Futon FAQs

Futon FAQs

How do I decide which futon would be right for me?

We make 3 types of futon, all contain layers and layers of GOTS certified organic British wool felt, with an added natural material core in the Latex and Coir futon.
1. The Coir Futon with 4 cm coir-latex core
2. The Traditional futon with just layers of wool
3. The Latex Futon with 5 cm latex core

We usually make one depth of futon - our full thickness 13cm - 14cm depth. However we can remove some wool layers if you want a thinner futon, just ask us for details.

Your choice of futon often comes down to what you are going to use it for. There are two things to consider -
The type of filling
The thickness of the filling

Thickness -
If you want to sleep on the futon as your regular mattress then we usually recommend the full thickness for comfort, especially if the futon is going to be put onto a slatted frame. A thinner futon would be more for occasional use, or if you need something that rolls up as small as possible.

Filling -
If you want to put your futon onto a frame and fold it up to make a chair or sofa then you should choose the Latex or the Coir futon. The Coir Futon has a core of coconut fibre (coir) that is coated with latex (to keep the coir fibres nice and springy over time) and will stop the futon from sagging down when it is ‘sitting up’ as a seat, particularly for a long, 3 seater (bi-fold) sofa. The Coir futon is happy flat as a mattress all the time too, and will roll up for moving around, but is more rigid than the Traditional Futon. The Latex Futon is more flexible than the Coir Futon and works well for a more compact 2 seater (tri-fold) sofa.

If you want to roll up your futon regularly you should choose the Traditional futon which is more pliable than the Coir Futon. The standard Traditional futon has the firmest feel (fairly hard) and so if you want something with a bit more ‘give’ but still with a firm feel then the Latex futon could well be the best choice. This would also be a good choice if you tend to sleep on your side or are of lower than average weight and build. The Latex futon comes with a core of 5 cm 100% natural, certified organic latex and both are flexible enough to be rolled up.

How do the futons compare in terms of firmness?

All the futons have a firm feel, but some are firmer than others!

The Traditional futon is the firmest with a firm to hard feel. We have plenty of customers who love their Traditional futon, but for some people, especially if you sleep on your side, it would be a bit too unyielding.

The Coir futon comes next with the 4 cm core of coir (thinly coated with latex) giving a bit more of a springy feel to add to the denser wool felt on either side of it. Springy isn’t soft - this futon still has a firm feel!

Finally the Latex futon with 100% natural certified organic latex core. The latex is a cushioning, supportive layer that conforms to your body shape whether you are lying on your side (where the mattress needs to adjust to your hip and shoulder), back or front. We use a firm density latex in our futons, and this is layered either side with the denser organic wool felt. Whilst this futon still has a firm feel the latex gives it a more cushioned feel. The latex is also the most resilient natural filling we use, it is very good at maintaining its shape and so a futon with latex core will keep its depth over time more than any other.

So, on a scale of 1 - 3, with 1 as the firmest -

1.The Traditional futon
2.The Coir Futon with 4 cm coir-latex core
3.The Latex Futon with 5 cm latex core

Can a futon be used to sleep on every night?

Yes! Futons have sometimes got a bit of a bad press because there are some pretty flimsy ones out there. Our futons are made to be used as a proper full thickness mattress and are suitable to be slept on, from kids to adults.

Do I need a fire retardant interliner?

Our futons meet British regulations for fire safety as mattresses without the need for any added chemical fire retardants, including borax / boric acid or graphite. This is because they contain a high proportion of wool that acts as a natural fire retardant and they have a thick, tightly woven cotton (organic, of course) cover. However, if you are going to use your futon as furniture (seating) then you might want us to add an interliner so that the futon comes with the appropriate furnishings fire safe label. This is totally up to you but is something that you may need if the futon is going to be used in accommodation that you are letting, for example.

We use a special interliner material that contains 70% wool which provides the fire retardant properties and is bound with 30% synthetic material to make the wool tightly woven enough to act as a barrier fabric. It’s the most natural interliner we have found and we add it into the futon under the organic fabric cover and thick organic wool wrap.

For the same reason, for the Latex Futon we can supply the latex core as graphite latex instead.

What is the best futon for a child?

We would usually recommend going for the full 13 - 14cm thickness. Although younger children probably wouldn’t notice any difference between the thickest or a thinner depth the futon should last for at least 10 years and for long lasting support as your child grows it makes sense to choose the thickest futon. If you are buying a futon for a bunk bed there may be a height restriction that means choosing a thinner futon to keep within safety recommendations.

Do you make futon frames?

No, we just make the futon mattresses. We used to make the frame as well, but we became so busy with making futons and mattresses that we had to make a decision about how to best use our workshop space and decided to concentrate wholly on mattress making. There are plenty of companies online that will supply a futon frame only, it does make sense to source the frame first so that we can make the futon to the frame size.

What sort of frame should I have for your futons?

A slatted frame is ideal as the spaces between the slats allow the underside of the futon to air. As our futons contain no foams, plastics or synthetic barriers they are porous, which works brilliantly to wick away any moisture you lose in the night and stops you from feeling hot and sweaty. It does mean that the easiest way to keep your futon aired is to have it on a slatted base so that air can circulate under it.

We recommend that the slats have a space between of about 5 cm to give best balance between supporting and airing the futon. If the gaps are much wider then it might be worth putting an underlay (you can buy these, but you can also use a cotton or wool blanket) between the futon and slats. Remember that the type of slats on your frame will have an effect on the feel of the futon - solid wood slats will give a firmer support, whilst laminated (these often have a slight upward curve) wooden slats will bend and make the futon feel a little softer and springier.

