A futon is probably the most well known of the different types of sofa bed, especially when it comes to the cheap and cheerful variety. I’m not sure exactly where they originated, however it wouldn’t surprise me if Ikea had an influence – their wooden frames have a rustic Scandinavian feel akin to an Ikea design. The particular futon we will be reviewing here is actually one from Argos, it’s a single chair bed with a pine frame that currently has a low price of just £99. Did you know that the term ‘Futon’ is derived from the original Japanese terminology that related to a simple mattress that could be folded away during the day?
Category Archives: Chair Beds
Choosing the Best Single Sofa Bed
Sofa beds are a great way of making the most of your space as they have two functions in one. They provide somewhere comfortable for guests to stay without you having to have a bed permanently taking up space. As we’ve outlined on our review of the best cheap sofa beds, you needn’t be worried about the price as there are always ways of finding great deals and great sofa beds for your money.
Most sofa beds are doubles and sleep two people, however recently there have been a range of new single sofa beds that are particularly useful if you’ll only ever be having one person at a time over to stay. They take up less space than a double couch, and most take the form of a chair when not being used as a bed. In fact to call them a sofa bed is a bit of a misnomer, as they are really ‘chair beds’.
When choosing a single sofa bed you should bear in mind that these are one of the things where you generally get what you pay for. So if you’re buying a brand new one, the cheaper it is the less comfy and suitable for regular use it will be. Sometimes opting for the slightly more expensive model will be kinder on your guests, and allow them to have a comfier night’s sleep!
Single cube ‘sofa chair’ from Argos
As with regular sofabeds the cheapest singles are just shaped and covered foam in three sections that fold-out and prices start from around £30. Argos has some of these termed the ‘cube’, they don’t really have a back to them when used as a chair, and are probably less comfy than a beanbag!
An example of a single futon from Futoncompany.co.uk
Moving up the scale you have single futons that are based on a wooden frame. Although not as advanced as metal-action single sofa beds, they will be a lot nicer to sleep on than the lie-on-the-floor foam type as shown on the right. One handy advantage of these is that you are raised off the floor, away from drafts and easier to get into if you’re not as spritely as you once were! The wooden slats will also give you a more bed-like feeling in comparison to the foam.
The next step up would be a metal action single sofa bed, such as the ones found in Ikea. Personally I prefer the wooden look of the futon rather than one that shows exposed metal arms and legs. It just looks more natural and fits into a home more easily.
Single Sofa Bed Armchair from Sofabedsworld.co.uk
Finally, you can get singles that look exactly like armchairs. Not only do they look great, but most are really comfy to sit on as a regular day to day armchair. Just like their double sofa bed counterparts, these typically have pull out metal action systems that have a separate mattress on top. Many have zip-off covers so you can wash the mattress when you need to. Anything from memory foam mattresses to faux leather are the order of the day with these single armchair sofabeds. Prices are obviously more expensive than the simpler models shown above, however you need to bear in mind that you’re also getting a great looking armchair as well as the sofa bed itself. Prices can be anything from £250+.
I’ve said it before but I’ll stress again that if you’re not bothered about your sofa bed being brand spanking new, then it’s definitely worth your while to have a hunt or set up a ‘saved search’ on eBay, or Gumtree, as there are some cracking local deals to be had. People change their couches / sofas regularly and so there always seems to be an oversupply, which leads to cheaper prices that are better on our wallets!
If you have any favourite cheap single sofa beds that you would like us to mention then please do so using the comment form below, we would love to hear your suggestions!
