Futon Mattress

If I could coin a new phrase to describe the futon mattress it would have to be ‘sleepable’. In the ever-changing, evolving and technologically growing world of mattresses, the futon is making its mark. This true both with quality of materials and of craftsmanship. The right combination of materials, comfort characteristics and support all go into defining the statement that the futon is one of the most sleepable mattresses today. Combine this quality with the flexibility that they provide and you know why a futon bed is so great.

You might have thought that it wasn’t possible to be uttering the phrase quality and futon in the same sentence. In the past, I probably would have agreed with you. I was still a big fan even then because of their flexibility and ease, but, yes, the quality had something to be desired. Most people think of a college dorm room or some other type of cheap looking mattress on the floor type of image when they hear the words futon mattress.

Futon Mattress vs. Traditional Mattress

In the past – say 10 years or so ago – it would have been easy to find many reasons to vote for the traditional mattress. There were comfort votes, size votes, materials, craftsmanship and even variety pluses to owning a traditionally manufactured mattress. About the only thing that the futon had going for it was the cost and convenience factor. Not that these aren’t important, but when you are talking about your sleep it is important to get a good night’s sleep.

The quality of your sleep will greatly affect not only your mood and energy levels but also your overall health. It is important to know that many physiologic functions of our bodies require – not kind of like, but require – adequate sleep to restore, rejuvenate and heal. If you are not sleeping on a great mattress, your health will likely suffer. Who knows, you may be suffering now because of poor sleep.

The Size of Your Futon Mattress Also Affects Your Sleep

This just makes common sense, but let me explain. If you sleep alone, then you can get away with a smaller size mattress – maybe a full or queen is plenty for you. Unless you are a very restless or ‘active’ sleeper, you should find this to be plenty of room and not feel constrained or uncomfortable. You definitely don’t need a king size mattress – unless, hey, well, let’s keep it G rated.

Now, if you sleep with a partner, then you will need a larger bed to feel free to move and comfortable. Again, your sleeping patterns are one main factor. If you or your partner move around a lot in your sleep, then you will quickly find that it is difficult to get restful sleep in even a queen. Other factors that go into your bed mattress sizing are you and your partner’s height and weight

Let’s Talk About Mattress Materials

The quality and type of materials in your mattress also affect your ability to get quality sleep. Most traditional mattresses were made by using flame retardant chemical sprays or materials that can cause health problems. Not all people react to them in the same fashion, but I still wouldn’t want to be breathing in this stuff. The danger is in the way that these chemicals cause a process called ‘off gassing’ that is literally just the chemical fumes coming out of the materials. Then, you lay there for hours at a time just breathing it into your body. There is more and more being written about this topic all the time. The nature of the ‘green revolution’ is bringing issues like these to the mainstream forefront of our ideas.

And don’t think that futon mattresses escape this type of problem – they don’t. You have to be just as cautious and careful to whom you purchase from. There are ways of searching for these online, just through a proper search engine query. You will be happy to know that it is more likely to find a futon mattress with less of these agents just by their nature, but I wouldn’t trust this to be 100% safe, just because it is a futon. To be fair, traditional mattress manufacturers have been addressing this problem as well, so the whole mattress industry as a whole is making strides in this way.

Another way of describing mattress materials is to say ‘in fill’. This means exactly the same thing. These materials include foams, cottons, poly-blends, wool, metal, wood, etc. Now, more than ever, the big differences between the traditional and futon mattresses are gone. You might be surprised to know that futons come with memory foam and even individually wrapped inner coiled springs. Yup, that good old futon is making a serious comeback. Now, add in its flexibility and convenience and it is hard to find a better mattress choice.

The most common mattress materials for the futon were the cotton-poly blends and wool batting styles. For different reasons, each had its merits. The cotton-poly style is typically the least expensive and tends to flatten out over a shorter period of time. I prefer the wool batting and filled mattress because of wool’s inherent properties to wick moisture and its antimicrobial nature.

Just think about what you would want for your baby. Would you choose a mattress that has been sprayed and all that? Probably not. And, on top of that, I would urge you to seek out natural baby bedding that was made of organically grown cotton and blankets that were made of the same as well. A child’s developing body and nervous system are highly sensitive to chemicals during these formative years. You can find all of these products with a simple search through your favorite search engine.

You really have a choice when it comes to getting great sleep. It is also a judgment call that you need to make regarding all of these ideas and your budget. Some of the mentioned luxuries will cost you more, but think of them as an investment in your health – because that is what they truly are! Whether you choose to sleep on a futon mattress or regular bed, just rest easy knowing that you now have choices.

When it comes down to deciding upon a new mattress, you must differentiate between occasional guests or personal sleeping arrangement. For example, you will know if this new bed will be for company or for yourself and possibly significant other. This helps you determine the type of futon mattress to buy and also what size. Traditionally, Japanese futon mattresses are made of two layers of a mattress beneath with another upper layer on top. They work together to form the entire mattress that you sleep on. It is place on what are called tatami mats and then hung up or beaten outside to air in the sun.

Since your futon can vary in material and size, there are a couple things to consider. It would behoove you to decide what type of mattress materials you would like to sleep on. Or, in the case of your guests, what you would like them to sleep on. We've all had that uncomfortable experience with the convertible sofa and that dreaded bar in the back during sleep thing. Make sure to avoid this and sleep comfortably and well on a futon mattress. You'll be glad you did and so will your company.

