Ah, yes, it was so hot in the '70s. If you were a starving student or just managing to scrape it together in your first apartment, you had a futon. With or, more likely, without a frame, the futon operated as your bed, couch, desk and dining table. Graduating to more "grown-up" furniture -- a real bed and a proper couch and table -- came later.

The futon is once again making tracks as a must-have home purchase, but there are style and comfort improvements that have moved this versatile mattress up several notches. Comfort is the first consideration, and there have been major advancements in the mattress industry. Using environmentally sensitive materials that are layered to suit a variety of sleep postures, you have your choice of the original cotton pad, memory foam, coil or wool-wrapped futons. Futon frames now come in a variety of good-quality woods, including teak and oak, as well as metal. They easily convert from bed to couch and will fit into any decor style. The huge range in futon covers makes it easy to switch your look from summer to winter as quickly as changing your bed cover.

It's worth checking the possibilities at your area futon or furniture store, or do some looking on the Web. If you are looking for futon covers in every style, www.siscovers.com is one source.

One aspect that appeals to me given the awkward staircases I've had to contend with, even a queen-size futon mattress and frame is foldable and easy (in comparison) to move into those top-floor flats or basement apartments.

Q: My teak dining table is marked up. Can it be painted? It's been oiled regularly.

A: With any solid-wood table, it is possible to remove the stains and nicks by sanding. Before you paint, sand and wash to remove the oil, then prime with a good-quality high-hide primer that will cover up the stains. Now you are ready to paint. Finish with a couple of coats of varnish for protection.

The House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. (house2home@debbietravis.com)

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