Why I sleep on the floor: 4 years on a Japanese Futon

[@itsjoyandrea]

Futon Q&A kzbin.info/www/bejne/ol6lpp93dstqp9Usi=HUIhTnawaH9iiWaN ☀️ Old comment: As I am getting a lot of questions about sleeping on the floor and the futon I plan to do a separate video answering all your questions so it can be helpful for more people. ☺️ If you have any questions please drop them below this comment, and I will make a separate video for them. Thank you very much 🦋💕

[@EmpressMeg]

I have a spine consideration question.. I'm in need of a new mattress as mine is a hand-me-down from someone much larger than myself. It's so old and worn that it offers practically no support at this point and exacerbates my back issues. The dips are very obvious. And given the age of it, I try HARD not to think about the probable moths, carpet beetles, silverfish, etc. As for my back issues, it's that I have extensive spinal fusion and long titanium Harrington rods (from when I was 16yo, am now 42yo) for severe scoliosis which was obvious upon the initial visual examination. Today, as was expected, I suffer from back muscle weakness and aches, nerve pain (pinched, etc), and pulled muscles. The areas above but ESPECIALLY directly below my fusion take the everyday strain of...existence lol. Walking, running, lifting -- all these things, even when minorly impactful, are normally distributed along the entire spine in its series of alternating hard vertebrae and squishy discs. But most of my "squishies" were removed for the fusion (my problems would have been far worse without the fusion though, such as more pinched nerves, muscle issues, and even impacting my lungs, heart, digestive system, etc. So, fusion was the only option). I currently have a minor slipped disc (retrolisthesis of L4 on L5). Additionally, I do have occasional sciatic nerve issues - shooting pain, diminished sensation (quasi-numbness), and tingling that involve my rear, hip, and legs. And x-ray shows "multilevel degenerative changes" (I translate this to "your overall spine is crumbling in lots of places"). And, yes, I do have rounded shoulders like you. I also have "forward head" (neck), so I know there are cervical spine problems yet to be diagnosed as well. I try to maintain correct posture as best I can, but I can only do so much -- especially when I have a pinched nerve (gotta "give in to the crookedness" to give that nerve its...space). Upper chest and back, my muscles in front are shorter and the ones in back are longer - due to combo of poor posture and literal limited mobility. I think my spine has continued "scoliosis-ing" wherever it could over these past decades. In 2016, it was noted that I have a levoscoliosis of 25 degrees (considered "moderate"). Seems like a lot even after fusion, but that should indicate how bad my initial curve was. I also have separated abdominal muscles (diastasis) as a result of pregnancy and a weak core. Strengthening exercises are limited because I can't bend most of my back. And I've been given the red light on weight-bearing exercise because of my back. Since my front muscles can't support me, that leaves my back muscles to do double duty. I have casually lain on the floor while chatting with family and wound up with significant back pain for several days after. I know futon isn't literally like sleeping on the floor, but "too hard" isn't good. That said, good firm support is important for my back. I'm primarily a side sleeper, especially for falling asleep. And I sleep with a folded body pillow between my knees because that shifts my back and hips into a healthier position (I've gone without, resulting in waking up throughout the night to stress point pains in my back, hip, and legs...). And I use a regular pillow that I often hug and lean into, for thoracic support. Would you say that a futon may be a consideration for me? It looks so much more manageable for me (smaller, no lumps, no dips, and easier to care for and set up). I'm hoping for more "even" support, but not one that's too hard. Does sleeping on the futon feel like the equivalent of just sleeping on a sleeping bag? Or an air mattress? Or is it more dense than that? When you lie on your side on the futon, can you feel your hip pressing through the futon into the floor? I often read in bed, on my side, before falling asleep -- but I sometimes fall asleep while doing so. ((I know I ultimately need to pose this futon alternative to my doctor or a real spine specialist before making a decision. I'm just curious what your opinion is, since you've actually experienced "futon life" long-term. There are plenty of people with advanced spine issues like myself -- from the similarly fused to the general Scoliosi (yes, I made that word up) to the elderly. I'm sure all of us "significantly-defective spine owners" want to know if Japanese futon could have the potential to work for us, too.)) Anyway, thank you for your video! It's been quite informative and interesting! I'm subbed! ❤

[@oksanakaido8437]

@@itsjoyandrea is hanging the futon outside to air out absolutely necessary? What if you don't have a balcony or private yard?

