Posts tagged Frames

American futons have been around for about 25-30 years. Futons actually started out in Asia as nothing more than a simple mat placed on the ground for sleeping. It was as American idea to build a frame then place the mat on top of the frame to be used as a sofa/sleeper. Many early designers would take this simple approach and create many of the innovations we see today in the futon industry that make an American futon what it is.

Original futon frames started out made from wood and were quite simple in design by today’s standards. Many of these futon frames were made to be close to the ground and had simple conversion mechanisms that often involved pulling out and pushing in wooden pegs during conversion. Later designs incorporated a built in mechanism to facilitate conversion from sofa to bed. Several futon manufacturers had different approaches to doing this but everyone can agree that the purpose was to make operation easier for the end user. The first futons were retailed in specialty waterbed stores which were still going strong in the 1980′s and would be displayed among waterbeds and casegoods.

The first futon frames were made unfinished in a variety of woods. Later futon frames would be made from a combination of different hardwoods like ash, oak, maple and poplar. Frame designs would also become more elaborate offering unique arm styles that could be both modern or more mission style in appearance. It should also be noted that design innovations like concealed arm storage, magazine racks and flip up tables would also be included in many modern futon frame designs.

Today wood futon frames can be purchased in dark rich espresso or cappuccino colors. Or if you prefer more of a cottage look you can also choose frames in a satin white color. Lodge style frames made from hand sewn logs can also be purchased giving you a really interesting outdoors/nature look for your home or cabin. Of course traditional designs in medium and English oak colors are also available to blend in with home decors that use oak woodwork or have existing oak furniture.

Something else that is in the market are black metal futon frames. These are often made to hit a particular price point and can be found in many of the mass merchant stores. These black metal futon frames are made in Asia from tubular steel and are a good choice for a frame that can last several years. However wood futon frames surprisingly are a much better choice as many are made with real furniture assembly techniques which make them higher quality and a better choice for a long term investment.

Futon frames have slowly worked their way into our culture over the last 30 years. Starting from simple designs on the floor they evolved into automated operational frames by the user. These frames were consistently being built with newer innovations allowing for easier frame conversion from sofa to bed and back. They have also become more stylish representing both modern and traditional designs. Today’s futon frames carry on a legacy of innovation by the designers who created them over 30 years ago in many of the styles we see. Who knew that a simple wood futon on the ground thirty years ago would lead to the industry that developed into what we have today.