Cheap Futon Covers

Futons have become a must have home accessory due to their versatility, value and comfort.  They may be sold together with replaceable cheap futon covers.  If a futon mattress cover is not included there are many complementary covers which are beautifully decorated in a variety of amazing patterns that are plain and simply cheap!  In fact, futons have replaced beds and couches in many homes.  One of the reasons why they are so popular is their affordability.  There are numerous stores with offers on well tailored goods.

The best place to search for the products is the internet.  There are numerous stores which sell the collections at very good prices.  You can get a wide range of the goods which come in a variety of different shapes, designs and styles.  Customers who use the internet to order the products are able to achieve significant savings by comparing prices offered at different stores.

Another way that one can find a selection that is pleasing is by checking whether there are any sales available at local stores.  After identifying the dealer with the best offer, you can walk in and search for what is suitable for your requirements.  The products should fit in well with the design in the interior of you home.

You do not have to be an expert home interior decorator in order to choose good quality, but cheap futon covers.  Just check the nature of the fabric, the warranty, any pre-treatments and its color to choose the one that matches or complements the interior of your home.

To save some considerable time, you can search on the internet for stores which advertise custom made cheap futon covers.  Later on, you can visit these outlets in person and choose a style and design that suit your needs.  The accessories can last for years if kept in a good condition.  Just because they are sold as cheap futon covers does not mean they have a short lifespan.  It is therefore advisable to take your time and choose nice and quality goods since they can be part of your home for a long time.

Futon covers are made of a variety of materials that will match any environment.  Many people consider purchasing futons when choosing furnishings for a small home, apartment or dorm room.  These versatile furniture pieces are affordable and come in a range of styles that will suit any interior decor.  The basic model features a metal or wood frame that easily converts from seating to a bed.  The mattress may go inside a fabric cover, which is removable for convenient cleaning.

A removable cover is what makes this type of furniture so versatile and popular.  Fabric choices include corduroy, vinyl, synthetic materials that mimic leather and even denim.  Soft microfiber options are gaining in popularity due to their durability.

Various color choices make it possible to match, complement or contrast any existing interior design. Consumers can choose from soothing earth tones, versatile neutrals and bright colors which make a bold fashion statement in any setting.

A variety of print options offer even more possibilities for creating an inviting room.  An animal print works well with any tropical theme while geometric prints are perfect for people who are into retro styles.  The choices are as varied as the fabrics found in any craft or sewing store.

Whimsical designs are available to match the theme of any child’s room.  Most of these products are machine washable making them easy to keep clean.  The homeowner simply unzips, unsnaps or pulls-apart the Velcro holding the futon cover and removes the mattress on laundry day.  The cover can be replaced with something different when the child gets older and it is time to redecorate the room.

Consumers will find many local and online retailers with large inventories of futon covers in many styles and colors suited to any room in the house.  Price will depend on the material used and the pre-treatments applied but there are many futon covers cheap for people on a budget.

Decisions, decisions!  Pick a cheap futon cover or an expensive futon cover.  Exactly what makes them so different?

Material Selection
One of the key decisions that will have to be addressed when selecting a futon cover will be the material used in its fabrication.  A poor decision here or lack of thought about this selection can result in a purchase that will inevitably disappoint.  Choosing the wrong material for the futon’s intended use can lead to premature wear, shrinkage, or increase the likelihood of damage such as rips, tears and seam failures.

For a good durable, long lasting and cheap futon cover a consumer would be best served by selecting from an upholstery grade fabric designed to survive frequent use.  For example, seating furniture that is used regularly would probably benefit from an upholstery grade fabric.  Such fabrics are usually always machine-washable – a primary requirement for seating areas that suffer heavy use, ground in dirt and spillage.

For other areas where a futon cover is for occasional use or more decorative than functional there are many fabric choices.  Many consumers prefer natural fabrics for their futon covers, and there are five main natural fabrics to select from:

1. Cotton
2. Cotton-blend
3. Linen
4. Wool and wool-blend
5. Silk

Cotton and Cotton-Blend
Where the risk of soiling and wrinkling associated with heavy use is fairly low to moderate cotton is always a good futon cover option.  Offering good resistance against general wear, fading and pilling cotton is a comfortable natural option for a futon cover.  Where there is a desirability to purchase a particular cotton cover, but a worry that it may not be durable enough to survive its purpose, then there are a couple of options.