[@killiansirishbeer]

​​​@@oksanakaido8437 Ikea has a few clothes racks that are great for putting a futon on. My futon is a bit heavier than hers, so I have the IKEA Turbo clothes rack which is sturdy and can be put outside as well. P.S. it has wheels on one side so it's easy to move as well

[@lisamakkay7633]

Hellooo thanks for the video 🌞 I am really curious and on the edge of getting a futon + tatamis mats but I do have some questions - How often do you vacuum the tatami mats? - How often do you air them out outside? (In the sunlight and in winter as well) - How often do you air out the futon outside? - Is there any other specific things I need to know to keep my futon & mats as clean and well as possible? Thank you soo much ✨

[@killiansirishbeer]

@@oksanakaido8437 I have a sturdy clothes rack from IKEA. It's sturdy because it can be used inside AND outside. I put my futon on it to air inside, last summer I may have put it outside a couple of times. I think the most important thing is being able to air it and fold it in a dry area, if the room is very humid then you may have problems with mold and bacteria.

[@amesville]

I know this video isn't about how the books are stacked in the bookcase but I cannot get over it.

[@potetstappe666]

Damn, now I can't unsee it.

[@carolynhoffman9757]

I’ve been staring at the bookshelf too

[@trishemerald2487]

Same! Why do this? (Makes me wonder what sort of books they are!)

[@maaroosterom]

I love it! Has a calm look to it :)

[@meltaylor2339]

i think she keeps the ones she wants to read vertical and cover facing and the ones she has or doesn't rush to read with its pages on show

[@izzywoods794]

When i lived in japan for 4 months, i stayed with my host family. The mom was very into the tea ceremony, so they had a traditional set up in their house in a tatami room. I slept on a futon in there for most of my stay and as someone with scoliosis, it was amazing.

[@itsjoyandrea]

Ohh that sounds amazing!

[@tanyasharadamba1264]

Having stayed in tatami rooms, it is truly bliss 😊

[@miotagbheag6880]

😮I have scoliosis too (and the surgery) do you feel less pain when sleeping on futon?

[@magdam8290]

Don't believe it. Sleeping on the floor will mess up your spine. Good quality matress is way better especially for people with scoliosis

[@LilithsCosmicLounge]

@@magdam8290But all bodies aren’t the same. Everyone should do what works for them.

[@mkh1996mkh]

Also, if your someone who doesnt like the idea of the futon literally being on the floor you can get raised wooden platform that the tatami and futon go on top of and it doesnt take away from the firmness

[@relaxme5919]

Would mat and futon still need to be aired out and vacuumed?

[@deathbunny3048]

@@relaxme5919 Always

[@bob_sandvagene]

So, almost like a bed then?

[@AlexShiro]

We have such, bc our area has lots of poisonous spiders. Lol Tatami in a low frame are still amazing.

[@KarnageGaming]

​@@bob_sandvagenenot exactly cause the frame is raised only a couple centremetres. when they say raised it isnt much as at. the combines height of everything together is less then half of traditional setup where all used to

[@hikakorc143]

Japanese here! I am so so so glad you enjoy futon:) Some Japanese sleep on a bed and some still do on futon and I remember I was so jealous of my friends using a bed, growing up as I was so influenced by the glorification of Western culture in my culture haha Moving to the US for study, I have been sleeping on a bed and I do not mind, I do not hate it, but it made me realized how much I love sleeping on the floor and futon! Idk it has some comfort in a unique way! And I miss the smell of sunshine that the futon soaks up when we air them out outside😊 oh! you are right, the recommendation for changing futon (mattress) is every 3-5 year:)

[@itsjoyandrea]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Maybe you find your way back to a Futon someday 💕

[@christopheryuda4029]

Whats the reason for needing to change them every 3-5 years? It's not necessarily due to it getting dirty or something because if you take good care of it that should not be a problem. Are they constructed to naturally deteriorate and lose quality due to the materials used or?

[@hikakorc143]

@@christopheryuda4029 i mean ultimately changing the mattress part of futon is up to individuals but it feels colder as time goes by because of the humidity that futon contains by soaking up our sweat... That is why airing it out when its sunny outside is highly encouraged! but it gets anyway cold and weary (becomes thinner) after some years!

