Futon mattress – buying guide & tips for choosing

Find out in this detailed buying guide what a futon mattress is, what advantages and disadvantages it has and whether this type of mattress is suitable for you.

A futon mattress can be a good alternative to a regular bed. But there are a few important factors to consider when buying.

In this post you will learn many details about the origin of the futon mattress, the different types that exist and their advantages and disadvantages.

In addition, after the information you will find some practical product recommendations for futons.

You can jump directly to the chapter that interests you most using the following table of contents:

If you don’t have time to read the whole article at the moment, I have a preliminary recommendation for a very versatile and inexpensive futon mattress:

The principle of the futon mattress comes from Japan. There have been mattresses there for over 2500 years, which the Japanese roll out to sleep on the floor of the living room.

 

A futon mattress worked very differently than a conventional, permanently installed bed.

In western countries, the idea of ​​the futon was changed and adapted to people’s sleeping habits. Today you can find futon mattresses made of different materials and even complete bed constructions with futons.

In the chapter “What types of futon mattresses are there” I go into more detail about the differences between the models.

In addition to futon mattresses, there are also futon beds and futon sofas in Europe today. However, these no longer have much in common with the basic Japanese idea.

Note : Futon is the Japanese term for bed or place to sleep.

History of the futon mattress

The futon comes from Japan. Traditionally, Japanese houses had a living space that served as both a living room and a dining room and bedroom.

 

To sleep, the tables and seat cushions were moved to the walls and the futon mattresses rolled out on the floor. In the morning the futons were rolled up and stowed away again. This tradition still exists in some Japanese households today.

Sometimes the futon mattress lies on a firm surface, the tatami mat. Often the mattress lies directly on the floor.

The traditional futon mattress is filled with cotton fibers and serves as a relatively hard sleeping surface. The solid base should make the body harder and more resistant.

For the western market there are now futon mattresses made of many different materials that offer significantly better sleeping comfort.

What types of futon mattresses are there?

Since the actual cotton futon mattress offers a rather hard sleeping surface, new materials have been used in futon production over time.

At the same time, the way of using a futon mattress was adapted to Western habits.

Simple futon mattress

The simplest form of the futon mattress consists of four to six cotton layers that are quilted together. The layers are surrounded by a cotton cover.

 

These mattresses are a relatively hard sleeping surface. To do this, however, as traditionally, you can simply roll them up and do not have to remain assembled like a bed.

The fact that you can roll up the futon and stow it away makes it particularly useful where living space is limited.

Other materials

While cotton is used in Japan and in traditional futon mattresses, Western influence has made manufacturers use newer and softer materials in the manufacture of futon mattresses.

 

Today there are futons made of cotton, new wool, horsehair, hemp, coconut and even with latex or rubber.

  • In order to provide better sleeping comfort, the actual idea of ​​the mobile futon has been pushed into the background.
  • Many modern futons are also so stable that they can no longer be rolled up.

As a result, futon mattresses are becoming more and more similar to conventional mattresses and have also become thicker over the years.

In the manufacture of futon mattresses, natural ecological materials are often used as a distinguishing feature.

Other forms

Since Europeans are used to sleeping in a raised bed, over time the idea of ​​the futon has been adapted to this habit.

 

Today you can find a large selection of futon beds in stores that combine a futon mattress with a traditional bed frame.

Often these futon beds have an Asian-looking design and the lying area is a little deeper than normal beds.

Futon sofa beds are another popular shape. These combine a futon mattress with the idea of ​​saving space. The futon sofa serves as a bed at night and as a sofa during the day.

For whom is a futon mattress recommended?

In principle, futon mattresses are very versatile. There are futons for children and adults, for individuals and for couples.

 

Due to the properties inherent in traditional futons, they offer a harder sleeping surface than a conventional mattress. However, there are now also relatively soft variants.

A hard mattress is beneficial for some back problems.

Older people in particular often have problems getting out of the futon mattresses lying directly on the floor.

A traditional futon is very practical where there is a lack of space:

  • In the morning you can roll up the futon mattress and use the space gained for other purposes during the day.
  • This fact has ensured that futons are very popular with students, for example.

To see if a futon mattress is right for you, you should have slept on one. If you find sleeping on a futon uncomfortable, you should choose a different type of mattress.

Tip: Here you will find a good overview of all commercially available mattress types .

Advantages and disadvantages of the futon mattress

In this chapter I have clearly listed the most important advantages and disadvantages of futons for you. This overview applies primarily to traditional cotton futons.

benefits

A futon offers these advantages:

  • Hard mattress
  • Cheap price
  • Natural materials
  • Long service life
  • Space saving
  • Minimalistic

disadvantage

Of course, there are also downsides to using a futon mattress.

  • Hard mattress
  • Ventilation necessary
  • Deep sleeping position

Size of a futon mattress

As with the materials, there is now an almost infinite range of sizes.

