What is the difference between a futon and a couch?
The difference between a futon and a couch is that a couch a stationary seating piece, while a futon is a convertible sofa that transforms into a bed. Generally, a futon is also much more casual-looking than a traditional couch, as it does not have arms, comes equipped with a seating pad that can be unfolded into a full-sized mattress, and features a simple plywood or metal frame. For these reasons, futons are generally preferred for use in informal flex rooms such as guest rooms that also need to function as offices, or studio apartments. While there are couches that convert into sleepers, they generally operate with a hidden pull-out mechanism (i.e. the mattress is folded into the base of the sofa and can be pulled out when the seating cushion is removed), while futons convert by simply tipping the back of the sofa flat to create a solid deck on which the mattress can comfortably rest.
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Lead photo courtesy of Pappas Miron