[@quadrantiii]

I really like that you guys are interested in sleeping on futons and are having conversations about it. konnichiwa,from tokyo. It is true that the futon becomes thinner as you use it. Therefore, it needs to be replaced or maintained. However, the original use is to use it on tatami, so if you use it on tatami, you don't have to worry about it for 10 years, of course, while taking care of it daily, such as drying it every day. In the past, there was a futon shop in the community, and it was traditional for the people at the futon store to maintain the futons, regularly replacing the cotton inside them, and using them for a lifetime while maintaining them. In recent years, futon shops have disappeared from the streets in Japan, and Japanese people have begun to buy and use new mattresses on a regular basis.

[@christopheryuda4029]

@@quadrantiii Ah I see, thank you for that. Yeah I was a bit put off by the idea of replacing it that often...really does not seem sustainable. But 10 years is a bit more understandable! (with care!)

[@Daithi_mk]

"When i want something, I always want the best" I have found someone with my disease/blessing!

[@izzm2327]

I guess other people must not want the best

[@siiiriously3226]

we had a saying in my Austrian farmer family, i have heard it from my great grandfather : "we aren‘t rich enough to buy something cheap", getting good quality will last longer.

[@FreeGumFighter]

you're so unique

[@S-jq1yk]

@@izzm2327 a lot of people just want the cheapest version of things

[@bastianviery]

​@@izzm2327 many other people want to buy the cheaper thing, which is not always the best.

[@APetula]

I spent years sleeping on a normal foam mattress on the floor. Not japanese and very simple and frugal. What i liked most was the fact that I'd get up from the floor. Something about getting my body to really stand up to start the day

[@gizralnork]

It's pretty common for many South East Asians to just put their foam mattress on the floor, including me. Even after I moved to NL.. I am too lazy to buy a bed frame, so I just put my mattress on top of yoga mat (it's pretty humid here, just don't want to wet my mattress too soon in winter). I also sit on the floor way more often than on top of my sofa.. it's just so comfortable.

[@ChandlerSavage]

I just spent my first night on a Japanese Futon and it was the first time in years I woke up without lower back pain! I hope more and more people discover this!

[@BoredToDeath182]

Are you still happy with it?

[@ChandlerSavage]

@@BoredToDeath182 I am! I'm a side sleeper, so I like to have an extra pillow under my side due to my shoulder injuries.

[@derchristianausffo]

Interesting. Sleeping on a Futon actually caused severe Back and Hip Pain for me, so I went back to proper ergonomic Foam Matresses and was fine again. This is something to remind, that just because Something works for some People, it doesn't automatically mean that it will work for Everybody.

[@myoldusernamewastaken]

I have to agree with some of the other commenters here: I stayed in Japan for a couple of weeks this year and the nerve damage pain in my body disappeared basically OVERNIGHT-but as soon as I got home to my actual bed it came right back the next morning. Honestly I’m probably going to try the futon lifestyle for myself

[@freudulant]

Part of the benefit may be the grounding you get from sleeping on the floor. It’s very healing. You can get a grounding mat to put on your mattress with a wire that plugs into the electrical socket to deliver grounding energy. Could be worth a try.

[@gingganggoolie]

​@@freudulantfun fact about grounding: literally everything metal in your house is grounded. Sleeping on the floor is fun, but none of the benefits are due to an electrical connection with the earth. Grounding probably just feels good because it feels good to take a moment to do something for yourself, whatever that thing is

[@ciri151]

@@freudulant That's just pseudoscience bs. If it makes you feel good, it's probably the placebo effect.

[@janelleg597]

Well what are you waiting for???

[@sr3145]

i have been sleeping on futon for like 3 months and it has helped my body pains so much! also the routine of getting up and putting my bed away helps me so much with not wasting my days laying in bed! i went to stay at a friends and we were discussing sleeping arrangements and i said "oh i'll just bring my bed" and she was hysterical when i pulled it out of my car. i honestly love it and cant see myself going back to a spring mattress

[@juliedrakeArtist]

I’ve slept on a futon the last five years. A proper Japanese one like you and I sleep on my side with a thin pillow. It took a while to get used to but now my body is thanking me so much. I’m sixty three and don’t have any aches and pains anymore and my bad back is gone. Also it’s great for older people to keep you mobile and strong, having to lift the tatami mats etc. You definitely don’t need a lot of pillows sleeping on your side. Mine is so thin. I love my futon so much and take it with me when I stay at other peoples houses!😂

[@itsjoyandrea]

Ahhh I love this!!! I need to do this too, bring my futon for sleepovers 😆

[@Jnnburk]

I sleep on a comforter in the floor. Love it. I’m 50 and feel so much better now. It’s so much cleaner - just throw the comforter in the washer. I tried and hated the futon/mat in the video because it held too much moisture and was too squishy. It’s so freeing not to have to worry about a bed.

