Whether you are just getting home from work or just staying in for the day, nothing beats being able to sit back, relax and stretch out on your favorite futon. By now, you would have chosen the perfect cushion that meets your needs, with a matching frame that is just the right angle, depth and height for you. Still, these alone do not make the perfect futon for you, what you need is the perfect futon cover.

You may ask why is it important to have a good futon cover; after all, the very core of the futon is the mattress and its contents. The importance of a futon cover is best appreciated when you actually make use of the futon itself. It is the futon cover that actually makes contact with our skin. It is the texture of the futon cover that we feel, it is the futon cover that protects the cushions from wear and tear and it is what gives the futon its aesthetic value in any room of the house or office. Thus we can summarize the most important futon elements into three factors. Mind you, these three are the top considerations when selecting a futon cover, but the considerations are not limited there. Size, price and other factors should also be considered, and before we move on to those, let us first check the main things you should consider in a futon cover: comfort, protection and design.

The basic notion of comfort is that it should feel good when it comes into contact with your skin. This is very true. However, what is not said is that fabrics feel differently depending on your location and environment. This means that the comfort level of certain fabrics change according to how long you have been sitting or lying down on your futon. This is why it is important for you to study how the futon will be used and where it is located when selecting the right futon cover for you.

When you sit on the futon for a long period of time the fabric will absorb your body heat and will grow warmer. This is actually quite a useful effect when you are in any of the colder northern states or in very elevated locations where the temperatures are normally cool. However, in states where the climate grows warmer, you should consider getting fabrics that are more resistant to absorbing heat and will stay cool longer. The density of the fabric also affects the airflow of the covers. Fabrics that allow lots of airflow are good choices for keeping your futons cool for longer periods of time.

The texture of the fabric is also a key factor when it comes to your relaxation and comfort. While each individual has their own unique choices and preferences to texture, the best solution is to go for a fabric that is both soft to the touch and with just the right amount of smoothness to glide you hands over without making you slip. Unlike temperature, tastes in texture vary greatly and is a complicated factor to consider when there are many people in the household whose tastes are being considered. With that in mind, it is useful to keep track of some basic pros and cons to different fabrics. Really smooth fabrics often give a very cool sensation upon first touch but they easily absorb body heat, these can become uncomfortable as the smoothness may cause the user to slip when fidgeting to the heat. Thicker fabrics provide decent grip and friction by may be a little too rough for those with very sensitive skin, at worst they may cause chaffing as well.

The protection the futon cover gives is important for the mattress being used. As a general rule, make sure that the futon cover you use is just the right size and shape for the mattress or cushion. A good fit will ensure that not only is the futon protected, but it will not warp or be worn easily. This is because forcing a cushion into a small corner will place stress on the material. This weakens the stitching of the fabric on both the cushion and the cover. An oversized futon cover on the other hand is more likely to bunch up in uncomfortable wads due to the excess fabric and will easily be displaced. When displaced, the cover will not be able to cover the entirety of the futon and will leave some parts exposed. A good futon cover will help maintain the shape and form of the cushion.

Finally, the design of the futon cover should also be carefully selected. While many people focus simply getting the nicest looking designs they see, you should consider what the over design and feel of your room is. If the location of the futon is in a warm colored room, then you should consider whether you should get a color that is in the same tones or is directly contrasting like a cool color to create a sense of emphasis on your futon. Likewise, a room with other motifs such as leopard prints, stripes or plaid may call for futon covers that combine nicely with those designs. While you could set your futon to look very different from the rest of the space around it, you should keep one or two small elements the same with the environment to create a sense of unity and balance in your home design.

Design aspects of your home that should be considered are over all paint colors, materials (whether you use metals, or wood, or plastics) and the lighting you have available. These elements when combined create a mood and setting that your futon will be a part of and that is why you should really consider the aesthetic part of the futon cover you will get.

Aside from the primary concerns, each type of futon cover varies in cost, availability and maintenance. Some may even require special cleaning. You can also consider getting hypo allergenic covers or fabrics with similar features due to health concerns. The important thing is to never forget that futon covers are an integral part of your futon.