DIY Home Improvement: How to Make a Great Japanese Style Futon Bed

Japanese and Asian style accents have been big in the past few years. If you have a spare room or guest room, why not do a theme such as an Asian theme? Here is a quick and easy way to make a Japanese style futon sleeper. Even those of us with less than adequate sewing skills can pull this one off.

First, go to a local retail chain that you know would have pallets. What are pallets? You know, the wooden things that the merchandise sits on in the back that normally is moved around with a fork lift. Depending on how big you want the futon to be, you would generally need 4 but 6 if it is to be huge. After you get the pallets (making sure they are not dry-rotted or moldy) then you will need to sand them. If you do not have the hardware to sand with, then just do it by hand and take your time. I would at least try to buy a small and cheap handheld sander to speed up the process and save your nails.

After sanding, I would put a clear coating on the wood to preserve it, such as a varnish you would use on a dresser. Depending on the color of the other pieces you want to use in the room, you may want to use a dark varnish. So how do you get the pallets to stay together? You don't have to bundle them together, but your guest may be happier if you do. You can do this a number of ways. You can use a combination of wood glue and thin metal wiring, or you could get crafty and get out your drill and secure them with screws. Getting the pallets together and ready is the most time consuming, I think.

So, after you have the pallets together and finished, you can begin on the mattress part. There are so many options now with the mattress. First, you should measure it so you can get an idea of how big to make the mattress. A simple way is to get some bunting or "stuffing" from a craft store and about 6-8 pillow cases. It's easier if you have a sewing machine, even a handheld sewer, but if not then you can do this by hand rather quickly. Just stuff the cases with the filling to your liking, place them, test the thickness of the filling and then start sewing. Sew the ends shut and then begin sewing the cases together, 2 per row across. Another option is to buy a duvet cover or a couple nice and thick queen or king flat sheets (but the sheets require quite a bit more sewing), a foam mattress, and some extra filling such as fiber-fill, feathers, or bunting material. In a pinch you could also use an old thick comforter you have lying around. If you use the foam mattress material, cut it to fit into the cover. Make sure whatever you use to fill the duvet is comfortable to you when you lay on it to test it. With a duvet, there is normally some kind of closure such as buttons, so you may need to do a quick sewing at the end to actually close it completely so the "stuffing" won't fall out. Once you have the mattress made, you can get a little creative and add accents as well.

Now put it all together and add your accents such as pillows, blankets, and other decorations in the room. If you take your time and get it to look the way you want, your guest will be blown away by your craftsmanship. You may be wondering how much all of this will cost, and if it wouldn't be cheaper to just by a futon mattress. This depends on how good of a mattress you are buying, and also on how you want the mattress to look and feel. Most pre-made futon mattresses are uncomfortable, especially the cheaper ones. Basically, it depends on the materials you decide to use to make the mattress. You can normally get the pallets for free, if not close to free. The sanding and varnish does not cost much, and even if you need a sander they can be around $20 for a small handheld model. The bulk of your spending will be on how you decide to make the mattress and what you put in it. If you use memory foam with other materials to fill it, then it will cost a lot more than fiber fill from the craft store and an old comforter you aren't using anymore. So the final cost will be up to you. I would sit down before hand and make a list of what you are planning to use and what you will need to buy. This way you have a plan and won't be frustrated in the end if you go way over the amount you were thinking of spending on such a simple project.