[@peache8]

Is it elevated? It feels weird like you're inhaling all the dust if you have carpet

[@hovey17]

I live in the U.S. and bought my futon mattress from a company in Seattle called Soaring Heart Natural Beds. I also added a feather pillow top to give it a little more squish!

[@nokateno]

I stayed in a machiya in Kyoto and slept on a futon in a tatami room with a buckwheat hull pillow. It was the best sleep I have ever experienced in my life. I would really like to try this.

[@vacafuega]

Buckwheat pillows are amazing.

[@sr3145]

i want to invest in a buckwheat hull pillow! although when researching pillows i discovered the magic of using squishmallows as pillow so whenever my neck acts up i use the squishmallow pillow and i feel better immediately

[@edi9892]

My last bed was a futon bed. It was traditionally made and cheaper than the bed I had before. I purchased it for the same reason: my old bed broke down and gave me bad back pain. Moreover, I wanted to do sport, but my small flat didn’t really offer enough space. Another point of consideration was easy cleaning (especially since I have a dust allergy) This is something I really want to emphasize: Tatami are wonderful! I’ve used the space to do sport, fold and sort clothes, etc. The other thing I realized was that they give you a connection to the ground. You will quickly learn different ways of getting up efficiently and for older people used to doing it it must be a lifesaver (as our old people often struggle getting up when they fall). Also, we sit too much which is bad for our health and it helps if we alternate it with kneeling, sitting with the legs crossed, squatting, or if you can sitting in the girly fashion, or simply sit with the legs outstretched. For young ones this is no problem, but if you’re not used to it, it’s quite a learning curve… However, Tatami and futon beds are not for everyone and have issues. For one, if you’re sick, or injured, they’re not the best place to be. Also, traditional futons are very thin and offer little cushioning. This is not good if you’re fat, or have a muscular butt sticking out… In my case, it quickly resolved my back pain, but it took me a week to get adjusted to sleep on it. I can’t sleep long in one position and rolling to my side pinches my arm causing it to go numb and it’s bad for my neck. The latter doesn’t get any better if I roll over on my belly and it gets even funnier if I stick out my leg at an odd angle (I managed to stretch it over a prolonged time causing it to hurt when I woke up). Lastly, futons are deceptively heavy and you’ll need special precautions if you want to hang them on your balcony… I moved to a new location and got myself a fancy bed again, but I’ve kept the futon and tatami.

[@kdrcolac4360]

I sleep almost identically & have the same issues😂 Thank you for all the info & things to consider.

[@julianneos4299]

Our entire family sleeps on futons since 2020. the reason is: our second child tried to climb to the window, because the bed was next to it. We had no other option but to make a very low bed, so we simply decided to not have a bed. It’s the very best thing eveeeer! No dust under the beds, I can vacuum regularly. For the kids we even stack futon on futon, so they use it as a couch in the daytime. Changing sheets is so easy. And the most important thing: no more squeaky beds or back pain

[@7thplanet121]

I had spent thousands on a bed and mattress When I started to sleep on the floor all my pains stopped I actually got an ikea bed topper and only the ikea frame cheaper than a futon. It was a starter you can always sell the bed frame if you want to go to the next level. Also I noticed that it was easier to get up off the floor without pain. (Getting up off my memory foam mattress was agony) I can sit on my heels now, I feel stronger and healthier. 61 years old and I wish I would have done this years ago.

[@Nix_sound]

Are you saying you used the matress topper just on an ikea futon frame? I have back pain and wondered if something firmer would be better than my memory foam matress.

