By far the most common size of futon mattress is the full sized.  Unfortunately, as many people can attest, finding bedding and linens for your futon mattress full can be a bit tricky.  Queen and Twin sized mattresses are by far the most commonly sold sizes, with full sized trailing behind.  This can limit the styles and designs of sheets, comforters and other bedding that you may be able to find to outfit your futon.  Of course, if your futon is adorning a living room rather than a bedroom, you will have no trouble finding a full sized futon mattress cover, which can be a plus.

Why Full?

You may be wondering why a futon mattress full size is generally your best bet when shopping for a futon.  The fact is that the full sized futon has been the standard size futon for many years, partially because it allows the futon to fold into an average size sofa and down into a comfortable size bed.  While twin beds tend to be more common, they are generally too small to comfortably sleep more than one person at a time.  And because houseguests and other visitors usually come in pairs, it is much more convenient to have an extra bed comfortable enough to sleep a couple.

Bedding

It can be a bit tricky to find the appropriate bedding for your futon mattress full sized, especially if you are using a futon pad or mattress that is much thinner than a standard sized mattress.  This can mean that fitted sheets slide off, making for an unattractive bed and an uncomfortable night’s sleep. Alternatively, if you have a super thick full sized futon mattress, you may find that full sized bedding is not large enough to tuck around the mattress, while queen sized bedding is awkwardly too large.

Where to Shop

When looking for a futon mattress full, your best bet is to hit retail department stores first.  You can often find very good deals on futon mattresses at these locations, albeit on a generally limited selection.  If you are looking for a wider variety of futon mattresses to choose from, chances are your best bet is to hit up a larger furniture store, or even a bed and mattress specialty shop.
Regardless of where you opt to purchase your futon mattress full sized, you are going to want to purchase a mattress that includes a mattress cover, as your futon will be used as a sofa as well.

Let’s face it; if you have a futon it is probably taking a beating.  Doing double duty as both a bed and a couch can add up to a lot of wear and tear and the futon covers required to keep your futon mattress looking new can be quite expensive in and of themselves.  Whether you are a college student on a limited income or simply a homeowner trying to extend the life of your furniture investment, finding a resource for cheap futon covers can be a lifesaver.  Fortunately, there are numerous resources available for people in the market for such accessories.

Where to Find Them

You can find futon covers at almost any location that sells futons themselves, although the selection will vary from place to place.  Of course, taking this tactic doesn’t guarantee that you will find any cheap futon covers in your price range.  One of the single best avenues for locating cheap futon covers is to hit up your local outlet stores, which sell overstock, remainder, and irregular clothing and linens.  If you do opt for this route, chances are you can find higher end futon covers for better prices than you ever imagined possible.  Of course, whenever you purchase linens or clothing from an outlet store rather than from a retailer, you are taking the chance that you are getting an irregular item.

Any item that is irregular or otherwise defective is required to be marked as such somewhere on the packaging, although this distinction is not always prominent.  You will also want to be careful of the return policies at outlet stores, as they are generally more restrictive than a regular retailer.

Still Out of Luck?

If you do not have luck finding cheap futon covers at an outlet store, or if you do not have such a store in your area, there are other options.  For example, many big box retailers sell futon and other furniture covers.  Their selections may be limited, but their inventory is generally reasonably priced.
Another alternative is to cruise the internet.  There are a variety of websites and other etailers that cater exclusively to futons and their accessories.

This allows you access to the widest variety of cheap futon covers possible from the comfort of your own home.  Of course, this will mean waiting for delivery and potentially paying shipping fees.  However, even with the delay in arrival and potential extra costs, the selection is often worth it.

One of the hottest trends in mattresses today has to be memory foam – indeed; the technology has usurped inner spring mattresses and taken the world of comfort while sleeping up a notch or two.  And this technology is not limited to expensive, high end mattresses in exclusive furniture store.  In fact, memory foam has become a hot ticket item in both mattresses and mattress covers, and it is even possible to find a memory foam futon.  This advancement has allowed for a whole new level of comfort when sleeping or even sitting on a futon.  Just think of it – a sofa so plush and comfortable that it even conforms to your behind while you sit.  Amazing.

Where to Look

Because memory foam has become so popular, it is possible to find memory foam futon mattresses and mattress covers virtually anywhere futons are sold – from retailers to wholesalers to liquidation outlet stores.  Additionally, you can often find exceptional deals on memory form pads and mattresses online – and if you are able to couple online only discounts with reduced or even free shipping, you may just find the bed time deal of a lifetime.

How to Decide

When looking for memory foam futon mattresses, you will often have to decide between replacing the entire mattress or simply adding a memory foam mattress pad to your existing futon mattress. While purchasing a mattress pad is clearly less expensive in the short run, if you are going to have to replace your futon mattress in the near future anyway, you may want to stave off the added expense by simply biting the bullet and purchasing a new memory foam futon mattress rather than a mattress pad.

Additional Information

When purchasing a memory foam futon mattress or futon mattress pad, it is imperative that you purchase a quality futon mattress cover.  Memory foam is just that, foam, and it tends to wear down fairly easily and substantially if not properly protected.  Because it is a fairly big investment, you are going to want to extend its life as much as possible through good maintenance.

Something else to look for when purchasing a memory foam futon mattress or mattress pad is a warranty.  The fact of the matter is that not all memory foam mattresses and pads are created equal, and quality products will distinguish themselves from the pack by way of offering a warranty.  In order to ensure that you get what you pay for, going for a mattress or pad with a warranty is your best bet.