5 Best Futons for College Dorms That Will Last Several Semesters

Last Updated [6 March 2021]

Are you looking for the best futons for college dorms? 

  1. Perhaps you need a low-cost bed for your child as they move into their dorms.
  2. Or it would be best if you furnished an entire dormitory and you want to know which futons will work best

Dormitory furniture needs to have particular specifications. Most colleges provide the student’s basic furniture pieces, and this is a sleeping bed, table, and chair. The rest you can bring along with you. If you walk in with the clothes in your bag, you won’t be comfortable and get through the semester.

Since the college has to furnish the entire school, the cost is a big factor. Some colleges find it best to look for furniture that is not expensive but comfortable. Futon beds make for great college dormitory beds. They are inexpensive and comfortable at the same time. They provide schools with perfect furniture.

college girl with books and a coffee smiling

Many companies make futons and as such there are different styles and designs, each with their advantage and disadvantage. Futons are a traditional Japanese bed. It consists of a padded mattress, a quilt, and a pillow filled with beans.

Mattresses used to be placed on the floor at night for sleeping, meaning they could be rolled up during the day. It hasĀ sinceĀ evolved. Today futons are placed on frames and they can be used as a guest bed. They have evolved from being a lump of material to luxurious versatile types of beds. Today futons are essential pieces of furniture if you are in a small space like a dormitory or a tiny living room. They double up as a futon sofa and as a bed. Granted, there is not always enough sleeping space for two people. That is common in dorm room situations.

In A Hurry

Do you need a quick guide to buying futons for college dorms? You will need to consider a few factors that will make your shopping trip a bit easier. One of the things you will need to keep in mind is that you do not have a lot of space in the dorm. This means you need to be looking at furniture that is great at maximizing space and functional and comfortable.Ā 

You need a space for people to hang out in the dorm room. You may not want people sitting on the bed all the time. This is where the futon makes sense in a dorm room. Look at how easy it is to clean since you will use it often. Check on the mattress folds and make sure that it is something you can handle. Also, please make a note of the frame and what it is made of.Ā 

Image NameWhat we LikeLink
Kodiak Furniture Futon LoungerThere are some exciting colours and patterns to choose from.
It is ideal for use in small spaces.
Mainstay Memory Foam FutonThere are 3 materials to choose from.
It is also sold as part of a bundle.
Novogratz Brittany Sofa FutonThis is a stylish futon.
It can fit right into most settings that you place it.
Studio Bifold FutonThe price is perfect.
It is delivered to you very quickly.

Dillon Futon Set

CHECK PRICE ON FUTON SHOP

The Dillon Wallhugger Futon FrameIt comes with everything you need.
It is well-made.

Futons come in different sizes, which means you will need to know the size you need for your space.  We have done our research and found the best futons on the market. Our favourite pick is the Kodiak Furniture Futon Lounger. It has 3 positions, which are sit, lounge, or sleep. Perfect for a College Dorm or Apartment.

The set includes 5″-6″ mattresses, two (2) pillows and the metal powder coated black metal frames. Wood slats support the mattress. The frame height is 10″ without mattress – 15″-16″ with the mattress. The mattress and pillows are made of 100% Polyester blend and the mattress fill is 80% blended cotton and 20% polyurethane foam.Ā 

TOP PICK

Our top piece of furniture for your college dorm room is the Mainstay Memory Foam Futon. It has three positions that it can be locked into. You will find it easier to clean than other futon. Switching from futon bed to sofa take a few seconds.

Round Up of The Best Futons for College Dorms

Kodiak Furniture Futon Lounger


The first thing that one can say endears this lounger to most users is the fact that it offers a great deal of versatility. You can use it as a lounger, for sleeping and for sitting on. Although one could argue that this is not a characteristic that is unique to it, you would have to concede that the shape gives it an added advantage.

The metal powder-coated black frame has two armrests that lean from it at such an angle that one could use it for both laying back or falling asleep. You get some additional comfort from the two pillows that are included. 

The mattress runs across the metal frame, with the support of some wooden slates. When you receive the mattress, you will need to allow it some time to decompress into its intended form. This is not the sort of thing that you can unpack and comfortable make use of. You are encouraged to allow it some time to decompress. Two to three days are sufficient. 

