Bedroom Furniture Buyer's Guide — Inside Scoop

A futon is a type of mattress that makes up a Japanese bed. They are sold in Japan at specialty stores called futon-ya. Western futons are only loosely based on the Japanese original, with some major differences.

Platform beds are beds whose base consists of a raised, flat, hard, horizontal surface meant to support a mattress. They are great for people who want a simple look to their bedroom, or who live in tight spaces or small bedrooms.

Air beds are specially designed air–filled floating mattress beds designed to prevent development and/or alleviate and facilitate healing of bed sores and certain physical problems associated with long term restriction to bed, especially in a paralyzed and/or coma state.