[@phoebeel]

I had the same thought when I looked at the bed toppers, I thought they feel exactly like a futon. And to be honest, they are the same price as a mattress so I guess its meant to be used as a futon

[@JazIsRad]

I bought mine from futonbedsfromjapan in 2020 in the summer! I love it so so much. They have amazing quality futon. Back pain has been eradicated. I just recently got a tatami as i noticed my futon was feeling flat even though we fold it daily and weekly were setting it outside. Tatami gave it back sooo much life! I did take a break from sleeping on it when I was pregnant in later term and side sleeling was getting painful for me.

[@itsjoyandrea]

That is so great to hear!! ☺️

[@CoffeeFiend1]

That bookcase suggests someone who reads a lot but we don't get to know which topics 🤫

[@itsjoyandrea]

Those are my secret books! 😁

[@henrikwillamo6287]

I think we all know what's in those books...

[@liloruf2838]

Oh I just noticed, but assumed that way you can store more books in one shelf! Very practical

[@Quarantineism]

Love the comment.

[@sertenejoacustic]

@@henrikwillamo6287communist manifesto by karlton Marx?

[@foxyr4bbit]

for about a year in college, i didn't have a bed, and so i slept on the floor, on top of a blanket. actually it turns out it's pretty nice to sleep on the floor. you just need 2 pillows, one for the lower back and one for ur neck/head :) it became very comfortable to me, i kinda wanna go back to it. sleeping on the side is fine too with the lower back pillow

[@vanillavania.]

I’m literally sleeping like that rn but it’s moreso because I feel like I don’t deserve to sleep on a bed bc of how much work I’m behind in for this one specific class that I’m probably going to fail due to my lack of discipline.

[@foxyr4bbit]

@@vanillavania. u don't not deserve anything!! don't think in that way hah. don't be so hard on yourself!

[@Daughter0fTh3King]

​@vanillavania. How are you doing now? I hope you're doing okay. Your value is not in your classwork or in grades. The bible says that you are INCREDIBLY LOVED by a God who has made you wonderfully complex ❤

[@OLBastholm]

​@@vanillavania. Your worth is not defined by your discipline in school. You deserve to sleep well, no matter how tough it gets.

[@komyn27]

I sleep on one too! We use a felt carpet pad under our bed to mimic the effect of having a tatami mat under it. It has roughly the same effect (though not quite as good), and does a great job dealing with the mold problem moisture can cause. Using the felt carpet pad is a perfect option for anyone who doesn't have access to tatami mats. We've used ours for 8 years, and we're never going back. Soft hotel beds just hurt so bad.

[@honkshooasmr]

I wonder if there is some sort of primal instinct involved with people attributing better sleep to this tradition. Since our ancient ancestors often had to set up camp/sleeping arrangements every night before they fell asleep, and the act of basically making a bed right before you go to sleep as well as on the floor is very similar.

[@daviebaggins]

This is very interesting!! Chimpanzees make a nest every night as well right.

[@Meskarune]

My ancestors slept in hammocks 😂

[@EmL-kg5gn]

@@Meskarune That sounds amazing tbh!

[@ChrisNorwegen]

It's good that you are sharing this experience Andrea! I've been sleeping on a futon for 7 years and here are some of the benefits: - More muscles are activated when you are getting up from the floor, as compared with getting out of bed. This is one reason less to hit the gym. - No body stiffness. When I sleep on the futon without a pillow, my body moves around more during the night and this prevents the body from stiffening up. 🎉

[@sandraskj1]

Finally a video of a woman sleeping on the floor! I transitioned a few months ago. Now I'm on a sheep skin on the floor. Never going back to a mattress.

[@jujubesification]

Why?

[@dropslemon]

Congrats!! I've been considering making the switch myself :)

[@itsjoyandrea]

I love that!!! More women need to sleep on the floor 😁💕

[@calatheaflamestar4924]

I hope I don't sound rude or anything, I'm just curious (as a woman myself): Why did you point out the "sleeping on the floor as *a woman"* ? Are there any differences between men and women with sleeping on the floor?🤔😅

[@reaper-du4ql]

@@calatheaflamestar4924 I guess there are not many videos on youtube, of woman talking about floor sleeping/ Futons etc. pls correct me if I am wrong.

[@zga042]

I slept with a futon on the floor for 2 years and did go back. If you're a back sleeper it's great. I found I ended up on my stomach or side and needed more support. If you're thinking of giving it a try, start with a cheap one before you go all out.

