Futons are a perfect addition to a smaller living space because of their versatility to function both as a bed and a sofa or loveseat.

Space is something that is not always in abundance, especially when it comes to living quarters. A nice, breezy house is a luxury for some people, and for others it is just a way of life. If you are young and just starting out, chances are good that you do not have as much space as you hope to have one day. If you are in college, you probably will find you never feel as if you have enough living space. There are some great ways to save space, and buying a futon is one of the best.

A futon is a bed that converts easily into a sofa or loveseat. Because they are so versatile, you save space that would ordinarily be taken up by your bed and a sofa. Not only that, they can be taken apart and stored in a normal sized closet if you really have to open up some space and you don’t have any other options. The futon mattresses are thick enough to be comfortable, but can generally be folded in half so that they can stand upright behind a door if needed. For some people, space is that tight.

Space saver futons also come in handy when you have some space, but you have to have a bit more on special occasions. These types of futons can be opened and used for guests, and the pushed away for the rest of the time. If you only have guests once in a while, and you do not have a spare room to reserved for guests, or you just do not have them often enough to warrant a guest room, a futon is certainly a great option to be sure you are prepared when guests do arrive.

There are not only a number of space saving benefits of futons, but they save money too. You can buy a futon that is relatively comfortable for a few hundred dollars. You can buy some cheaper, but they won’t be quite as nice to sleep on. They may never rival a really nice mattress, but they can certainly do the job when needed. In fact, they can be much more comfortable than a sleeper pull-out sofa bed, which will cost quite a bit more and is always quite a bit heavier. When considering all options, the futon is a great way to go.

Mattress protectors protect your mattress from spills and stains while protecting you from allergens and providing a breathable barrier between you and your mattress.

Mattress protectors have two major purposes: to protect the mattress and protect the health of the sleeper. Mattress protectors are used to give protection to individuals from irritations and allergens such as bed bugs, dust mites, dead skin and mold. Some brands of mattress protectors are also useful for joint support and backache ache control and can help individuals with Fibromyalgia, arthritis, sleep disorders and fatigue.

For the sleepers, mattress protectors are recommended to those who are sensitive to allergens, especially dust mites. This is because dust mites create wastes that can irritate the airway linings of lungs. These allergies are particularly common in children and can lead to asthma and/or skin irritations, such as eczema.

Another benefit of mattress protectors is they help to moderate body temperature thus improving sleeping conditions. Top quality mattress protectors, such as Protect-A-Bed, are made to repel liquids but remain breathable. This helps to keep you cool while you sleep.

Mattress protectors can be washed in a machine and tumble dried, making them very easy to clean and care for. Mattress protectors come equipped with an expandable skirt that ensures  they fit all depths and types of mattresses, including memory foam mattresses, innersprings mattresses, latex mattresses and futon mattresses. Mattress protectors are very thin and do not detract from the comfort of your existing mattress.

Originally from Japan, futons are thin mattresses and were typically designed to be spread on special kind of flooring common in Japan known as tatami. This flooring was in the form of mats that were made of rice straw. Tatami covered the floors of most of their houses. The actual word “futon” in Japanese means bedding, and included the futon mattresses and duvet coverings or comforters.

Futon Space Savers, such as this futon loveseat, make small spaces larger and more functional.

In Japanese the mattress like structure that is today referred to as futon is known as shikibuton while the duvet is known as kakebuton. Original Futons were slightly different in structure. They measured about two or three inches in thickness and were made of long staple cotton which happens to be the most valuable part of an unprocessed cotton ball. This long staple made the futon sturdy and prevented any bumps or pulling apart of the mattress. As a ritual, the Japanese took their futons to what was then known as a futon specialist who removed the outer covering, washes the cotton and returns the covering. The same was done for the beddings used to cover. This practice was carried out once every year.

A daily practice among the Japanese involves rolling out futons every night to sleep on and roll them up again in the morning. They are usually stored in closets during the day or put out to air in the sun. Apart from the fact that they were comfortable, Japanese people like the portability of the futon and this was due to space being very important and well regarded in ancient Japanese culture.

The Futon concept has been adapted in various cultures by becoming common bedding in many parts of the world. Unlike in traditional Japanese culture, other cultures use futons for various uses and not only for sleeping on. In America the futon began to gain its foothold in the late 1960’s and early seventies. What started with a few Japanese people introducing it to American friends turned into a flourishing industry. Futons started being hand made in America through cottage industries, which distributed them to different locations.

The concept started being slowly adopted by people outside the Japanese culture owing to its comfort and its ability to save space. As the industry grew, the popularity of the futon created the need for formal regulation. Federal standards began to be complied with in the mid seventies and required the manufactures to carry out similar standardizing texts as conventional mattress makers. The irony is that the western style futons are now just as popular in Japan as they are in other parts of the world. Modern futons are now mass produced all over the world in various shapes and styles.