So basically, the problem with the futon was that after many many times of being put together and taken apart, the hinges for the metal futon frame got to be very bent.

TODO insert picture of bent hinge

This problem increased through continued use, and it eventually got to the point where I couldn’t fold the futon back into its couch setting.

Because of the little space in the room, where basically I could only walk around when it was a couch, and sleep in it when it was a bed, I needed to find a way to be able to fold the futon back into a couch.

I outlined the following options:

1. Bend the hinges back to their shape
2. Try to find a replacement part
3. Make something that works
4. Buy a new frame

Option 3 seemed pretty impossible and I couldn’t really afford option 4, so I focused on options 1 and 2.