The increasing rise in popularity of the futon mattress among consumers can be best attributed to its convenience over comfort. Don’t get me wrong, futon beds are not any less comfortable than any other mattress types. The best brands which are made from high quality materials are built for comfort. The best feature of the mattress is its ability to be folded away after each use or stored conveniently in one corner of the room or in the attic until needed.

The futon mattress was a borrowed cultural product from Japan. Traditional Japanese homes are almost free of any kind of furniture. They have a small table in the kitchen and a small fireplace where they cook their food and gather around in the winter. You can forget about the chair, the Japanese have their unique way of sitting that does not require its use. And their bedrooms are literally spotless during the day. The beds are often held strapped to the bedroom wall or rolled-up every morning. The same concept that helps the Japanese keep their homes tidy is helping the rest of the world cope with the continuous shrinking of bedroom spaces. The beds though have far advanced from their humble beginnings in Japan.

The futon can also play a dual role. Some homes I went into had them for their bed and sofa rolled into one. If you think this as strange, wait till you step into college dormitories. Most students prefer this type of mattress because of its dual purpose capability; still some people find it more comfortable over the other types of mattresses. One important thing to note is the mattress comes in several types, so if you are considering owning one of these, it is wise to acquaint yourself with the different types of futon beds before making your purchase. Just like any other types of beds, there is one made just for you.

Here are some of the types of futon mattress to choose from:

Cotton and wool futon mattress

This type holds the closest ties to its ancestors. Except for the frame that holds the mattress, the bed looks naturally Japanese. The main advantage of this type of futon bed is its ability to discourage heat from building up inside the core. The material used increases the chances of the cool air to penetrate the bed or allow the heat from the body and their surroundings to escape out while providing extra cushion for a more comfortable sleep.

Inner spring futon mattress

This is by far the best of its kind if you are considering comfort over portability. This type brings together the best of both worlds, well almost. While it brings the utmost in innerspring comfort, the very feature that brought it across the world over to our shores is practically sacrificed. Most innerspring futon mattresses are often too heavy to be lifted after used or has very limited folding options, if not impossible. To me this defeated the purpose of having a futon bed in your home, but that’s just me, some people actually liked their futons this way. Some products actually have some decent form of portability left in them for the right to claim ancestral ties with Japanese futons.

Cotton and foam futon mattress

Are ultra light futon beds but has the firmness and sagging deflection ability unlike common futons. The mattress can also be folded into three or four parts depending on the thickness of the materials used. This is actually better in terms of portability than the original futon, but the type of material used to make the foam can also affect its durability. So watch out.

Cotton and polyester futon

This type of futon brings durability and firmness to the table. If you are looking for a long term relationship with your futon bed, this is the one mattress worth considering. But again it lacks some of the features common to its kind. It is less supportive than cotton and foam futon mattresses but sold for around the same price.

There are other types of futon mattresses in the market which are crossbreds from other types of mattresses. Some of them lost the value of the futon mattress altogether, but some can be worth every dime.