What is a futon?

Answer 1

a futon is a type of mattress that makes up a Japanese bed. They are sold in Japan at specialty stores called futon-ya as well as at department stores.
Japanese futons are flat, about 5 cm (2 in) thick with a fabric exterior stuffed with cotton or synthetic batting. They are often sold in sets which include the futon mattress (shikibuton), a comforter (kakebuton) or blanket (mōfu), a summer blanket resembling a large towel (towelket), and pillow (makura), generally filled with beans, buckwheat chaff or plastic beads. Such sets can be purchased for under 10,000 yen (US$90 as of 2005).
Futons are designed to be placed on tatami flooring, and are traditionally folded away and stored in a closet during the day to allow the tatami to breathe and to allow for flexibility in the use of the room. Futons must be aired in sunlight regularly, especially if not put away during the day. In addition, many Japanese people beat their futons regularly using a special tool, traditionally made from bamboo, resembling a Western carpet beater.
Western futons are only loosely based on the Japanese original, with several major differences. They are often placed on a configurable frame for dual use as a bed and a couch, but are not intended to be stored away during the day. They are usually filled with foam as well as batting, often in several layers, and are almost always much thicker and larger than Japanese futons, resembling a traditional mattress in size. Western-style futons are a cheap alternative to a bed or other furniture, and are often sold in sets that include the mattress and frame; in fact, in the United States, "futon" often refers to the frame, not the mattress. Most Japanese people would not recognize a Western-style "futon" as a futon.

Answer 2

A futon is a type of bed or couch. It is Japanese in origin. Futons traditionally have a wooden frame and fold down to make a bed and fold up to make a space-saving couch during the day, but now they have Futon mattresses that are made just to be beds. Western futons are much larger than Japanese futons, and have foam batting. One major difference of futons and regular mattresses is that futons don't have springs.

Answer 3

A futon is a piece of furniture. It is part bed, part sofa. They are usually located in a parlor, next to a wall. People use them to sit or recline on while reading or just resting. Futons are not very comfortable for permanent beds, because the are very narrow. More for decoration than anything else.

Answer 4

In a nutshell it's a couch that folds out into a bed, but it's different from a typical couch because its frame is usually simpler and shows more wood. Check out this page -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futon

Answer 5

A large cushion, often used as a bed. Often, futons are sold with adjustable frames so that they can be used either as a bed or a couch.

Answer 6

i might say spend the thousand to get a solid futon or settee mattress via fact a less expensive futon is style of a mattress of nails. yet confident i'm with you i think of a elementary ole settee is a waist. I grew up with sleep sofas they are considered necessary for me.

Answer 7

Came from Japan/China it is a couch that folds out into a bed. There are different sizes. Some come on the bottom of a bunk bed. I have one and it is awsome!!

Answer 8

A frame that can be folded up to make a couch or folded down flat to make a bed.
It is topped with a flexible mattress.
The frame may be made of metal or wood.
The original Japanese construction was usually made of wood.

Answer 9

I think it is a couch sort of thing that can fold out in to a bed for company to sleep on.

Answer 10

A foldaway sofa that has hollow cast pipe limbs. These serve popularly as a bed for say a relatives visit.