Who would use a floor mattress?

Floor mattresses can be used for a range of purposes, as the pros including the easy rolling and folding mean they can be easily stored away. Therefore if room is sparse in your home, floor mattresses will provide a good solution for when guests are staying over. Non-sleep activities such as yoga, exercise and camping can also make use good of the folding floor mattresses.  They can also provide a soft surface for young children to play and rest on, and protect them from the floor.

What features to look for when buying a floor mattress?

Material

Consider what is the purpose of your floor mattress. To aid back and neck pain, memory foam fillings are a good choice as they alleviate the pressure on your body by adjusting to your body shape. Futon mattresses filled with cotton or fibre padding provide good back support and a firm feel, which is especially useful for back sleepers.

Ventilation

When the layers between the mattress are ventilated, this helps the air to circulate and keeps the mattress cool during the night.

Non-slip bottom

These prevent the mattress from sliding at night, making your mattress more comfortable.

Hypoallergenic

As these mattresses are directly located on the floor, they are more exposed to germs and bacteria on floor surfaces. A mattress with a hypoallergenic cover reduces the effects of bacteria, mould, and dust mites by preventing these small particles entering through the nonporous cover.

What does a cheap mattress cost?

The price tag of a cheap, good value mattress tends to be under $100. Memory foam mattresses tend to cost over $100, and if this type of good quality mattress is required, it can be worth spending a little over $100.

Is it ok to sleep on a mattress on the floor?

Yes it is ok to sleep on a floor bed mattress and there are a number of pros when compared to standard mattresses.

Firstly, they can be stored and transported easily. Secondly, sleeping on the ground is reported to improve overall blood circulation in the body due to the spine being in a neutral position.

This can help to reduce neck and back pain. This is because sleeping on the floor without any additional cushioning in a raised bed can cause the body to adapt and distribute pressure throughout the mattress. If your main motivation is to reduce neck and back pain, consider memory foam  mattresses which mould to the shape of your body.

This alleviates the pressure on your body for a comfortable night’s sleep. Thirdly, being closer to the floor exposes you to cooler air and regulate your body temperature, also improving blood flow. Being closer to cooler air will reduce sweating at night.

It is important to also consider the cons of using a mattress which is on the floor compared to a standard mattress.

Firstly being close to the floor means you are closer to the dust, allergens and dust mites which are also on the floor. However, the effects of these can be prevented by considering a hypoallergenic covered mattress, or ensuring that your floor area is vacuumed and dusted regularly.

Secondly, being close to the floor means that you will be closer to the cool air in the room, particularly when temperatures drop in winter. In order to avoid this, you can consider a mattress which comes with a floor mat, such as the Japanese Tatami mattresses. Or you could lay down cardboard or another kind of  surface to help insulate against cold temperatures throughout the year.

Thirdly, as floor mattresses are placed directly on the floor, this reduces airflow. This can cause your body heat and moisture to be trapped within the mattress when you sleep, which can cause mould to form inside the mattress.

Mould of course can cause allergic reactions and a bad odour. However, in order to prevent this,  the mattress can be raised regularly above the floor to allow the moisture which has been trapped to escape.

Many good quality floor mattresses however, have ventilated layers inside to promote air flow, and are water resistant to prevent the buildup of moisture.  Therefore you should consider the wide range of mattresses available to buy which include these features, to ensure your mattress has a good lifespan.