This is a great question and one that shows that you are probably not a college student or someone who has little regard or care for their property or belongings. In other words, you are a conscientious and wise person and shopper. To answer your question more specifically, you can protect your futon by getting a futon mattress cover. Sometimes, called 'futon covers'.

These are simply like pillow cases for your pillows, but with more substance to the fabrics. Well, substance is not necessarily the proper term to include all styles. There are types of covers for your futon bed that are actually made of microsuedes or even leather. Others can be found in the traditional cotton or canvas for more durability. They all function mostly the same and that is to zip around your futon mattress to provide some fashion sense to the functional need of protecting the mattress itself.

In many cases, you will find the purchase of a futon mattress from a quality establishment (whether online or brick and mortar) will come with some type of frame. The real question is in regards to the functionality and esthetics of the frame that come with your futon.

Many futon bed frames are just a simple wooden structure, maybe with armrests that provide the basic function of allowing it to be used as a sofa. If you are really interested in utilizing your futon for other purposes, or have it in mind for your primary sleeping arrangement, consider a custom futon frame.

With a custom futon bed frame, you will be able to order various types of shelving, storage, and other useful features that you simply will not find on a basic frame. You can also get your frame made of a particular type of wood of your choice, then have it either stained or painted to match your tastes and decor. Custom futon bed frames are high quality furniture pieces.

There are a few different terms that can be used when you are searching online for new mattress that you should be familiar with. One such topic of interest to you is the futon mattress. You found this hub after all, right? Okay, so when you are searching online, you should also realize that simply futon or futon bed will also be used to describe the same thing.

It doesn't always have to be in a singular form either. If you are searching and searching and just can't seem to find what you are looking for, you might consider searching futon mattresses - with an 'es' on the end there. This way, you will pull up some additional sites that you can't find with your original search. No matter how you search, just do it. You will be amazed at what you can find in a variety of price ranges for great futons. If you haven't checked them out in a while, get to it!

You can consider the same methods if you are looking for a crib mattress as well. There are the same type of issues when looking up beds and bedding for children's rooms. Sometimes, the terms are used interchangeably and can get confusing. If you are looking for a convertible crib, you may be able to find one using terms like the ones mentioned. It all depends upon the manufacturers.

When you think of a futon mattress, the first thought is usually some type of flashback to a flimsy mattress lying on the floor of some dorm room back in college. Well, this image is changing and that is for the better.

Now, the futon is making a comeback. You will see it on elegantly designed frames and in simple Zen layouts in finer home magazines. Why is the futon mattress making such a resurgence you might be asking? For one reason, they are now mostly comparable in comfort and quality to a traditional mattress.

What luxuries used to be reserved strictly for the thousand and plus $$ mattress, now can be had for quite a bit less in a comfortable futon. For example, did you know that futon mattresses are now available with covered inner coiled springs? Likewise, they can also be found with memory foam and nice plush toppers. All you have to do is a simple search online for "futon mattress" and you will be amazed at what you find.

About Futon Chairs

There's another way you can enjoy the benefits of futon life - getting a futon chair. These come in the same modern and exciting styles as their mattress cousins. In fact, sometimes with the chair style you can get more hip for your buck. The only drawback to the chair is the size of the sleeper aspect to it, if it even has that option. Some will just be smaller mattresses that fold over and others are more 'fixed' styles. In either case, the futon chair can give you a nice addition to your decor.

What does it take to get one? In fact, what does it take to get a GREAT one? One thing is for sure, a busy brain or restless mind will never let you get one. So, that is where any conversation should start. If you are thinking about why you aren't getting restful sleep, start there.  Just don't try to figure 'it' out!  This will only cause you to lose more sleep worrying about why you can't sleep.  I know, it sounds silly, but that is what happens.  It is a weird twist that our mind-body plays on us. 

One thing you can do is focus on your breath and breathing.  Many stress-related cures rely solely on breathing techniques to reduce tension and relieve stress.  This is something that you can do when you get into bed or just before to help set the stage for relaxation.  One technique is to place one hand on top of the other, palms down, over three areas along the front of your body.  One place is your belly button, the next is just under your breast bone and the last is at the top of your breast bone where you have a little dip or pit just beneath your neck.  What you do is breath into each spot in the nose and out the mouth, feeling your breath rise and fall in each area.  Then, linger on the one area that has the most ease or feelings of peace for you.  Just keep your attention there. 

Now, if it is simply a matter of not being able to get comfortable in your bed, that's a different story. Sometimes, your mattress is the culprit. This is when I would recommend seeking a futon mattress to ease your sleep struggles. They provide quiet comfort where other mattresses may be more springy or transfer sounds or movement from a partner. If your mattress is too soft or old, it may be time to get a new one.  Many traditional mattresses are made with springs that, like your coils on your car, may eventually wear out with time and use.  Even futons can be made with inner coil springs now.  So, you can get the same type of luxury that you once only associated with the traditional type of bed. 

The other factor that may be affecting comfort of your bed is whether or not you sleep with a partner.  If you do, then it may be something to consider.  Is your partner restless?  Do they have a more 'active' sleep pattern than you?  By active, I mean do they move their legs and arms often in the night or roll over and shift during sleep a lot?  These can all be problems for you if you share a smaller mattress like a full or even queen, depending upon you and your partner's heights and weights.  Think about these situations as you are making a decision about your new mattress choices, it may be a matter of simply getting yourself in the 'sleeping zone.'

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