[@PrupleLeon]

I also had my best nights of sleep ever on a japanese futon. Definitely recommend

[@itsjoyandrea]

Love to hear it!!

[@mateuszkrytyk5711]

Please elaborate cuz I don't seem to get why they are so great

[@09darkS]

I was in Japan this past winter and stayed in an abnb with traditional futons. It was the best nights of sleep I had ever.

[@parisbreakfast]

I moved my Tempur-Pedic mattress topper onto the floor during Covid & never looked back. Constant getting up & down from the floor makes your leg muscles super strong. Sleeping on my back has changed posture and back pain for the better. I can only recommend it.

[@koya5001]

I’m moving into my appointment soon, and haven’t lived on my own (a lot of travel and inbetweens in the past four years), but this means I need to purchase most of my furniture again. But what I get from you is that you just placed thé matras on the floor? I actually like the low bed frames, or the simple pallet beds. I don’t think I would be able to handle a futon, but I might consider just buying a matras and laying it on the floor. Just wondering I’d need something like a futon sort of under structure, or not. 😅

[@yepok]

⁠​⁠@@koya5001hi! i would recommend looking into a low bed frame or wooden palettes like you said - i don’t think she mentioned this in the video, but if you leave the mattress there for a long time without something underneath, sweat and condensation -> humidity -> mold growth ): regularly putting up the mattress would help but they are much thicker and dense than a futon is, so i think air circulation underneath would be much more important and needed for a mattress than a futon. be safe and i hope you enjoy whatever you choose!

[@mateuszkrytyk5711]

So what makes it different from sleeping on your back on a bed and doing one squat when you wake up ?

[@frederiquepisuisse]

You can leave the mat on the metal below your cloths rack.

[@itsjoyandrea]

Why did I not think of that... thank you! 🥲☺️

[@Narja23]

As i have to move a lot for my job (i'm in the academics, as long as i have no long term tenure, i'm moving from university to university), i went to the futon solution to be able to cut the costs of moving each year or each other year 😂 i like hard beds, and aways had these as a kid and a teen, so the futon was the next logical step with my ''nomadic'' life

[@measant]

I slept on a ikea mattress topper for over 8 years - only gave it up when I moved into a really cold apartment - where I felt the floor was too cold for sleeping (in central Europe). Now I realize after sleeping in a normal soft bed for 3 years that I changed my sleeping position to sleep on the side - and I have so much more neck tension than before. So thanks for reminding me of how it was before. I will now get back to being part of the floor crew :)

[@miran248]

I bought my futon (eu style, with wool, coconut and latex) from Italy (four years ago) and it's still like brand new; you do have to flip it once in a while. Never thought tatamis would be so heavy, like 25kg each. My next bed will be much simpler, thin coconut mat and a thin cotton or wool futon as those are much lighter (less than 10kg each).

[@jedlimen123]

Hi, great video. Have had this type of bed 4-5 years. Love it! Helped back & neck pain/ soreness. Mine gets fuller after time in the sun. I use a Japanese buckwheat pillow, they are fun if you never try..I do get some strange looks when I say I sleep on the floor.. Oh well.. First vid, new sub, Thanks.. 70 years old, live USA. 🙏

[@itsjoyandrea]

@@jedlimen123 Thats so so lovely to hear, thank you for sharing your experience. A lot of people have commented saying that I will 100% switch to a normal bed once I get older, so your comment is very reassuring. I love sleeping on the floor 😁All the love to you in the USA ☺️💕

[@LoveLeeMeJenny]

Nice video! I've been sleeping on my two thin mattresses (a total thickness of about three centimeters when I lay on them) on the floor for about three months now. My bed is getting really worn out and me having lipedema and chronic pain meant I wasn't really getting any proper sleep. When I started sleeping on the floor I was quite skeptical, I thought I would be in a lot of pain before I saw any benefits. The first night pain woke me up pretty much once every hour, the second night I woke every other hour, but this was normal for me and the pain wasn't too bad. From the third night I rarely wake from the pain, I sleep deep enough to dream, which I haven't done for years, and I often wake and feel like I have actually gotten a good night's sleep. My pain has also gotten a lot better. I'm planning on buying one a bit thicker natural latex mattress and some form of platform for it, since I can't seem to get used to being on actual floor level. 🙃

[@KimchiDog]

Look up Karup Design, they have low bed frames for futons or mattresses :)

[@itsjoyandrea]

It's so lovely to hear your positive experience with sleeping on the floor and I am glad your pain has gotten better! Thank you for sharing x

[@mandySIMS6319]

This has been looking so interesting to me, but I can't sleep on my back at all. My back likes to lock up, I'll still keep all of this in mind. Great information.

