DIY futon (how to make one)

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Not a fan of traditional mattresses? Make your own futon mattress! It’s easy, simple, and it’s much cheaper than getting a mattress from a local retailer or an online brand. In this article, we’re going to walk you through the process of making a DIY futon mattress as well as a DIY futon frame to pair it with.

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How to make a DIY futon mattress

Follow these steps to make a DIY futon mattress:

1. Gather the required tools and materials
2. Unzip the cover and lay it out on the floor
3. Place the polyfoam base layer inside the cover
4. Place foam support layer on top of the base
5. Add adhesive, if necessary
6. Place comfort layer on top of support layer
7. Zip up the cover

Today, I’m going to help you make a DIY futon mattress that’s durable, comfortable, and practical.

You don’t have to buy the most expensive and premium mattress to get a good night’s sleep. For some of you, purchasing a $1000 bed-in-a-box mattress may just be a distant dream due to financial reasons. Others might simply prefer a minimalist lifestyle which involves sleeping on a futon mattress instead of a luxurious hybrid mattress.

Whatever your reason is, you shouldn’t stop pursuing better sleep for yourself and your family. Making your own futon mattress is an excellent way of getting a functional sleeping surface and saving money at the same time. Also, it would be a fun and practical activity do do with a partner or your child.

So, that’s enough talking, let’s get to work. Follow each of the steps in order and you’ll have a DIY futon mattress in no time.

Step 1: Gather the required tools and materials

These are the tools and materials that you’re going to need to make a DIY futon mattress:

• Mattress cover
• Comfort foam, support foam, and base foam layers
• Industrial strength adhesive (optional)

Before getting a mattress cover, you should know the exact dimensions of the futon mattress that you’re going to make. The best way to determine what size your DIY futon mattress should be is by measuring the length and width of your bed frame or base.

In this guide, we’ll be teaching you how to make a futon mattress that consists of three foam layers. From top to bottom, you’re going to need the following:

• A comfort layer that’s made of memory foam. This section contours to your body and relieves pressure from your joints.
• A support layer that’s made of high-density foam. This layer reinforces the mattress and keeps your spine in a neutral alignment.
• A base layer that’s made of high-density polyfoam. This section is usually very thin and it simply serves as a foundation for the support and comfort layers above it.

You need to know how thick you want your DIY futon mattress to be. 6 inches? 8 inches? This is important so you can get specific thicknesses for each foam layer to achieve the total height that you need. Here are some guidelines to help you out – the base layer should be the thinnest layer (1-1.5 inches), the support layer should be the thickest (4-6 inches), and the comfort layer should be around 2-3 inches thick.

Lastly, you’re going to need adhesive to glue the foam layers together. This is optional so it’s up to you if you want to permanently glue the layers together or just stack them on top of each other. Doing the latter will allow you to add more foam layers should you want to in the future.

Step 2: Unzip the cover and lay it out on the floor

Once you’ve prepared all the necessary materials, start by unzipping the mattress cover and laying it out on the floor. It’s important that you have a flat surface to work on. For those of you who have carpeted or uneven floors, one option would be to purchase a large piece of plywood to act as your floor/flat surface.

Step 3: Place the polyfoam base layer inside the cover

The next step is to begin placing the foam layers inside the cover. But before that, you should air out the foam layers in a well-ventilated room first. Do this for at least 24 hours to get rid of any off-gassing odors that are common with materials such as memory foam and polyfoam.

As soon as the chemical smell dissipates, place the thin polyfoam base layer inside the cover. This should be the first layer since it acts as a foundation for the layers above it.

Step 4: Place foam support layer on top of the base

After that, place the high-density foam support layer on top of the base layer. The support foam and base foam should be completely level with each other. As I mentioned earlier, the support foam should be the thickest layer to ensure that your DIY futon mattress is durable and resistant to sagging.

Step 5: Add adhesive, if necessary

Although it isn’t required, gluing the foam layers together secures the structure of the mattress but it also takes away the possibility of adding or removing extra layers. If you want to upgrade your mattress in the future, just stack the foam layers on top of each other for a more modular design.

Step 6: Place comfort layer on top of support layer

Now, you can complete your DIY futon mattress by adding a soft comfort layer. We recommend using memory foam for your comfort layer to get the most pressure relief. However, there are some eco-friendly individuals who would prefer a natural latex comfort layer for a bouncier and and more responsive feel.

If you’re going to use several comfort layers, make sure to place the firmer layers first and have the softest layer sit on top.