Like many other types of mattress, futon mattresses come in many different sizes and heights.

You get futon mattresses for individuals in sizes between 90 × 190 and 140 × 200 cm.

From a size of 140 × 200 to 200 × 200 cm, the futon mattress is referred to by many manufacturers as a couple futon or double futon mattress.

When choosing the right size, the dimensions of the slatted frame or futon bed you are using are important.

Tip: If you place your futon mattress directly on the floor, it can also be narrower than a conventional mattress, as there are no borders at the edges and you cannot fall.

What does a futon mattress cost?

The prices of futon mattresses vary greatly depending on the size and material.

 

You can get a quality, simple and traditional futon mattress for one person for well under 100 euros.

A modern futon bed for couples, on the other hand, can quickly cost 1,000 euros.

Where can you buy cheap futon mattresses?

Because of its popularity, you can buy futon mattresses anywhere these days. You can find these in Möbelhausen, specialty stores for mattresses and you can also order many models over the Internet.

Nowadays it is almost common to order a mattress over the internet. This saves you the hassle of transporting it from the furniture store to your home.

In the product recommendations you will find some recommendable futon mattresses that you can order directly from Amazon regardless of where you live.

I recommend that you always compare prices and quality before buying a futon mattress.

The best futon mattresses: recommendations

In this chapter you will find different futon mattresses that I recommend based on their properties. There is sure to be a suitable model for your requirements.

Practical: LQ&XL futon mattress

This futon mattress is available in many different sizes, from 90 × 200 to 200 × 220 cm. The 10 cm thick mattress ensures pleasant sleeping comfort, the natural materials make it usable for allergy sufferers.

Despite its size, the mattress can be rolled up. You can use it both as a sleeping mattress, as an additional bed pad, as a sports pad or as a camping mattress.

This futon Shiatsu mattress is four to five centimeters thick and therefore offers a rather hard mattress for sheep. The manufacturer recommends using it on a tatami mat.

The size of 200 × 140 cm makes it usable both as a single futon and as a tight mattress for couples. The filling consists of 100% pure cotton. You can roll this futon up after use.

Versatile: Karup futon sofa bed

A simple Scandinavian style futon sofa with a futon overlay. You can convert this sofa bed into a sofa or bed in just a few simple steps.

A 140 × 200 cm futon made of 80% cotton and 20% polyester serves as a support. With a thickness of 12 cm, the futon offers a relatively comfortable sleeping pad.

equipment

Depending on what type of futon you buy, you can choose from different accessories.

A classic cotton futon mattress can be supplemented with a tatami rice straw mattress as a base.

Futon beds come with a bed frame, some also have a slatted frame.

With a futon sofa you get a complete construction with which you can use your futon mattress as a sofa or bed.

Tip: In keeping with the topic, I recommend the article on Feng Shui for the bedroom . There you will find useful tips for decorating your bedroom.

maintenance

It is important that you ventilate the conventional futon mattress well after use. Since these futons lie directly on the floor, there is no ventilation during the night.

Turn and air the futon mattress regularly. Then it remains hygienic and you can use the mattress for longer.

Regular ventilation prevents moisture from building up in the mattress. A good way to ventilate the room is to hang the futon out of the window or put it in the garden.

If your futon has a cover, you should wash it regularly.

Info: Modern futon mattresses that lie firmly in a bed, on the other hand, only need to be turned at intervals of 14 to 30 days.

Conclusion: futon mattresses are practical sleeping pads

Especially if you have limited space or want to use the space in your apartment more efficiently, futons are a good alternative to fixed beds.

It was not for nothing that futons were first popular with students looking for ways to save space in their small apartments. Combinations such as futon sofa beds offer you a wide range of uses.

  • Please always note that you lie much harder on a futon mattress than on a conventional mattress.
  • Therefore, try out a futon mattress before buying to get a feel for the hardness.

I recommend one of the following three models. You have a good selection of sizes and can use the futon mattresses flexibly:

Amazon advertising links / images from the Amazon Product Advertising API

Nowadays, futon beds can hardly be distinguished from other beds.

With many futon mattresses, there is usually only a Japanese-looking design. However, the materials used in the futon are increasingly similar to conventional mattresses.

Alternatives to the futon mattress

You will find many articles about the different types of mattresses in the articles on Sleepwithjoy.com .

A suitable alternative to a futon mattress are pull-out beds. With these models you have a similar space-saving effect.

For example, if you want to use a futon as a guest bed , it is best to find out more from the following posts:

You will also find helpful information on many other types of mattresses if you follow the links:

I hope, with the help of these posts, you will find exactly the mattress that will turn your sleep into a relaxing pleasure.

I created Sleep Knowledge to share my interests and experiences on healthy sleeping with others. On this page I am therefore dealing with interesting questions about the optimal night’s sleep & everything else that goes with it.

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