While the most common look on someone’s face is still a bit confused when you tell them about the quality of sleep they can have on a futon mattress, this trend is changing.  This is because the old futon is no longer what you can expect when it comes to sleep innovation.  What do we mean by ‘sleep innovation’?  For starters, there are ways of making mattress materials now that are much more comfortable in terms of support, but also in terms of body temperature control as well.

Don’t confuse this with those old waterbeds that had the ability to heat or cool the water.  While that was quite innovative at the time, we know now that those mattresses provided little support and were more of a fad than

anything else.  So, these innovations, along with some of the other inherent qualities of the futon make it a great bed for getting a good nights sleep.  These newer futons, just like the best neck pillow you can find, offer great support for quality sleep.  Without any further teasing or introduction, let’s dive into these 3 reasons why the futon mattress just may end up replacing your traditional bed when the time comes.   Photo credit

3 Reasons to Choose A Futon Mattress

1.    Support
There are a wide variety of mattress styles available now that claim to offer you back and neck support.  You’ve heard about them all, some have their own infomercials on Saturday morning television.  Some of the most popular are the memory foam mattresses and the air mattresses that you can control individually from side to side.

Actually, there is nothing wrong with either of these.  They can both be quite comfortable and do have their pluses.  The thing is, futons have some of these same options as well.  With the exception of individually tailored air chambers, there are memory foam futons and futons with individually covered coiled springs.

You might actually prefer something along the lines of the traditional futon mattresses that were made with layers of wool wrapped around a latex and cotton core.  These provide much in the way of support.  The material is quite dense, making the mattress feel very firm and, well, supportive.  This type of wool style has other benefits which will be discussed in a moment.

2.    Moisture Control
Not the most common thing you’ll hear when talking about a good night’s sleep, but the fact is we do perspire when we sleep.  If you are sleeping on a mattress that traps body heat or cannot adequately allow your body to vent the moisture, you will be very uncomfortable.  So, this is yet another one of those benefits touched upon with respect to the wool style – it is moisture wicking by itself, no extra ‘technology’ required.  One more thing that wool has in its favor is the fact that it is naturally antimicrobial.  So, it helps to eliminate the problem with mold growth and other problems associated with moisture buildup.

Not all futons have this as their material make-up, so keep this in mind.  In fact, the honest truth is that it is mostly the older futons that utilized this material.  With the push to more of the inner coiled spring styles and the ones memory foam and other ‘contemporary’ mattress materials, this moisture-wicking aspect afforded by the wool may be harder to come by.

3.    Cost
This is one of the main reasons that the futon gained so much attention in the 1980s here in the United States.  Traditionally, the futon mattress has been used for many hundreds of years in the Far East.  Many Japanese still sleep on a traditional Japanese futon with the upper quilted “kakebuton” and the mattress part “shikibuton.”  Here, to buy a new mattress that has the qualities of support and other comfort features mentioned, you might be looking at spending upwards of $800 USD or more.  With a futon mattress, you can expect that price to be in the range of $250-600 USD, depending upon size of course.  Also, many futon manufacturers will include a frame for your new futon with that price.  Now, if you want a more custom futon bed frame, then you can expect to pay for that.

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Sometimes, there are more important things to consider than just the price.  Is this the case with a futon mattress?  You can decide that for yourself, but let’s just take some points to heart and see where they lead.  It is never a good time to waste money, we would all agree on that.  Needless markups and phony sales, these are very common fears that people have regarding the mattress industry.  Futons are no exception to this.  Maybe you are wondering if your futon is from overseas, built with inferior products and made to less-than ideal craftsmanship standards.  More legitimate concerns.

In fact, there is something to be said for paying for quality in the case of futon mattresses and we’ll tell you why.  If you are not sleeping on a quality mattress each night, then you will be waking in the morning not feeling as rested or

rejuvenated as you possibly could.  This will affect not only your physical well being and energy level, but your emotional well being as well.  This is how important a good night’s sleep can be.  And, it is very possible that a cheap futon mattress might not be affording you this opportunity.

A Cheap Mattress Doesn’t Mean A Poor Quality Futon

Don’t be fooled, you can find a good quality futon mattress at a good price.  The whole point of this article is to show you that cheap as in poor quality is not the way to go.  True, poor quality does translate into a cheap price as well and this is the problem.  If all you are doing is shopping for your mattress by going for the cheapest, then that is exactly what you’ll get – get the point?

Please don’t misunderstand the point.  Hopefully, you will find the cheapest price for the best choice of futon that you like to suit your sleeping and home decor style.  After all, there are many that come with great deals on futon bed frames, covers and mattress combinations – they’re hard to pass up.  However, wouldn’t it strike you as a bit odd if you found a mattress for under $100 USD (new)?  Wouldn’t you be a little suspect as to its quality, materials and craftsmanship?  Again, that’s up to you and your discretion.

With the different types of futon beds that are available now, just shopping by price may cost you in the long run.  You can get a futon mattress now that has the same type of memory foam and mattress topper found on conventional mattresses.  In addition, you can get a futon covered in any number of fabric patterns and materials that would make any interior designer proud.  To wrap this article up, shopping for a cheap futon mattress is one way to go, it just might not be the best way to go if you plan on using your futon for you or your child’s primary sleeping arrangement that’s all.

