the cover for minimal cost whenever you wish. Also, they zip right off the mattress for easy washing. You can have a pair of futon covers that you useon a day to day basis, and replace them with a more formal set of futon covers when you are entertaining.
Do you need extra sleeping space?
If you need extra sleeping space for guests or relatives and the choice is between a sofa bed or a futon, choose the futon every time. Even the most well-designed sofa beds inevitably sag and torture your guests with a metal bar across their back. A futon is designed differently, to evenly distribute pressure. Moreover, new inner spring mattresses are available for futons so that you can expand it into a much more comfort in a bed than a sofa can provide.
How do you primarily use your sofa?
Do you sit straight up most of the time, or do you spend most of your time laying down in front of the television. If you spend more time sitting upright, a traditional sofa might be best for you. But if you like to sack out on the couch, a futon will be the more flexible furniture option. You can open it up and snuggle with your honey, for example. Or you can keep it folded up, and enjoy the firmness of a quality mattress underneath you.
What’s your price range?
Remember that you can almost always afford more seating for the money in a futon than you can in a traditional sofa. The drawbacks are that you may have to assemble the futon yourself, and you may need to invest in extra pillows to make up for having upholstered arms. Even so, if price is your main concern, futons are probably the way to go.