Step 7: Zip up the cover

The final step is to zip up the cover, and voila, you just made a DIY futon mattress. You can now add sheets and other bedding to the mattress so you can sleep on it immediately.

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How to build an easy DIY futon frame

Follow the following steps to build an easy DIY futon frame:

1. Gather your tools and materials
2. Get the big planks ready
3. Mark the small planks
4. Mark the medium planks
5. Cut and drill the planks
6. Measure screw holes
7. Drill the screw holes
8. Finish the small planks
9. Assemble the futon
10. Finish the homemade futon

Although you can use your DIY futon mattress on a regular bed base, it’s much better to use it on a fold-out sofa frame. This way, it can function as a mattress at night and as a cozy sofa during the day.

We know that futon frames can be expensive, especially if you purchase a high quality model like the Okinawa Bi-fold Wood Futon Frame.

If you want to save money, you can trying making a DIY futon frame to pair with your homemade futon mattress. In the next section, we’ll be giving you detailed instructions on how to make a simple tri-fold futon frame in the comfort of your home.

Step 1: Gather your tools and materials

You’re going to need the following tools and materials to build a futon frame:

Tools and materials:

• Wooden planks (small, medium, and big sizes)
• Nuts
• Bolts
• Screws
• Triangle
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Protractor
• Electric screwdriver/Drill
• Manual screwdriver
• Drill bits
• Saw
• Medium Grade Sandpaper
• Rasp or planner

You can also prepare or buy wood stain, oil, or wax for finishing your futon frame. All these materials including the wood planks and all the tools will cost more or less $50.

Now that you’ve gathered all the tools and materials, let’s get to work.

Step 2: Get the big planks ready

For this step, you’re going to prepare the biggest planks. Use a rasp or planer to chamfer the edges of the wood and sandpaper to smooth the edges and surfaces. Do this for all the big planks.

Step 3: Mark the small planks

Next, you’re going to cut out a small section on one end of each small plank. You should also slightly taper the opposite ends and drill a hole in each for the bolts. You’ll be needing a ruler and a triangle to get accurate measurements.

Step 4: Mark the medium planks

The main things that you have to do with the medium planks are to drill a hole and to cut out a triangle on one end of each plank. Use a pencil and ruler to mark the planks.

Step 5: Cut and drill the planks

The next step is to start cutting and drilling the marked sections on the planks. After that, smooth the tapered ends and triangles with sandpaper.

Step 6: Measure screw holes

At this point, you’re going to measure screw guide holes on the planks. It’s important to make sure that the screws go straight through the wood to avoid any cracks. You need to have different measurements for each plank size.

Step 7: Drill the screw holes

Position your drill straight down the screw holes and start drilling. You should drill all the way through the big planks but only 0.8 inch deep through the small planks.

Step 8: Finish the small planks

Finish the small planks using a planer. But, the side with the screw holes should only be gently sanded because it needs to be completely level with the large planks.

Step 9: Assemble the futon

Now that you’ve finished working on all the wood planks, you can finally start assembling the futon frame.

The first step in the assembly process is to fasten all of the screws through the long planks so that their ends are prodding out the bottom. This imperative to line up the longer planks to the smaller planks without any issues.

Screw all the planks in place to get three different sections of the futon. Secure all the parts using wing nuts and bolts. If everything works smoothly, you’ve successfully made a tri-fold design DIY futon frame.

Step 10: Finish the homemade futon

The final step is to finish your homemade futon with whatever wood finishing you want. You can use teak oil, wax, or even a colored stain. To finish the futon, you have to dismantle it first into its three parts. Sand the entire futon frame to get rid of sharp edges and treat it with your preferred wood finish.

After you’ve applied finishing oil to the futon, reassemble it and you’re all set. You now have a functional and space-saving tri-fold futon frame that you made from scratch.

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FAQs

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Conclusion

We made this DIY futon guide because we know that Western-style futons can be quite expensive depending on their construction and materials. If you’re on a tight budget and low on space, you can make a DIY futon that consists of a mattress and a tri-fold frame. Just follow our step-by-step instructions above and you’ll have a functional futon in no time.

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Next step: View our list of the best queen-size futons. If you decide that building your own futon isn’t the path for you, then buying any brand from this list is certain to be a good choice. We rounded up the top 5 and listed the pros and cons so you can decide for yourself which one is right for you.

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Psst… the sleep review industry is full of liars, sharks, and thieves. It’s a modern-day version of getting ripped off at your local mattress store. So, why should you trust us?