You can also use your futon directly on the floor, either as a temporary solution or a long term choice. This is fine so long as you check that the futon isn’t becoming damp underneath. You may need to turn it more regularly if it is used on the floor. We sleep on one of our mattresses on a couple of woven tatami mats on the floor.

How long will a futon last?

General advice is that a good mattress should last at least 10 years if properly cared for (using it as a trampoline isn’t recommended!). However we know plenty of customers who have been using our futons for far longer than that - 15 years isn’t unusual.

As fibre filled futons don’t contain springs there isn’t really any part of the futon that will ‘fail’ over time. If the metal springs in a conventional mattress lose their spring then there isn’t really much else to give support, just a lot of empty space, whereas in a fibre filled futon there is filling right the way through the thickness of the futon.

The Latex futon with 5 cm core - the high percentage of latex means that it is somewhere between a futon and one of our mattresses in terms of feel. Latex is fantastic for keeping its shape and resilience over a long period of time so that your futon will stay supportive and comfortable for many years, and for that reason we suggest that your futon should last 15 years if it contains a certain proportion of latex filling.

Can you make different size futons?

We make all our futons here in our workshop in Welshpool and so we are happy to customise sizes. However, we do order in some of our fillings, such as the latex, coir-latex and cotton/wool felt already cut to our standard dimensions of 90 cm (single), 140 cm (double) and 160 cm (king) width and 200 cm length, which means that we will normally need to cut these fillings down to suit a custom size. It does mean that the cost is the same as for the larger size and we do charge a small cutting fee for the work involved (£10.00 per change in width or length). So, for example, a futon 130 cm x 200 cm would be charged as a 140 cm x 200 cm plus a £10.00 cutting fee.

After many years of making futons for customers who already have a bed or futon frame we never go by the terms ‘standard’ but always ask customers to measure their frame, or check sizes if they have one on order, so that we can make to the appropriate size!

Do you make a Superking size?

We don’t make a superking size (180 cm x 200 cm) futon as one unit. Unfortunately many of our futon fillings are only made in widths up to 160 cm. Additionally a 180 cm x 200 cm futon is just too big and heavy to manufacture, transport and care for in a way that keeps the futon in great condition. So we make any size over 160 cm as two futons side by side. This way you can make up any width you want. We have done this for a number of customers and it works well (we make up the same system with our mattresses and we sleep on a split mattress like this). The cost of a super king is therefore the cost of 2 x single (90 cm) futons We do suggest that a single 180 cm width mattress protector is used so that there is a complete top layer to the mattress. Alternatively we can make a zip-over top cover that encloses the 2 futons which keeps the futons in place tightly together, means that there is no gap between them and acts as a mattress protector that can be removed and machine washed. For a super king size in cream organic cotton it is £90.00.

How can I try out your futons?

You can call in to our workshop in Welshpool. As this is primarily a manufacturing workshop it is by appointment only, but we do have futons to try out.

We don’t operate a wholesale structure and we don’t sell through other shops, it’s the way we manage to keep our prices low as we effectively retail at wholesale prices. However that does mean that you can only actually try out the different mattresses in our workshop in Welshpool. We do have customers coming from all over the country to do just that, but we do understand that for many people it isn’t practical. We can send out samples of the mattresses (40 x 40 cm) for comparisons. Samples are £35.00 each, this is a deposit which is completely refundable (whether you buy a mattress or not) when we receive the samples back. There is a non-refundable delivery charge for samples which is usually £8.95.

What sort of warranty do you offer?

We guarantee our futons for 10 years, although we expect them to last longer than this - plenty do! This guarantee covers manufacturing defects and doesn’t cover damage through unreasonable use, whether accidental or intentional.

Do you deliver?

We use a national carrier service for our mattresses. We arrange a delivery day that will suit you and send on a morning service so that you won't have to wait in all day. Delivery is normally Monday - Friday, but there is an option to choose a Saturday delivery. For most areas (contact us to check) the cost is £25.00 for a single mattress, £30.00 for a double mattress and £35.00 for a king size mattress.

Alternatively you can collect from our workshop in Welshpool.

How long does delivery take?

We don’t tend to keep futons in stock and make up each one to order. The lead time is usually 10 days with delivery arranged for the following most convenient day. In some areas the carrier doesn’t deliver every day and so that can extend the lead time by a few days. If we can we will make up more quickly, especially if you have a date that you need the futon by, just ask us.

Can I change my order?

As much as we can we will try to accommodate any changes to orders, we are a small company and try to be quite flexible in our approach. Let us know as soon as possible though, especially if your order involves custom sizing.

What is your Return Policy?

We make every effort to make sure that our customers choose the right futon and are happy with what we have made. We have 1000’s of customers who are. However, if you have tried your futon and aren’t happy with it we can’t take it back as an unused product. It would be totally unethical of us to sell on any futon, or use fillings, that have been slept on.

If you realise straightaway that it is not the futon for you then you can return a futon to us if it is a standard size item (90 x 200 cm, 140 x 200 cm, 160 x 200 cm) and only if it is unused and in perfect condition. We will refund the futon cost minus a £20.00 fee and the return carriage charge. If the futon has been custom made then we would discuss each case individually.

Do remember it can take up to a month to get used to the feel of a new / different futon!