[@patrikisgod]

i can't sleep on my back but i sleep on the floor with just a thin blanket, i sleep on my sides mainly and my stomach, the body will adjust and heal accordingly if you try it

[@mateuszkrytyk5711]

Just be tired enough And you will be able to sleep on your back on anything Be it bed, floor, bathroom tiles or bus stop bench

[@Lo289-im3ip]

I stopped using pillows & it worked wonders w/ my back while sleeping, so I can definitely believe this is a great way to sleep

[@SuzannaKiraly]

I like to use a pillow that doesn't have much stuffing. I find that the ones I can buy in a store have too much stuffing to be comfortable, so I take some of it out.

[@HeldbryanAngel]

I slept on plywood for a year, no cushion, not even a blanket under me, and slept so soundly. And gave myself acupressure every time I rolled over in my sleep.

[@katherineleflufy7693]

Yes I’m glad I’m not the only one, people give a weird look when I point out that an extra bonus of the floor is that one can position oneself to get a natural massage for aching hip and shoulder muscles

[@SoMagicalMichele]

I sleep with a blanket under me but nothing cushioned. It took a few days to get through some painful acupoints but after the first few days, all those pain points went away.

[@TheAmazingHuman-Man]

Yo I’m not alone! I sleep on a carpet most nights, but have done the hardwood many times and relax there often during the day. Been doing that a lot lately and might transition away from the rug after doing this a few years. Could never get comfortable with a pillow which surprises everyone that I don’t need one even though I ditched the entire mattress.

[@thechancan5254]

I journeyed to Japan in 2018 and got to stay in a beautiful traditional ryokan. Futons, and tatami were what we slept on. I hated it the first night but by the end of the first week i had better posture than I had ever had in my life.

[@emmay120]

you have such light energy its very refreshing

[@itsjoyandrea]

Thank you 🥹💕

[@FilipWinter]

Fellow futon sleeper here. I got mine from Germany. Hand filled with 100% lambs wool with linen cover. Very soft and love it.

[@asleepzz]

I've been sleeping on the floor for 4 years, it started temporarily to be close to my child during "worldwide quiet times" and I got used to it and now quite like it. The room is carpeted with underlay, I sleep on top of a couple of folded blankets, a mattress protector and a flat sheet. I fold everything up every day to let the carpet breathe. Everything else fits in the washer.

[@marielouise1523]

I love watching you talk, especially with this camera perspective, the background and the simple editing - I would love to see more videos like this

[@itsjoyandrea]

Oh thank you so much!! Any kind of video idea wishes? ☺️

[@thunderrunner666]

I've been doing this for a few months and loving it. I feel less domesticated and more like a nomad.

[@Anikat]

For the last 1.5 years I've been sleeping on a Thai folding mattress + tatami mat! I recognize the website you showed for the futon, the insane prices were why I looked for alternatives. I started adjusting while using my regular bed. I turned a regular pillow longways and laid my upper body on that, and would lay/sleep as long as I could until the pain was too much. It really pulls your shoulders back/down, it feels fantastic. After a week I could sleep most of the night that way, then it was a smaller adjustment when my floor sleeping setup arrived. 😊

[@itsjoyandrea]

The prices are a lot indeed! I was quite shocked at first, but it turned out to be worth it. I loved reading your journey with your Futon. To good sleep!!! ☺️

[@rifahjoita5409]

You can put bedsheet on the futon for extra cautiousness. That way you won't have to worry about moisture.

[@itsjoyandrea]

I forgot to mention this in the video, but I do have a cover on it 🥲☺️

[@oksanakaido8437]

​@@itsjoyandrea do you have to buy a special cover/bed sheet for the futon , or would a standard queen size fitted sheet work?

