Futon Frames

A brief history

The American version of the futon mattress started out on the floor. As time passed many futon makers began to see the potential of the futon frame as a new design alternative to the conventional, dual-purpose sofa-bed. Although a multitude of frames now exist, in the futon industry's early days it was the team of Irv Wieder (of Arise) and William Brouwer who developed the first convertible futon frames. Brouwer won the 1983 Daphne Award (sponsored by the Hardwood Institute) for his Brouwer Bed as the best new design in the Bedroom/Retail Category.

The mechanism

The second issue manufacturers of futon frames must deal with is the mechanism. The traditional sofa-bed manufacturer calls and orders your basic sofa-bed scissor mechanism. They screw it into position and off they go. The traditional manufacturer solves the conversion issue by simply ordering a part. The manufacturer of futon frames must consider several options, depending on the design and where the price point will be. Most of the time the manufacturer will opt for the slider mechanism for their futon frames. Two nylon rollers fit in between the seat and back racks and the arm assemblies, in grooves that allow the frame to convert from sitting to sleeping and back again.

Futon Frames: Construction

Manufacturers of futon frames have to deal with two issues the traditional sofa bed doesn’t have to deal with. One issue is the design aesthetic of all-wood futon frames. The fact that most futon frames are made entirely of clear (no knots) wood. Finished wood adds some considerable cost and design constraints to frames. Traditional sofas and sofa-beds can use heavier, unfinished wood that is not clear. One of the major advantages of futons over other types of furniture is that most of the frames can be adjusted to either an upright sofa position or a horizontal bed setting. Futon frames must pass the muster of an exposed wooden skeleton, where the fit and finish is open to scrutiny. The weight of this clear lumber must be heavy enough to handle the stresses of conversion and yet be light enough to not look out of proportion or to be too expensive.

Many different wood types are used in the construction of today's futon frames. Most all are hardwoods of some type. From oak, ash and pine, to exotic hardwoods from Asia and beyond. All of our frames are solid wood as well. You'll find no partical board or presswood in any of your frame collections. Futon frames come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most futon frames can fold horizontally or vertically to make a bed or a couch. Futon frames are made of either wood or metal. There are a limitless number of designs for futon frames to accommodate any type of room.

There are a number of materials that futon frames can be made of. They can be made of wood like oak or pine, or they can be constructed with metal. Both materials are used to make long lasting adjustable frames. Many high quality futon frames are made of strong woods like oak. Oak can be stained many different shades and is known for being sturdy. Pine is also a common material used in futon frames. Pine frames are not quite as strong as oak, but they still hold up well. Pine frames can be stained to match the rest of the room. Many other futon frames are metallic. Metal frames are usually lighter and smaller than wood frames. Many college students have metal futon frames in their dorm rooms or apartments. Metal frames come in many colors and are welded with sturdy, strong metal.

Futon Bed Frame types

The Tri-Fold

There are two major differences between the bi-fold and tri-fold frame types. The first difference is the number of times the futon mattress must fold when converting from the sitting to sleeping position. The tri-fold requires the futon mattress to be folded twice while the bi-fold requires that the mattress fold only once. The second major difference between the two frame designs is that the tri-fold utilizes the shorter "width" of the mattress for seating while the bi-fold utilizes the longer "length". This gives the inherent advantage to the bi-fold because it looks much more like a conventional sofa-bed than does the tri-fold. It also provides a larger seating area.

The Bi-Fold

The bi-fold is now the industry standard and the more popular of the two basic styles. These sofa-bed lookalikes also come in two basic categories, those with arms and legs and those that sit directly on the floor.

Frames that will sleep two can be under 5 feet wide or over 7 feet wide. Many convert into a lounge position for watching TV or reading. Frames are available in oak, mahogany, cherry, pine, maple, teak, and metal. Finishes and colors abound from contemporary to traditional, and some frames can even be upholstered in your choice of fabric.

Easily delivered into the smallest of rooms, efficiently assembled with as few as 8 screws, set up and ready to use before the company arrives. Futon Furniture is a versatile, functional, dual-purpose value. You can buy an entire matching living room set in the same finish. It's all about making the right choices for YOU, your home and your sleeping needs.

Futon frame terminology

The following definitions are the commonly accepted terminology associated with the futon furniture and sofa-bed industry.

Slats:
Slat racks are the platforms on which the futon rests for both convertible futon sofa-bed frames and stationary platform beds.

Seat:
The seat rack is the slat rack on which the user sits when a futon sofa-bed is in the sitting position.

Back:
The back rest is the slat rack which the user leans back on when a futon sofa-bed is in the sitting position.

Tri-fold:
A convertible futon sofa-bed frame that utilizes three slat racks. The futon mattress can hang over the back of the frame, be folded under itself on the seat rack, or lay flat as a chaise lounge style seat. The tri-fold allows the futon mattress to fold twice along its usually shorter width.

Bi-fold:
A convertible futon sofa-bed frame that utilizes two slat racks. The bi-fold allows the futon mattress to fold once along its length.