The Most Comfortable Futon: What Makes a Luxury Futon Mattress Worth It
A futon is not judged in the store. It is judged at 2 a.m., when you can feel the frame through the mattress.
That is the moment a cheap futon gives itself away. And it is the moment a great one earns its place. If you are looking for a comfortable futon you can sit on all day and sleep on every night, this guide is for you. You will learn what actually makes a futon comfortable, what separates a luxury futon mattress from a budget one, and how to choose the right BloomRest™ for the way you sleep.
Key takeaways
- A futon is only as comfortable as its mattress. The frame holds it. The mattress is what you feel.
- The most comfortable futon mattresses are around 8 inches thick, built in layers around a real support core, and tufted to hold their shape.
- A luxury futon mattress uses better materials, better construction and a maker who stands behind it with a real warranty.
- BloomRest™ futon mattresses are 8 inches thick, made in the USA by Gold Bond since 1899, and available in three feels: firm, soft and medium.
- Choose by how you sleep, not by how the mattress looks folded up.
Are futons comfortable?
They can be. A futon is comfortable when its mattress is built to be slept on, not just sat on.
A futon has two parts: the frame and the mattress. The frame decides how the futon looks and how it folds. The mattress decides how it feels. Put a thin, flat mattress on a beautiful frame and you still have an uncomfortable futon. Put a thick, layered mattress on a solid frame and you have a sofa that sleeps like a bed.
That is why the search for a comfortable futon is really a search for a comfortable futon mattress.
Why so many futons feel cheap
The futon earned its reputation honestly. Many futon mattresses are built to hit a price, not to deliver a night's sleep. Here is what goes wrong.
They are too thin
A 4 to 6 inch futon mattress can work for an occasional guest. For nightly sleep, there is not enough material between you and the frame. You feel the slats. You feel the hinge.
There is no real support core
Some budget futon mattresses are mostly loose batting or a single slab of basic foam. Without a defined support core, the mattress flattens where you sit and sleep most.
The layers shift
Every time the frame folds, the mattress bends. Without close tufting holding the layers in place, the inside moves. That is how lumps and thin spots form.
The cover is thin
A futon mattress is also a sofa cushion. A thin cover wears quickly under daily sitting.
No one stands behind it
An unnamed maker and a short warranty tell you how long the mattress was built to last.
What makes a luxury futon mattress
A luxury futon mattress fixes every one of those problems. Use this as your checklist for any high-quality futon mattress.
1. About 8 inches of mattress
Eight inches leaves room for two jobs: a support core underneath and comfort layers on top. That is the target for a futon you sleep on every night.
2. A defined support core
Look for a real core: high-resiliency foam, memory foam or individually wrapped coils. The core is what keeps the mattress from bottoming out.
3. Natural comfort materials
Cotton batting and wool add cushioning and resilience around the core. They also give the mattress a substantial, tailored feel when it is folded as a sofa.
4. Close tufting and crowning
Closely spaced tufts hold every layer in place as the mattress bends. Extra cotton crowning through the center adds support where your body puts the most weight.
5. A tailored cover
Heavy cotton twill, double-stitched seams and box-style construction keep a luxury futon mattress looking sharp after years of daily sitting.
6. A maker with a name and a warranty
Know who made it, where it was made and how long the warranty runs. A long manufacturer's warranty is a maker's confidence in writing.
Budget futon vs. Japanese futon vs. luxury futon mattress
| Thin budget futon mattress | Japanese futon (shikibuton) | BloomRest™ luxury futon mattress | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 4 to 6 inches | A few inches | 8 inches |
| Support core | Often basic foam or batting only | Cotton or fiber batting | High-resiliency foam, memory foam or 560 encased coils |
| Comfort layers | Minimal | The batting itself | Cotton batting, wool or memory foam, with crowning |
| Feel | Thin, can flatten | Very firm, close to the floor | Your choice: firm, soft or medium |
| Works as a sofa | Yes | No. Folded and stored by day. | Yes, on a bi-fold futon frame |
| Nightly sleep | Occasional use | Suits firm floor sleepers | Designed for it |
| Made in | Varies | Varies | USA, by Gold Bond |
| Warranty | Varies | Varies | 5 or 10 years, depending on model |
A shikibuton is beautiful in a tatami room. A budget futon is fine for the occasional guest. If you want a futon you look forward to sleeping on, you want a luxury futon mattress.
