<p>I have been looking for a dorm stuff and my mom and I can't decide on a futon. I would like to have one instead, but is it worth it?
I live on the 4th floor without an elevator, but I have a single room that has the deminsons of a 12' x 12' main section and 4' x 4' window area so I think I have enough space for one, yet my mom seems to refuse to believe that a futon is worth buying.
I prefer to lie on the couch at home so I am gussing that I would prefer a futon over a sofa.
So, oh wise parents, what has been your experiences with futons?
Worth the money and hassel or not?</p>
<p>If you have not seen and been in the room yet it makes more sense to see what is already in it and what the actual layout is before you get a futon–especially if you are on the fourth floor and would have to carry everything up. You may not have room or need for one (and I doubt you will have a sofa in the room). </p>
<p>Also, if this is your first year away you may want to see what your living pattern in terms of being in the room is really like–you may not spend much time there except to sleep and study and maybe not even study if you end up preferring the library.</p>
<p>Agree with mattmom. Also,what about some of those full body pillows to place between your bed and the wall to make the bed more couchlike?</p>
<p>mm99, does your college’s website show the “floorplan” of your dorm room. The “residence hall” section of S’s college website has diagrams of the various dorm room layouts. If yours does, it can help you figure out if you will have room for a futon.</p>
<p>Both my S’s had futons in their dorm rooms. Both used them a lot. However, both did have roommates and beds were bunked/lofted so the futon was good for basic seating,watching TV,reading.
The futon was also very handy when they had visitors (friends fr. other schools) on weekends. </p>
<p>Their futons were the basic kind from Wal-Mart. It came unassembled in a box. We left it in the box for easy transport. On move-in day, DH and S assembled in it the dorm room (with tools brought fr, home).</p>
<p>PackMom
The floorplan was on the website so I know I have those dimensions that I mentioned for sure, not including the closet.</p>
<p>Also, if I have it for move-in day, I would have the move-in crew around to help carry it up the stairs.</p>
<p>My S had a single in his dorm last year and had a futon “couch” from Home Depot (I seem to recall) that friends who came to vist crashed on. </p>
<p>He said he also used it to flop on to relax since the college bed was not very comfortable.</p>
<p>Is your place unfurnished? Many dorms COME WITH furniture that you are stuck with so if you get a futon PLUS the bed that comes with the dorm, space can get tight. Double-check before deciding. My S chose to have a futon instead of a bed when we were purchasing furniture. The trick is to get a good quality mattress so you aren’t feeling the frame of the futon. We have already replaced his mattress once. A futon IS more useful than a sofa (we have one that replaced our living room sofa & it’s nice when we have visitors–they can sleep on it). Not all mattresses for futons are created equal–you want a thick, dense mattres rather than supersoft cheap-o foam ones that don’t provide any support.</p>
<p>Agree that the futon couch came in handing for DD since they had room for anyone to stay over easily. They had a suite and the futon went in the common room. It also made a great sofa for sitting and watching TV.</p>
<p>My D’s room mate has a couch that her folks bought that will go in their common room. They had her lie on it to be sure it was comfortable for sleeping on before they decided to buy it. I saw some nice, relatively inexpensive futon frames at IKEA. I don’t know how comfortable the mattresses are, as that is the key!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You may want to check this. At some schools, move in helpers do NOT move in extra furniture.</p>
<p>Re: the futon…if all you want is an extra place for the occasional guest, get an inflatable mattress/pump and put it UNDER your bed. If you want a spot to sit, consider getting some extra pillows and make your bed more like a “daybed”. My son’s bedroom is 12x12 and there is not room for a futon in it…with a twin bed, dresser, desk, chair and bookshelf (and I’m talking about the home bedroom).</p>
<p>We put two futons in our son’s apartment - they were both from WalMart at around $95 each. It took quite a bit of labor to assemble them and they are permanently used as beds (they’re always opened up). They are good enough but the “mattress” is thin. It can be used as a couch but the cushioning is pretty thin - nothing like a couch with real springs and a cushion.</p>
<p>I know that rooms come with a bed, dresser, a desk, and a wastebasket.</p>
<p>How about one of these loungers? Has anyone had experience with these?
[Walmart.com:</a> Wave Lounger, Stadium Blue: Kids’ & Teen Rooms](<a href=“http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11045654&findingMethod=rr]Walmart.com:”>http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11045654&findingMethod=rr)</p>
<p>And for carrying it, my dad is a farmer so he is strong, but he has parkinson’s, so he takes very small steps. I think we could carry a light frame since we are used to carrying 100 lb hay bales. (okay, I can only carry the smaller ones, like 60 lb, since I only weigh 110lbs)</p>
<p>S now is in an apartment with more room and uses a ratten swivel chair that is similar to the link (I am not advocating anything about the link)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.bridgat.com/files/Indoor_rattan_chair_and_footstool.jpg[/url]”>http://www.bridgat.com/files/Indoor_rattan_chair_and_footstool.jpg</a></p>
![http://www.bridgat.com/files/Indoor_rattan_chair_and_footstool.jpg[/url]](http://www.bridgat.com/files/Indoor_rattan_chair_and_footstool.jpg%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
<p>The wave thing looks comfortable, but bargain stuff can be uncomfortable so I’d suggest trying it out (if at all possible) before buying it.</p>
<p>I think your dad will need help carrying a 60 to 100 pound futon. Please think carefully about whether this is something you really NEED or whether it’s something you WANT. You may also want to wait a bit. You’ll surely make some friends in college and if you REALLY want a futon and feel it will fit in…perhaps you can get it at a later date. </p>
<p>Personally, I would not recommend getting this for a single room…not a suite or an apartment…until you’ve lived in the room for a bit. Like I put in my previous post…other ways to deal with guests and sitting.</p>
<p>I second the wait and see suggestion. Also, if you want one later, you probably will meet some people (guys?) who will help get it to your dorm.</p>
<p>What are you going to do with the couch or a futon when you have to move out at the end of the school year or during the winter break?</p>
<p>(I’d get a cheap beanbag chair and toss it after a year).</p>
<p>Thumper1
I (a farm girl) would be able to help him, and if my brother would just agree to help that would be perfet. The frame I am looking at is at Ikea and comes in to sizes. They weigh 44 or 23 lbs. (not 60 -100)
BunsenBurner
I can store the futon either in my basement or possible put the frame in our machine shed (I’d keep the mattress inside).
And I would either use it again next year, or I have several frinds who are starting college next year and could use cheap furniture.</p>
<p>mm…the issue of STORING the futon is one thing. The issue of MOVING it again and again (in now…out at the end of spring term…move to parents house…move back for soph year) is another. Seriously…think about spending money on unnecessary furniture. Is this a NEED or a WANT? Believe me…you will have many NEEDS for your first (and subsequent) years of college. I would suggest that the futon can wait.</p>
<p>mm99, does your family have a truck that would make bringing it home for the summer pretty easy?<br>
The futons my kids had were the metal kind. Those frames are pretty light.
The wooden one we have at home is very heavy.</p>
<p>We have a 3/4 ton pick-up, and a mini-van that can haul a lot (it is what we used to move my brother in and out of his college apartment)</p>