Depending on your intended place for this lounger, you will benefit from the range of fabric colours that you can choose from. There are 17 options that you can pick from. Each piece of furniture is unique. This allows you to get a colour that can fit right in with the rest of your decor. You have the option to go with the more subtle picks, or something eccentric such as zebra coloured on. Bring some excitement into any environment.Ā 

The material composition is a suede fabric with a mattress made of 100% polyester that is filled with 80% blended cotton and 20% polyurethane foam.Ā It is easy to clean.

Pros

  • There are some exciting colours and patterns to choose from.
  • It is ideal for use in small spaces.
  • The frame is sturdily built.
  • It is light enough to allow ease of movement.
  • Putting it together is straightforward.
  • It is quite reasonably priced.

CONS

  • The padding is not as comfortable as expected.
  • The cushions could be better.

Check Price and Reviews

Mainstay Memory Foam Futon

Suppose you are looking for something conventional. This may be a suitable pick. There are three types of materials that you can choose from. These include leather, fabric/wood/metal, and suede. The one that you go with will depend on where you are looking to place it.

The general wisdom is that if you have pets around, you may want to consider going with a easiest to clean material. The leather would make for an easy wipe when it gets dirty. It isn’t easy to repair when it is roughed up.Ā That makes it a lovely furniture piece.

This is a very professional-looking sofa that could fit into most environments. They are six legs underneath it, which raise it off the floor and allow for balanced seating. You can describe the finish as contemporary.

You can convert this from a sofa into a sleeper in no time. To give you much-needed comfort, there is a memory form on this sofa. That means as you use it, it learns what are your body desires and provides it. Suppose you want something that delivers tasteful style and comfort. This is a good pick.

Pros

  • There are 3 materials to choose from.
  • It is also sold as part of a bundle.
  • The futon can be placed in most environments.
  • It is very easy to switch between sofa and sleeper.
  • Assembly is straightforward.
  • It has a memory foam mattress.

CONS

  • It does not come with standalone pillows.
  • Not made of pure leather.

Check Price and Reviews

Novogratz Brittany Sofa Futon

This is another fantastic piece for your college dorm room is from the couple that has been making waves in the design world for 3 decades. It is part of the Novogratz Britanny collection. The cushions are ripped and tufted on the back.

The design combines curved armrests with slanted legs to good effect. This is a look that is rounded and outstanding. The sofa is fairly stylish and comes with material that can be cleaned up with a wipe. This makes it easy to maintain. 

The frame is made out of wood. It is one of our favourite wood futons. There is no indication that they could be any concerns for a lack of durability. It looks and feels sturdy. It comes in at a weight capacity of 600 lb. Over this frame is a comfortable polyester material that is placed on top of the foam. The size of the sleeper allows you to lay down or with folded legs.Ā 

They are several colours that you can choose from. Most of which would fit into any surrounding. Whether are you looking to put this futon into a dorm room, living room, or a more formal setting. You’ll be guaranteed that it slots in seamlessly. To get the most out of it, you want to consider getting additional cushioning.

Pros

  • This is a stylish futon.
  • It can fit right into most settings that you place it.
  • It is very easy to clean.
  • Setting it up is also easy.
  • There are various colours to choose from.
  • It is built on a sturdy wooden frame.
  • Comes well-packed.

CONS

  • Feels a little too hard at times.
  • Not as luxurious as images would lead you to believe.

Check Price and Reviews

Studio Bifold Futon


One of the things that we love about this manufacturer is the fact that this sofa is quickly dispatched. If you have an expected visitor on the way and you need something urgently this may be the option to go with.

You will be happy to know that there is a five-year warranty that is sure to alleviate any concerns that you may have. There are five positions in which you can recline this sofa. This makes it easy to convert it into a bed or to get it into a position you can lay.

The finish is quite smooth. This is the sofa that is built on your sturdy wooden frame. It is Tulip Poplar to be specific. The one downside that you may want to be aware of is the fact that this does not come with a mattress. I’ll be happy to know that. The futon mattress is easy to come by. For the price of the come is it we could honestly not ask for more.

