Futons are extremely versatile and comfortable, both for sleeping and entertaining, and help to make small spaces feel bigger.

1. Paint your room. It may seem simple, but the color of paint on the walls of your bedroom can make all the difference. You want something pleasing but not dull, but also, something you find soothing. Greens and blues are often good for a bedroom, but a good red color can promote romance. Add what you think works best but avoid anything too bright or busy (if you prefer wall paper).
2. Get new bed accessories. Once you have chosen a wall color, you want to pull your room together with new sheets, comforter and pillows. Don’t forget about new drapes as well. These do not have to be expensive, but they do have to match your new room. Get something to compliment your wall color. If you choose mustard yellow, for example, a light teal blue will go well with it. Get a new comforter, drapes, and throw pillows in complimentary colors and your room will look amazing.
3. Evaluate you wall hangings. If you have pictures of your family and friends in your bedroom, you could be ruining a good night of sleep. Anything hanging on the walls should be a décor item. Save the pictures for other rooms. When thinking about things to hang in your bedroom to spruce it up, choose a few larger pieces that you love and make you feel calm. Avoid large clusters of small items and busy prints for your walls.
4. Add space. While it might be impossible to add more room to your bedroom, you can make it feel bigger by choosing to have a white ceiling and white trim no matter what wall color you have chosen. This opens up the room and makes it seem bigger. You can also add mirrors around the room. They reflect light and make a room appear larger. Another great suggestion is to use a futon in your room that can double as sofa. Futons are extremely versatile and comfortable, both for sleeping and entertaining.
5. Get one new piece of bedroom furniture that you love. You don’t have to spend a lot, but go out and get one new piece of bedroom furniture to match with your new room. You can find a great end table or perhaps a new dresser that you love or perhaps a free standing, framed mirror. Something new can certainly add renewed excitement to a room that has seemed dull and lifeless thus far.

Caring for your futon mattress can add years to the longevity of your futon bed or sofa.

The futon mattress is your main concern when thinking about how to care for your futon. Much like the mattress on your bed, you want to make sure it stays relatively dry and clean. How hard or easy this is depends on how it is used. Those that are used all of the time should be flipped once a month and the sheets should be changed as needed, but at least once a week. If wetness happens, it should be cleaned up immediately and then the mattress should air dry, outdoors if possible. Just remember to watch out for rain.

Cleaning the mattress is not that hard, but it should be something you keep up with on a regular basis. When there has been a spill or other type of wetness that may stain or cause a odor, use a mattress cleaner, mild detergent with water, or an upholstery cleaner to get it clean as soon as you can. Again, air it out to be sure it is dry. If you must, use a vinyl sheet on it to keep it cleaner for a longer time or use a mattress protector that can not only make the sleeping surface more comfortable but also protect it from moisture. Don’t forget to vacuum your futon mattress when you are cleaning your home to keep dust and pet hair from piling up on and in the mattress.

You can protect your mattress with a futon mattress cover made just for the futon sized mattress. This will help it enjoy a longer life. You should also take the time to air out the mattress at least twice a year – more often if it is used a lot – in the outdoor air, again watching out for rain. This keeps it fresh and helps eliminate odors that build up over time. Also remember to keep your frame in good shape, especially if it is wood. Keep that dry as well and dust often.

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.

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.

Microfiber covered furniture, such as this Microfiber Space Saver Sofa Bed, are extremely durable, easy to clean and plush.

Microfiber also has the unique property of cleaning well on dry as well as wet surfaces. On wet surfaces it breaks down surface area tension and easily absorbs dirt and moisture particles. It is an absorbent material, which is actually able to hold up to seven times its weight in water. On dry surfaces, microfiber uses static energy to attract and trap dust and dirt particles with ease without leaving behind residue. Since the surface area of microfiber threads is larger than materials such as cotton, it is able to pick up much more dirt.

Microfiber is now being used more frequently for clothing, making it an acceptable alternative to cotton. It is soft to the touch, comfortable as well as durable. It is commonly used for sporting apparel such as soccer jerseys and military fatigues. Microfiber clothing material manages to easily transfer moisture away from a person’s body while regulating body temperature. The fabric also does not cause irritation to the skin.

Sofas upholstered with microfiber are becoming increasingly popular due to their low maintenance and supple nature. Microfiber futon covers are also excellent way of adding a splash of color and suede-like feel to your futon furniture. Sofas and futons in living areas often become stained due to regular contact, but those draped in microfiber are highly stain resistant, and can be easily wiped clean with a damp cloth. In most cases, stains that appear on microfiber furniture can be wiped clean even after 24 hours of sitting.

Due to its velvety nature, which is quite similar to the texture of suede, microfiber is gentle on all surfaces and does not leave any marks, streaks or scratches. The material is also one of the most durable and comfortable fabrics used on furniture.

Majestic Sit & Sleep is proud to provide the best quality organic and natural latex mattresses. Our new line of green living mattresses help to lower the CO2 levels in the air all while getting you the rest you deserve in a healthy and clean sleeping environment free of chemicals.

Small Space? We have the solution! Majestic Sit & Sleep carries a large selection of futons and space saver sofa beds. Whether it’s for you, the last minute guest, the sudden roommate or the inlaws, we have something that fits whatever your style and needs may be!

Visit Majestic Sit & Sleep with two convenient locations in Vancouver, British Columbia. View our full selection of mattresses, bedding and furniture online through our website www.majesticfuton.com.