Futons: Metal Futon vs. Wooden Futon Frames

Futons are convenient pieces of furniture for small spaces. However, not all futons are created equal. I've purchased five futons and none of them have survived. I'm going to share my personal experiences with futons and share which one is the best buy for the money.

The first futon I purchased was an Asian inspired wooden futon. It had wooden slats and a large black cushion. There were several things I didn't like about the futon. Here are a few of the problems that arose:

• The futon was very low to the ground. It was hard to site down and then it was even more difficult to stand up.
• The futon mattress was supposed to hang over the wooden frame. It had no shape, so it usually hung low to the ground.
• It was difficult to open and close. You needed two people to be able to use it.
• It wasn't sturdy enough to withstand daily use. The bolts started falling off. It couldn't be put back together.

Unfortunately, the futon fell apart and I dumped it. My mother recycled the wooden slats to build a beautiful divider for her apartment. At least someone got use out of it. It only lasted about a year.

 My sister purchased a wooden futon that she's had for 9 years now.  It is very large and can be used as a sofa.  It can be used as a bed by simply pulling out on a latch.  It has large arm rests and a decorative futon cover.  She paid a hefty price for this futon, but it was worth it.  I on the other hand, spent less and have nothing to show for it.  Lesson learned...

I bought three metal futons and one combination metal/wood. Want to know where they are? They all ended up at the metal scrap yard in less than a year. My sons were stuck on futons. We kept buying them and they kept falling apart. I finally said, no more! However, I'm not going to tell you not to buy a metal futon. You're probably wondering why that is. Well, I have to take into account the fact that I have a very large family. One of the futons was in the family room. I have 7 kids, so that is a lot of use and abuse. On top of that, my youngest is autistic. He is very active and has a tendency to jump-on the floor, the bed and...the futon.

If you're buying a futon for an extra guest room or a room that is not going to be used often, then it can work. If you are planning on putting it in a place where it's going to get a lot of traffic, don't get a metal futon. You're better off getting the wooden futon shown above or getting a love seat..