<p>The housing website says that futons should be 56 inches wide (<a href="http://www.housing.wisc.edu/residencehalls/furnishings">http://www.housing.wisc.edu/residencehalls/furnishings</a>). Does such a thing exist? Please help! I'm hoping to pick one up in stores because I'm flying to Milwaukee and then driving to Madison. Thanks!! </p>
<p>You don’t need to have a futon, the guide just tells you the largest one that would fit under a lofted bed. Not lofting your bed and being able to sit on it with your feet on the floor et al could work as well for some. Search furniture online for possibilities or check locally to see which brands come in the size you can use.</p>
<p>My son was in Sellery/Witte – they lofted their beds initially, and had a futon from target – it was about $100-120, sort of mid-sized. Even after they both decided they didn’t want their beds lofted, they moved their dressers into the closets (pretty common for guys, I think, who had less hanging clothes than girls), and had room for futon. They used it for when friends crashed at their room etc. Just threw it out at the end of the year as it was pretty gross. Definitely not necessary, but gave them some other room to sit besides on the beds. </p>
<p>If you do buy a futon, check to see if there is a metal support bar running down the middle of the seating area the long way. Futons constructed like this are very uncomfortable to sit and lay on. I have heard that some of the cheaper futons are made this way and sold at Target and possibly other retailers.</p>
<p>Also, there is usually a free bus excursion down University Avenue that takes dorm students to the Target store closest to campus (about 4-5 miles). You can wait until then to buy the futon and anything else you need from Target after coordinating with your roommate to avoid duplicate purchases.</p>