If you’re wondering, should I get a futon for my dorm room, the answer is it depends. Futons are so versatile that they can be used as either mattresses or couches. However, would they fit in a dorm room?
Should You Get a Futon?
Depending on who you ask, you would hear different answers on whether you should get one or not. We do not think you should. The chances of your dorm being big enough to comfortably house a futon is low.
If you want, you could use your bed as a sofa. Let’s also not forget that futons can be expensive. As a college student, you probably don’t have that much to spend.
If your dorm is small, and you can still get the mattress. Not only would you deal with a lack of space, but it could get you in trouble too. If a fire breaks out, it could be harder to escape. Campus housing knows this. They might report you.
You’ll be busy as a college student. You probably don’t have the time to clean a futon. It would trap the odors in the air. If you regularly smoke, it will likely smell like marijuana. When the housing staff come over for your mandatory room check, they’ll have a lot of questions.
The lack of space due to the mattress would make you feel claustrophobic. If you’re someone who suffers from anxiety, this is not what you want. Also, the crowded space could cause panic attacks if you’re stressing over something.
What Are the Benefits of Having a Futon?
Yes, there are several reasons to not get a futon. However, there are also a few advantages of buying one. Let’s talk about them.
Another Bed
Your college may not have the strictest rules about people staying overnight. Your guest could sleep on the mattress, as it can either be a bed or a couch.
Have a Social Area
When you and your friends are hanging out, having somewhere to sit down and relax would be great. You would be able to watch movies together.
Somewhere to Study
Yes, you would be spending most of your time studying on your desk. However, it would be nice to have more than one spot to work in. Futons are comfortable. Depending on the one you got, its back support may be excellent too. You’ll easily be able to study on it.
Get Better Sleep
You won’t be allowed to remove anything that the university has placed in your room. This means that your bed can’t be moved. This would be disappointing if it’s uncomfortable.
When you’re studying for your finals, you’ll need to get enough sleep. A futon is soft, so you’ll be able to sleep like a baby.
It Will Last
You’ll be amazed by how long these mattresses can last. You’ll be able to carry one around for years. A bonus is that they are very easy to find. They are affordable as well.
What Should You Consider When Buying a Futon?
They come in all kinds of styles and types. You might be intimidated by the selection available. Below, we’ve discussed everything to consider to make the right purchase.
Mattress
Traditional futon mattresses are filled with textile batting, while more modern options are full of cotton, springs, and a range of other materials.
Buying this piece online is not a good idea, as you can’t feel the texture of its mattress. You want one that has the right balance of bounce and firmness. Depending on its stuffing, how bouncy or firm it would be would differ.
Mattresses made from cotton are the easiest to roll up. Meanwhile, foam options provide the best bounce, and spring options feel the most like a regular bed.
Also, check the futon for any bumps. Uneven spots would give you back pain.
Size
When they’re rolled out, futons can be as big as beds. But if you look around, you’ll see that they come in various styles. Some are noticeably smaller than others.
If you’re lucky enough to get a large dorm for yourself, you might like the fact that futons are available in king and queen sizes. Just know that the king-size ones are the hardest to find.
What will you use the furniture piece for? This would influence the size you will need. Some of them can be rolled from a chair to a twin-bed instead of a couch to a bed.
Price
If you’re on a budget and want to purchase a futon, know that the cheapest options would be the thinnest. They won’t be hard to sit on, but they would be uncomfortable to use as beds.
How can you find these pieces for a lower price? Get hold of one that’s used. Just make sure that it’s in good condition. There could be bed bugs otherwise.
Cover
You want the futon to last for as long as possible, which is why it should come with a durable cover. You would be able to protect it for years.
The cover should spread across the mattress completely. It should also be microfiber – this would make it more comfortable.
How Do You Turn Your Bed into a Couch?
We mentioned that you can transform your bed into a couch earlier. Let’s elaborate.
Get Pillows
You need different-sized pillow to make the bed look like a couch. There needs to be cylinder-shaped ones for the armrests and larger rectangular ones for the back. Get pillows that are fluffy. They would provide excellent support.
Make it Horizontal
Make sure that the bed is horizontal and against the wall. This would prevent the pillows you’ll be placing to keep from falling off.
The best beds to act as sofas are twin beds. Luckily for you, most dorms have twin beds.
Ditch the Duvet
To make the bed look more like a sofa, you’ll have to swap your bedsheet for something that look more like a couch. A tip would be to avoid anything silky. Not only would it look weird, but the pillows could slide off.
The color of the sheet would influence how couch-like the set-up would look too. Go for a plain solid color.
Glue the Pillows
How will you get the pillows to stay in place? You could place one-sided tape, but a better choice would be Velcro.
Ottoman
The make-shift couch should have an ottoman at the end. You would be able to relax better on it.
Whether you should get a futon or not depends on:
- the size of your dorm
- how much you have to spend
- whether it would be a fire hazard or not
Most dorm rooms are small, so the furniture pieces wouldn’t work well. It would not only take up a lot of space, but it could be a fire hazard as well. You could trip over it when there is a fire. A better idea would be to turn your bed into a sofa. All you have to do is turn it horizontally against the wall, then add some pillows. You can make sure the pillows don’t fall off by velcroing them.