The cotton can be treated with an agent that will provide additional durability and protection against stains, wear and damage, or the cotton can be blended with other fibers to introduce strength where it may otherwise have been weak.  Some popular options therefore are a damask weave for formal occasions, or where a more casual use is intended a canvas weave such as sailcloth or duck might be more applicable.

A cotton blend does tend to be a more sturdy cover than 100% cotton and is therefore preferred for everyday use.   Of the natural fabics a cotton-blend, with the ease of maintenance and good life expectancy is perceived as the ‘king’ of cheap futon covers.

Linen
For rooms that benefit from lots of natural light the house owner must consider the effect of ultra-violet rays on the futon cover fabric, i.e. fading.  For furniture that is placed next to a window for example, a poor choice of fabric can see one arm of the chair noticeably fade in comparison to the rest of the chair.

One fabric suitable to resist such fading is linen.  Linen has a natural tendency to resist fading, and also pilling.  The trade off is that it will not hold up well under heavy wear, so this should be taken into consideration.  Also, for maintenance, linen should be professionally cleaned to avoid shrinkage.

Wool and wool-blend
Another fabric that will resist fading is wool.  Usually blended with a synthetic fiber to increase durability and ease of cleaning, a good wool futon cover will provide excellent resistance to fading, pilling and wrinkling.  A wool-blend in fact may be in the category of cheap futon covers when one considers the anticipated life.  One precaution, even wool-blends may require professional cleaning.  Read that small tag which describes the care-of, carefully!

Silk
Finally, for the most beautiful and delicate of fabrics, people may look to silk futon covers.  Usually the average consumer would not consider a silk fabric to fall in the category of cheap futon covers.  So delicate that it requires professional cleaning and only suitable for occasional use, a silk futon cover can enhance any room with its stunning finish.

Leather is mentioned here not as a fabric-choice but as a natural-choice.  Many people consider leather to be one of the better all round upholstery choices; it feels good, matures with age and is very strong and durable.  It is easy to clean, but does require regular cleaning and treatment to ensure a long life and avoid difficult defects such as cracking.  Most leather futon covers are used only on bi-fold mattresses since leather is usually not flexible enough for a tri-fold mattress.

Totally and 100% natural
Some consumers may require a totally natural futon cover, void of borate, chemicals and synthetics.  This is usually for medical reasons where a hypo-allergenic material has perhaps been prescribed by a doctor.  A truly hypo-allergenic material carries some risk due mostly to a fire hazard so care should be taken where hypo-allergenic is being considered.

Synthetic  materials
In addition to these five natural fibres, there are eight synthetic fibres that can also make splendid cheap futon covers.

Nylon is probably the most well known of synthetic fibres, but for futon covers it is usually blended with other fibers to provide one of the most durable and strong covers possible.  After blending, a nylon futon cover provides a very resilient surface that will resist soiling and wrinkling.  Care should be taken to avoid fading and pilling however.

Another popular synthetic fabric is of course polyester.  However polyester on its own in not suitable for a futon cover and should only be selected if blended with other fibres.

For users looking to have their space benefit from the beauty of a silk cover, but at a lower price point, acetate might be a good option.  Developed to be a substitute for silk, acetate can look beautiful however it does have shortcomings.  It can wrinkle quite badly, fade under exposure to sunlight and it will shrink if not cared for properly.   Probably not a good idea for every day furniture therefore, however,  a nice cheap option for silk.

Other synthetics that can be used for futons include acrylic, microfiber, rayon, olefin and vinyl. Each of these can provide good value and durability for a futon cover.

Construction – Seams
Once the fabric is selected paying due attention to the above guides, the manufacture is equally as important in deciding how durable and long lasting the cover will be; in particular the construction of the seams.  Double stitched seams offer the best protection against easy defects or wear.  Also known as a reinforced seam a double stitched seam will be required for frequent and heavy use futons.

Construction – Closures
Some futon covers come with a zipper flap in the back seam as standard, which offers a good practical option.  The fasteners will largely be a choice of preference, selected from drawstrings, Velcro or plastic snaps.

Warranty
After taking so much care to select your futon cover it is important that due attention is given to the manufacturer warranty.  Often it will be explicitly stated which cleaners should or should not be used, and the frequency of cleaning.  Consumers will ignore these warnings at their peril.

A Few Minutes of Consideration
Finding a cheap futon cover is not hard if you have some idea of the use, the preferred material and the amount of cleaning and care you want to invest keeping the cover looking as nice as possible.  Frequently the cheapest price may not lead to the cheapest cost as use, wear and tear and cleaning will add to the original price.  A few minutes of consideration can really help you find that cheap futon cover!