A futon really is a versatile piece of furniture. During the day they can be used as couch and at night, after a quick push and pull of the mattress, they become a comfortable bed on which to sleep. This makes them great for small houses or dorms where space is at a premium or as a spare bed for when guests stay over. But it is important that whichever futon you choose that is comfortable.

The comfort level is determined by the futon mattress. You generally have three choices in a mattress – cotton, foam and inner spring. Cotton is cheap but not very comfortable. Foam can be good but doesn’t always offer that much support. Inner spring futons are the ultimate in comfort and are very similar to a normal bed. The thickness of the mattress is also very important and the comfort you are after the thicker you want your mattress.