Is a luxury futon mattress worth it?
If you sleep on it, yes.
A futon in a studio apartment or a well-used guest room works harder than almost any piece of furniture you own. It is your sofa all day and your bed all night. Cutting corners on the piece you use every day and every night is a false economy.
Do the math. The BloomRest™ Visco Classic and WoolWrap carry a 10-year manufacturer's warranty. Spread a $1,000 mattress over 10 years and it works out to about 27 cents a night.
A luxury futon mattress is worth it when:
- Someone sleeps on the futon most nights.
- The futon is your main sofa.
- You host guests often and want them to sleep well.
- You are tired of replacing flattened futon mattresses.
Meet BloomRest™: the luxury futon mattress, made in the USA
We built the BloomRest™ futon mattress collection for one kind of buyer: someone who wants a futon that sleeps like a real bed. Every BloomRest™ is a Gold Bond futon mattress, made in the USA by a company that has been making mattresses since 1899. Every one is 8 inches thick, tufted to flex on a futon frame, and designed for everyday sitting and overnight sleeping.
Three mattresses. Three feels. Nothing ordinary.
BloomRest™ WoolWrap Natural Wool 8-Inch Futon Mattress
Feel: Firm, stable and resilient.
Inside: Two 1.5-inch layers of high-resiliency foam wrapped in pure cotton batting and a plush 2-inch layer of New Zealand wool. Extra cotton crowning through the center. Heavy cotton-twill cover, built like a box with separate top, bottom and side panels and double-stitched seams.
Best for: Back and stomach sleepers who want a firm futon mattress with natural materials.
Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen and King. Warranty: 10 years from Gold Bond.
BloomRest™ Visco Classic 8-Inch Memory Foam Futon Mattress
Feel: Soft and contouring.
Inside: A full 3-inch layer of memory foam over two layers of convoluted foam, finished with a densified fiber wrap and crowned cotton. CertiPUR-US® certified foam.
Best for: Side sleepers and anyone who wants a plush, body-conforming memory foam futon mattress.
Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen and King. Warranty: 10 years from Gold Bond.
Note: Made to order. Allow 2 to 3 weeks of additional lead time.
Shop the BloomRest™ Visco Classic
BloomRest™ Encased Coil 8-Inch Futon Mattress
Feel: Medium, buoyant and responsive.
Inside: 560 individually wrapped, heat-tempered 15-gauge steel coils between two layers of soft foam, surrounded by custom-blended cotton batting with extra cotton crowning. Heavy cotton-twill cover with close lace tufting.
Best for: Couples, and anyone who wants their futon to feel like a conventional mattress. Each coil moves on its own, which helps reduce motion transfer.
Sizes: Full and Queen. Warranty: 5 years from Gold Bond.
Shop the BloomRest™ Encased Coil
Compare the collection
| WoolWrap | Visco Classic | Encased Coil | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Firm | Soft | Medium |
| Core | High-resiliency foam, cotton, New Zealand wool | 3-inch memory foam over convoluted foam | 560 individually wrapped coils |
| Best for | Back and stomach sleepers | Side sleepers | Couples, combination sleepers |
| Sizes | Twin to King | Twin to King | Full, Queen |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years | 5 years |
| Made in USA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What you are paying for in a high-end futon
High-end futons are not about a logo. They are about what is inside and who built it. Here is what sets BloomRest™ apart.
A maker since 1899, building in the USA
Gold Bond has been making mattresses since 1899, and every BloomRest™ is made in the USA. A made in USA futon mattress means you know who built it and who stands behind it.
