futons

[Ksandra]

[asshole]If you put as much effort into getting a decent job as you are into figuring out what type of futon to get, you wouldn't have to live at your boyfriend's parents house because you're broke[/asshole]

That's great coming from someone who has no idea about our job situation in the first place.

plus, engagement rings/weddings/buying a house are so cheap amirite, better to break our backs working and get all that in 10 years rather than saving cash now!

note: we can afford an apartment and to make a short story, we were renting a room in a house to help people on their mortgage, when the owner one day decided she'd rent the whole house to a co-worker even though we were still on the lease. We debated on getting a new apartment, but decided to move back in with the rents to save money in hopes we can get closer to what I listed above a little faster. Omg we must be so immature.

All right, so here's some information on futon mattresses.

1. If you want to buy one because you'd like to fold it up and save space, and you're going to use it as your primary bed, it's not going to be very comfortable. Folding futon mattresses (which are what you seem to be after) are not designed for full-time, normal use. If you are willing to accept that, bi-fold mattresses are the best when it comes to comfort and compactness. Otherwise, buy a futon mattress that doesn't fold and just push it up against a wall when you need it out of your way.

2. It isn't merely thickness that matters -- density and weight are extremely important, especially if you're going to be using this as a normal sleeping bed. If you buy something fluffy, it's going to compress anyway over time and become uncomfortable. Cotton mattresses with a foam core (preferably a layered foam core) are probably your best bet, if you want a mattress that's relatively dense, weighty, not too hard, and can be folded. Inner-spring futon mattresses can indeed be the best if you're using them frequently, but they're either impossible to fold or are destined to bend/break if you do buy a folding version. Polyester is okay too, but whatever you do, don't get a solid foam bed (or a bed made mostly of foam). Those are the ones which compress, develop pits, get incredibly uncomfortable, and so on.

3. The general rules of mattress maintenance do still apply. Flip it every now and then, turn it around occasionally, and have you and your significant other swap which sides of the bed you sleep on (this will also be good for your hips, shoulders and spines if you sleep on your side). This will lengthen its life and how comfortable it is for you.

Now, here is the person I bought my frame from:

eBay Store - Room Doctor Furniture Company: Eco-friendly Solid Wood Furnishings, We have Platform Beds, Futon Frames

And here's an inexpensive queen frame:

Queen Size Super EZ Futon Frame: Pine Wood Sofa Bed NEW - eBay (item 310106386515 end time Dec-11-08 18:57:22 PST)

I don't use the term "cheap" here because as mentioned, I have one of these, and their quotes on how much weight it can withstand are true. I've had several friends sitting on it at once, bouncing around and generally being energetic and chaotic. Not a single plank has broken or splintered under normal use or even abuse.

Thanks so much!!! That's gonna be a big help :D

[Kohan]

You're welcome, and I was glad to give you the buying advice. Makes me feel better knowing that all that research will now help someone else.

[Sol-Blackguy]

Depending on how much you're willing to spend this could be a good idea: Get a mattress that unzips and find a small memory foam mattress to cut to size and stuff into it. It can be a pain in the ass and very expensive to try this, but I paid someone with do-it-yourself experience to do the hard part. If done right, you get a very comfortable bed but a couch that you kind of sink into, but still pretty comfortable if you're into that kind of thing. I did this with a metal frame but later on got a wood frame because it seemed more reliable than bending all the time.

[Talus]

If you must get a metal frame, get some WD-40 for the squeak and ventilate the room before you spray it. Maybe put an egg-crate or foam pad under the futon cushion? Have an arts and crafts night together and stencil a sign that says "If this futon's a-rockin', don't come a-knockin" for the bedroom door. Good luck.

I had an ex that had a futon that would slam against the wall when we had sex, which wasn't ideal considering her bedroom was on the 2nd floor of her house with her parents bedroom a short distance away down a catwalk (it was an open floorplan to the family room below). My MacGuyver solution? I took one of her old teddy bears and a sweatshirt and jammed them between the frame and the wall - problem solved.

[Azkarin2]

For college I bought a cheap futon from Walmart, metal of course. It was the most uncomfortable piece of trash futon. So I went to Walmart and bought 5 of the foam egg crates and placed them inside and it was sooo amazing. I just slept on my futon all year then.

[Ksandra]

for those that are mentioning the squeaking issue, his mom drives me nuts. She makes me so paranoid because SHE GOES THROUGH OUR SHIT to make sure we fold our clothes just the way she wants them and we have to clean the shower EVERYTIME we use it. So, no worries he ain't getting much until I get a ring, a wedding, and we get the fuck out of here.