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There are really many ways to benefit from better sleep.  In this article, we will discuss really 7 key tips to keep you rested and feeling rejuvenated upon waking in the morning.  The ideas presented in this article were brought to our attention from an article written by a chiropractor.  You would think that they have some idea as to what to do to keep your body aligned properly and positioned correctly in order to get a good night’s sleep.

Well, you would be right in that regard.  Though this doctor did not mention the “futon mattress” specifically as a way to achieve better sleep, he did mention many aspects that can easily be applied to the futon.  You’ll shortly see why.  However, first let’s briefly mention what this article is going to address.  The topic of sleeping position, pillows and mattress choices are all discussed in other posts here on this site.  You can find them through the appropriate links.

This sleeping environment includes a stuffed animal.

So, consider these ‘lucky 7 tips’ the best ways to maximize your chances – your chances of having the best quality sleep.  Isn’t that really the trick.  We have all had times when we crashed or passed out but didn’t feel particularly rested or rejuvenated in the morning.  Always a problem with the bed, probably not.  Okay, so listen up and take note, you don’t want to sleep through these great tips.

1. Maintain a schedule:  Your body runs in cycles.  Sleep is one of our body’s main and important cycles.  By going to bed and waking up at about the same times each day, your body’s cycles can be maintained and reinforced.
2. Eat right and avoid heavy meals:  This is especially true regarding dinner.  You don’t want to eat a large meal within a few hours of your bedtime.  Also, spicy and greasy foods are not the best choices to help you have restful sleep.  If you have a small or sensitive bladder, you will also want to avoid too much fluid just before bed.
3. Get regular exercise:  You already know this, but exercise has many benefits, one of which includes better sleep.  However, do NOT exercise just before bed.  Your heart rate and energy levels will be up making it difficult to rest.
4. Create a serene environment:  Your bedroom should be your little sanctuary.  You should feel calm and centered even laying in your bed.  Make sure that the sights, sounds, smells, etc. are all such that it facilitates restful sleep and peacefulness.
5. Avoid sleeping during the day:  You can take a 30 min nap in the middle of the day, just avoid a long one.  Excess sleep in the daytime will cause your internal clock to go haywire again.
6. Get yourself a bedtime routine:  Whatever you do (take a bath, read a book, do your breathing exercises, put on your soothing music, etc.) make it consistent.  Also, having your lights dimmed will help your body make an easy transition to sleep time.
7. Go to sleep when ready:  How you know you are ready is that you should fall asleep fast, within 20 minutes or so of when you lay down.  If you are not asleep by then, get up and do something that is not too stimulating, then come back to bed when you are tired.

There you have it, the 7 lucky tips.  See, it isn’t too much of a stretch to suggest that futon mattresses could play an integral role in helping you with restful sleep as well.  These tips could be applied to any bed.  However, we know that the advances with futons and their general level of flexibility make them a great choice for sleeping or otherwise.

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Sometimes, it’s surprising how easily we can loose site of how important the very notion of sleep is.  Given the way we all have so many demands these days with regard to our work, personal lives, kids’ schedules, social lives, and the list goes on and on – it’s more important then ever to get a restful night’s sleep.  And, it’s even more surprising that some people haven’t discovered the joy that a futon mattress can provide in helping you get that perfect night’s sleep.  Did you know that sleeping soundly is actually high on many people’s lists of health complaints when they see their doctor.  It’s right up there with back pain, headaches, anxiety, and all the other stress-related conditions.  Why do you think that is?

Sleep is actually a necessary biological function.

That’s Because So Many Of These Stress Related Conditions Affect Your Ability To Get A Good Night’s Sleep

So, the last thing you need is another reason not to be able to nod off into oblivion each night.  Some people’s mattresses are over 15 years old.  If you had the same shoes for that long, do you think it would affect your feet?  Your legs?  How about your back?  Of course it would!  So, if you’re having trouble sleeping, why do you settle for that old bed of yours night after restless night?  Well, futon mattresses could be the answer to your prayers if your answer was cost.  See, you can get a very healthy nights sleep on a simple futon style mattress.

Another thing to consider for your good night’s sleep is the right pillow.  There are many to choose from and I would suggest that you try some out before sticking to one.  Some popular choices are the cervical spine contoured pillows and the memory foam pillows.  Some people complain that their pillow gets too warm when they sleep.  In this case, you may find that using a buckwheat pillow is the right choice for you.  These pillows contain hulls from buckwheat plant stalks and are chopped up to make the filling.

To many people, a bed mattress is one of their most expensive purchases in the home.  And, yes, it should last for years.  The problem is that they simply don’t last forever.  And, unless you have a very expensive and healthy one, you may be sleeping on some pretty nasty off-gassing products each night.  These are mattress products that have any number of chemical substances that are used in their production and manufacturing that you breath in each night.  Some futon mattresses are also guilty of this.  But, there are other options as well.  Just like the higher end traditional mattresses; you can get a futon organic mattress that has all the same benefits for much less cost.  You can ever place your futon on top of your traditional box frame and use it like a larger topper if you like.  You don’t have to settle for the dorm room futon mattress on the floor image.  Even if you do choose to put it on a low bed frame, there are so many modern and elegant futon mattress covers to choose from, it can have a very Zen-like, spa appeal.

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