New Zealand wool
The WoolWrap surrounds its core with a plush 2-inch layer of New Zealand wool over pure cotton batting. Wool adds resilience, so the surface springs back after daily sitting.
A full 3 inches of memory foam
The Visco Classic does not use a thin skim of memory foam. It uses a full 3-inch layer, over two layers of convoluted foam, for real contouring.
560 individually wrapped coils
The Encased Coil brings a true mattress-style core to a futon. Heat-tempered 15-gauge steel coils, each wrapped on its own, give buoyant support and help reduce motion transfer.
Built to stay durable
Durable futons come down to construction. Close lace tufting, extra cotton crowning, heavy cotton-twill covers and double-stitched seams help every BloomRest™ hold its shape through years of folding, sitting and sleeping.
Certified foam and real warranties
Foam in the collection is CertiPUR-US® certified. The WoolWrap and Visco Classic carry a 10-year manufacturer's warranty. The Encased Coil carries 5 years. That is what a high quality futon looks like on paper.
How to choose the most comfortable futon mattress for you
There is no single most comfortable futon for everyone. There is a most comfortable futon for you. Start with how you sleep.
You sleep on your back
You want even, stable support that keeps you level. Choose the WoolWrap for firm, or the Encased Coil for medium.
You sleep on your side
Your shoulders and hips carry more weight. You want cushioning that lets them sink in. Choose the Visco Classic, our memory foam futon mattress.
You sleep on your stomach
You want a firm surface that keeps your hips from sinking. Choose the WoolWrap.
You share the bed
You want less movement when the other person turns over. Choose the Encased Coil.
You change positions through the night
You want a balanced feel that is easy to move on. Choose the Encased Coil.
You are buying for guests
You do not know how your guests sleep. A medium feel suits the widest range. Choose the Encased Coil, or the WoolWrap if you know your guests like firm.
You live in a studio
Your futon is your sofa and your bed, every day. Choose by how you sleep, then choose the size that fits your space. This is the futon you will use most. Buy the one you will love.
How to make a futon more comfortable
Already own a futon that is not working? Here is what actually helps, in order.
1. Check the frame
Make sure the frame is level, the slats are intact and the hardware is tight. A sagging or creaking frame makes any mattress feel worse.
2. Rotate and flip the mattress
Futon mattresses wear where you sit and sleep most. Rotating and flipping on a regular schedule spreads that wear out.
3. Add a protector and a quality cover
A protector keeps the mattress clean. A good cover makes the sofa look finished. Neither fixes support.
4. Replace the mattress
If the mattress is thin, lumpy or flattened, nothing on top will fix it. The real way to make a futon more comfortable is a better futon mattress. An 8-inch, layered mattress on the frame you already own can transform the whole futon.
Finish the look
A luxury futon mattress deserves a finished room.
- Choose a solid frame. A sturdy hardwood bi-fold frame built for an 8-inch mattress.
- Edit the bedding. One beautiful blanket and two good pillows look better than a pile of throws.
- Choose natural fibers. Cotton, wool, linen and silk.
Fold a BloomKnit™ chunky cotton weighted blanket over the arm by day and pull it over you at night. Pure cotton inside and out, with an open knit that lets air move through. Finish with a DreamSilk™ pure mulberry silk pillowcase.
Before you order
Confirm your frame fits an 8-inch mattress
Thick, layered mattresses need a frame designed to hold and fold them. Check your frame's specifications first.
Measure
Futon mattresses are built to flex, so they can finish 1 to 2 inches shorter than the listed size. If you are using a platform bed and fit matters, measure first. Custom sizes are available on request.
Allow time to expand
Compressed mattresses need one to two weeks after unpacking for the foam and cotton to expand fully.
Plan for lead time
The Visco Classic is made to order. Allow 2 to 3 weeks of additional lead time.