(semi joking he'll still get some, but she really is that nuts)

[archibaldcrane]

You're waiting to get married before you move out of his parents' house?

Sometimes I pray to thank the spaghetti monster for my lot in life. This is one of those times.

[Blarg]

If you 2 just put on really loud porn you can have sex without anyone being the wiser.

[Lordwafik]

You're waiting to get married before you move out of his parents' house?

Sometimes I pray to thank the spaghetti monster for my lot in life. This is one of those times.

How dare other people live differently to you. The nerve of couples making decisions these days.

[Kohan]

for those that are mentioning the squeaking issue, his mom drives me nuts. She makes me so paranoid...

It may make you feel even better to know, then, that the wooden frames definitely don't squeak when you're "breaking them in." There is a chance you'll make it scoot if you don't have it pressed up against a wall, but as someone else mentioned, I'm sure things like pillows, sweaters, etc., would be able to eliminate that possibility (or at least cushion its effects).

If you wind up worrying about the frame despite its weight ratings, too, you can always take the measurements of one of the support boards, buy another one, and slip it under the middle before you go to bed. That will provide additional support and strength.

Also, as a note on the advice I wrote above: evidently there are really, really good foam mattresses which break the "don't buy foam" rule, but the reason I discouraged it as a rule of thumb is because you're trying to keep it cheap. Cheap foam is always a bad idea.

[archibaldcrane]

How dare other people live differently to you. The nerve of couples making decisions these days.

Hey, live however you want, but you don't get to both enjoy the luxury of free rent and simultaneously get to bitch about the people providing you such a service without catching grief from me.

On topic, good luck with your futon search, and if you want that ring sooner than later fuck his brains out on a regular basis - read: wood futon, fuck metal

[Pikarya]

^ this

metal frame futons are a fucking headache, go with a good quality wood-only one. What you pay for is what you get in terms of comfort.

[Seraph]

(semi joking he'll still get some, but she really is that nuts)

Two angry women in the same house, what a lucky guy. >_>

At least he can get a good nights slee....................oh wait.

[Ksandra]

Hey, live however you want, but you don't get to both enjoy the luxury of free rent and simultaneously get to bitch about the people providing you such a service without catching grief from me.

On topic, good luck with your futon search, and if you want that ring sooner than later fuck his brains out on a regular basis - read: wood futon, fuck metal

who said we were living here for free? We're paying her 500-600 a month (depending on electric bill) which I agree is fucking cheep, but definitely not free. Again with the assuming!

I also wanna know why you equate saving up for weddings WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE EVEN SMALL ONES = bitching


The only bitching I did was as I said a joke. Just because we're living here for a few months doesn't mean I have to love her and think she's amazing. Hell my bf thinks she's crazy, his bother and sister-in-law were living here to also save money, but the sister-in-law moved out (even though they're married) because the mother drove her nuts.

I am not trying to justify my actions, and fyi I follow her rules and I don't say anything bad to her and treat her as best I can, but this is the internets. I can vent my frustration on here cause she doesn't read this. That doesn't mean I act like a bitch to her irl.

[0ni0n]

Futon is horrible when comes to having sex. I used to have a futon when I was a freshman in college. I was making out with one of my ex on the futon, which was folded up as a couch. When things got hot, she asked if I want to get it on. Well, hell yea. Then I told her to stand up, because futon is also my bed and I needed to put it down. It kinda got stuck and took me more than 2 mins to convert it into a bed. After I was done, she was looking at me weird and started putting her clothes back on. I didn't get laid that night. I hate futons.

[Kohan]

I am going to take all you guys with sorry futon experiences shopping. Futons can be awesome, just usually not if they're from a department store or whatever.

Also, I feel kind of weird offering to take a bunch of people shopping, as I never do that sort of thing. But you know. Beds are important.

[Ksandra]

bed shopping sounds fun pillow fight after? D:

[Kohan]

Pillow fights rock, so sure.

[Blarg]

Seeing as how pillow fights often lead to sex, whenever I'm in a room with a girl and 2 pillows are present I just skip the fighting and go straight into sex. They are usually so surprised and impressed with my foresightedness that they impulsively reach for their pepper spray and rape whistle. I have to playfully tie their hands to the heater to get them to stop joking around like that.

[Kohan]

You are a man wise beyond your years, sir.