Pros

  • The price is perfect.
  • It is delivered to you very quickly.
  • The frame is quite sturdy.
  • It has a very smooth finish.
  • You can get it in queen size or full size.
  • It is easy to assemble.

CONS

  • It does not come with a mattress.
  • May require additional tools for good assembling.

Check Price and Reviews

The Dillon Wallhugger Futon Frame

Dillon Futon Set

CHECK PRICE ON FUTON SHOP

The list would not be complete without the Dillon Fulton on it. It is a wall hugger photo frame that is minimalist.

From an aesthetic point of view, you will be pleased to find that it is quite a beautiful frame. The ingenuity of the design is such that you could easily fold it and pack it to save space when you are not using it. The set comes with a frame, a futon mattress, and a futon cover. That is about everything that you need to get this started in your college dorm room.

One could describe the design as being contemporary. This could be because of the ease with which you need to open and close the sofa bed.

If you have it against your wall you will notice that you do not need to move it from the wall for it to be converted from sofa to sofa bed.

The material that is used to manufacture it is high-quality hardwood that is grown under strict standards of sustainable forest management. There is a limited warranty on this product. Any warranty is appreciated. The futon mattress that comes with it has micro coils. These are great for allowing it to be packed for delivery. They are brilliant for ensuring the comfort that you need.

Pros

  • It comes with everything you need.
  • It is well-made.
  • It folds away quite easily.
  • There are several colours to choose from.
  • It is a lovely-looking futon.
  • Does not need to be moved to unfold.

CONS

  • It is much higher priced than the others on our list.

Check Price on Futon Shop

Buyer’s Guide

What size sheets do you put on a futon?

One of the first things that you will need to consider getting futon sheets, is the size of the futon. The great thing is that most futons are not different from standard mattress sizes, so finding sheets should not be a problem. If you have a twin bed, you will need sheets with a width of 39 inches and a length of 75 inches. It is the standard size of any twin futon mattress. 

If you have a double bed you will need sheets that are 54 inches in width and the same length of 75 inches. If you have a king or queen size bed, you will need corresponding sheet sizes. Queen mattresses need sheets that are 60 inches by 80 inches. If you have a king bed you will need sheets that are 76 inches by 80 inches. If you have a California King mattresses need sheets that are 84 inches in length if the width is 72 inches which is narrower than the regular king size. Futons follow the sizes of regular beds.

How do you style a futon?

A futon has three parts, the frame, mattress and futon cover. You can style these in any way you want to go along with your room theme. You want to style your futon is linked to the colour and texture of the futon cover. You will be doing yourself a favour to consider the colour scheme you buy the futon cover. The frame plays a big role. The material it is made of can either tie in or clash with the rest of your furniture pieces. You can throw on a couple of cushions or throws to tie in the colour schemes.Ā 

Are futons comfortable to sleep on?

Futons have gotten comfortable and improved in quality over the years. This is thanks to the various technologies being put into futon making these days. The material the mattress is made of is the first port of call to getting a comfortable mattress. Different materials offer different levels of comfort, this means you have to check on what your mattress is made of before you buy it. Most futons are comfortable as they double as both seating and a bed.

How long do futons last?

A good futon can last you anything between 5 and 10 years. All you need to do is to make sure that you take care of it. A futon can last as long as a conventional mattress. It needs to be used n the right base and also turned so that it is worn out.

Is sleeping on a Japanese futon good for your back?

Japanese futons can provide pain relief including back pain. This is because they are soft and when they are laid on the floor you get support which can be helpful for your back.

Final Thoughts

College dorms are small and at the same time, they are entertaining spaces. This means you may need seating in your dorm but at the same time, you do not have space for a lot of furniture. Futons have solved this issue by providing both seating and a bed in one piece of furniture.

You are encouraged to consider the sofa position before purchasing it. Plan the floor space in advance. Where will it be placed? The best futons will look great and serve you well. We hope that our top picks help you decide to buy the best fit for you. We have prioritised build quality. College students deserve a good night’s rest too. Enjoy your dorm room futon shopping!

Elissa Smith
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