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Futon covers come in many different colors, sizes and materials. Some important things to consider when buying a futon cover is the warranty, washing requirements, drying care and the way futon cover is enclosed.

Futon Covers with Velcro

On thing that is often helpful to find out before you buy your futon cover is whether it has a zipper or Velcro. Velcro is not very popular these days, but often futon covers that use Velcro to enclose the opening are one-sided. This means you have to get your big heavy futon mattress through the slot on one side of the cover and enclose it. This is not a fun process for the average person.

Futon Covers with Zippers

Futon covers with zippers are sometimes easier to get futon mattresses into than Velcro. Unlike Velcro, you do not have to worry about getting the edges perfectly lined up. With a zipper, you just zip. However, it is good to ask what kind of zipper you are getting. Does your futon cover come with a one-sided, two-sided or three-sided zipper?

One Sided Zippers

The one-sided zipper is almost always a real drag. Like the one-sided Velcro futon cover, the one-sided zipper means you have to really work to get the futon mattress inside. The advantage to a one-sided futon cover, might be that you have less zipper showing. But these days, most quality futon covers have a vanity flap that hides the zipper nicely.

Two Sided Zippers

The two-sided zipper is much easier to use because it usually starts on one corner of the cover, unzips all the way along the short side of the futon cover, and around the next corner all the way along the long side like the letter “L” — making life a whole lot easier. Some two-sided zippers, however, might not be full length–meaning the zipper does not start or end at the corners. This gives you a smaller slot to get the futon mattress through.

Three Sided Zippers

In general, the easiest and most friendly futon cover comes with a three sided zipper. This allows you a lot of space to get the mattress inside the cover. Three-sided zippers come in two formats. The complete three-sided zipper and the short three-sided zipper. A complete three-sided zipper usually starts the corner of the short end, goes all the way up the side and around the corner along the long and until it reaches the second corner to travel down the other short end. This might be said to look like the letter “U” and makes putting futon covers on and taking them off very easy.The other type of three-sided zipper called the short three-sided, may start anywhere along the short side and go up and along the long side and down to the other short side again. This type of cover might have a zipper that starts half way, three quarters of the way, or one-quarter of the way along one side and and at the same place on the other side. Still this type of cover is considered much easier than a one side, but maybe not as easy to use as a full two-sided

Which Futon Cover Should I Buy?

The verdict is that when price, quality and design are all equal, elect to buy the full three-sided zippered futon cover. However, if you are in love with a futon cover that does not fit this description, ask yourself how often you think you will be taking the futon cover on and off. The answer is probably not that often.

As always, our recommendation to you is get what you like. If you buy a cover based solely on ease of use, you have to be happy with your choice. Sometimes, it just pays to pick your favorite cover on looks alone.

Finally, just keep in mind. Futon covers can be replaced. That is one of the beautiful things about futons.

Posted on February 26th, 2007 by futonplanet
Filed under: Futon News