Futon mattress delivery in NYC
We are a New York brand. BloomRest™ futon mattresses are delivered to your entryway in all five boroughs on a scheduled weekday appointment: $59 for Twin and Full, $79 for Queen and King. Delivery does not include unpacking or packaging removal. Outside New York City, mattresses ship by freight within the contiguous United States. See our shipping policy.
Frequently asked questions
Are futons comfortable to sleep on every night?
Yes, with the right mattress. A futon is comfortable for nightly sleep when its mattress is around 8 inches thick, built around a real support core and tufted to hold its shape. Thin 4 to 6 inch futon mattresses are better suited to occasional use.
What is the most comfortable futon mattress?
The most comfortable futon mattress is the one that matches how you sleep. For side sleepers, start with soft memory foam, like the BloomRest™ Visco Classic. For back and stomach sleepers, start with firm, like the BloomRest™ WoolWrap. For couples, start with the medium feel of encased coils, like the BloomRest™ Encased Coil.
What makes a futon mattress luxury?
A luxury futon mattress is about 8 inches thick, has a defined support core, uses quality comfort materials such as cotton, wool or memory foam, has close tufting and a durable tailored cover, and comes from a named maker with a long warranty. BloomRest™ is made in the USA by Gold Bond, with 5 or 10 year warranties depending on the model.
What is the difference between a cheap futon and a high quality futon?
Construction. A cheap futon mattress is often 4 to 6 inches thick with little or no defined support core, so it flattens with use. A high quality futon mattress is about 8 inches thick, built in layers around foam, memory foam or coils, held together with close tufting and backed by a long manufacturer's warranty.
Is a luxury futon mattress worth it?
Yes, if someone sleeps on the futon regularly or it serves as your main sofa. A futon in daily use works as hard as any bed, so a mattress built for nightly sleep pays off in comfort and in how long it lasts.
How thick should a futon mattress be?
About 8 inches for nightly sleep. That leaves room for a support core and cushioning above it. Every BloomRest™ futon mattress is 8 inches thick.
How can I make my futon more comfortable?
Tighten and level the frame, and rotate and flip the mattress on a regular schedule. If the mattress itself is thin or flattened, the most effective fix is replacing it with an 8-inch, layered futon mattress.
Is a futon mattress better than a Japanese futon?
For a futon you sit on by day and sleep on by night, yes. A Japanese futon, or shikibuton, is a thin floor bed that is folded away each morning. A luxury futon mattress is 8 inches thick, works as a sofa and offers a choice of firm, medium or soft.
Are BloomRest™ futon mattresses made in the USA?
Yes. Every BloomRest™ futon mattress is made in the USA by Gold Bond Mattress Company, a mattress maker since 1899.
Can I return a BloomRest™ futon mattress?
Yes, within 30 days of delivery, if it is unused and still sealed in its original packaging. Approved returns carry a 20% restocking fee, and the customer pays return freight. Opened, used and custom-sized mattresses are final sale. See our mattress return policy.
Do you deliver futon mattresses in New York City?
Yes. Blanket & Bloom delivers to your entryway in all five boroughs on a scheduled weekday appointment. Delivery is $59 for Twin and Full and $79 for Queen and King.
Stop settling for an uncomfortable futon
Your futon should be the best seat in the room and a bed you look forward to. BloomRest™ is both. 8 inches. Three feels. Made in the USA by Gold Bond since 1899.
Shop the BloomRest™ luxury futon mattress collection
Questions about fit, frames or custom sizes? Contact us. For a deeper look at each construction, read our guide to the best futon mattress for sleeping.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only. BloomRest™ product details, materials, sizes, prices, delivery rates and warranties are based on manufacturer and store information at the time of writing and may change; see each product page and our policies for current terms. Warranty periods are not a prediction of product lifespan. Futon mattress dimensions may vary slightly from listed sizes. Comfort is personal, and no mattress suits every sleeper. This article is not medical advice. If you have back pain or a health condition affected by sleep, talk to a qualified healthcare professional before changing your mattress.