[@itsjoyandrea]

@@oksanakaido8437 Heyy ☺️ I bought my first one at the store i got my futon from and recently sewed another one myself. I thought about using a normal bedsheet too, but as the futon should be covered from both sides its not optimal 🤔

[@lotsoflovemadelief]

I fell asleep while watching, you have such a calm voice and my sleep schedule has been so messed up. That's why I am watching, because I am thinking about getting a Futon, but seems like it is the perfect choice, it already makes me sleepy hehe. Thank you for the lovely video, new subscriber here! Just love your energy!

[@ilexopaca9835]

I've been sleeping on a cotton japanese futon for about 4 years now, too! I felt 10 years younger after the first month. I did have a mold scare but have since been more diligent about airing it out 😊

[@iuliaf7809]

So, very strange that your video came up in my feed, since I've just started to sleep on the floor for the past 2 weeks. On an improvised futon for now , but my back does not hurt as much. I get better sleep altogether as well. I also bought like a big pillow I can hug if I roll on the side and that helps a lot. But when I told my mom I am sleeping on the floor she looked like she felt sorry for me lol, while my dad was like "lessgoo" , because he's always been a fan of sleeping in a tent while travelling. So yes, you will get mixed reactions, but as long as you feel great nothing else matters. Now I am doing my research to find some good quality and affordable futon and tatami mat. Happy to see your review! It gives me confidence that I am on the right path

[@phoebeel]

Western culture is weird. People think that the west has the best options for every single thing when in fact we have mostly the worst options. Be it capitalism, individualism or sleeping on soft mattresses. Our diets are pretty bad too (except maybe Mediterranean diet)

[@kuriseon]

I built somewhat of a hybrid sleeping situation between ‘western’ beds and tatami’s. I used a stiff yet comfy fairly thin foam mattress, and build a wooden frame that puts a little space between the mattress and the floor for ventilation. To sleep not necessarily on the floor, but close to it- just hits different. Plus it’s less maintenance than a traditional tatami. Thanks for the insights!

[@killiansirishbeer]

I have a simple bedframe from Ikea, because I prefer being higher up off the ground, but I purchased a futon, tatami and wooden slats from a Futon Store. The slats are the base, on top the two tatamis and the futon. I don't store a lot of things under my bed to leave it airy and easy to clean. I do fold my futon, but don't move the tatamis as there is enough airflow. I'm never going back to european/standard mattresses

[@briana14333]

This is the comment I was looking for! Thank you for sharing this. I live in a humid climate and have a carpeted bedroom and don’t like the idea of the tatami on the floor even just overnight. This sounds like the solution✨

[@killiansirishbeer]

@@briana14333 No problem, you just need the most basic flat slat because tatamis are flat, but that all. You do need to air out the futon and fold it away. I use an IKEA clothes rack to air out my futon.

[@killiansirishbeer]

@@briana14333 Also, tatamis are heavy so I advice to use a decent bedframe. I have an IKEA one, so nothing fancy but it is somewhat sturdy not like those cheap, flimsy bedframes, for example those at certain camps, where you can grab a hold of one foot and easily move it sideways a bit. I don't know how to explain it better. Hopefully this is helpful

[@briana14333]

@@killiansirishbeer yes, very helpful!! I appreciate the feedback! Thank you!

[@reaper-du4ql]

I enjoyed watching your video. I also bought a Futon, unfortunately not from japan. But I am sure that the german quality wont disapoint me. In addition to that I bought a pillow made of of millet husk” or “millet hull” thats the word in english (Hirsespelz). You also have a natural smell to it, in a good way thought. I must say it is very comfortable, little bit hard, kind of like sleeping on sand. Thats the ,,best´´ description I would think off. If you have the oportunity try It out, maybe it is something for you. Kind regards and have a nice day :)

[@loveloving1]

My parents don’t sleep on a spring. They literally built a wooden bed frame and just placed a piece of large plywood on it and then add the futon on top of it. It’s the best bed ever. My nieces and nephews slept nicely on it growing up.

[@cookie12932]

I’m going to try locally first and look for one made of cotton. You have such a calm and bubbly personality, it was a "joy" to watch! 😉

[@MIRONOIR]

When you think you can't handle the pressure in life just look at the upper bookshelf and reconsider.

[@natschi13]

😂

[@BriannaBergman]

Omg hahah

[@MorganHyde-ie5ru]

It also suggests that eventually, you won't, in fact, be able to handle it.

[@sky11jullet]

Today, I watched this video and was glad to hear what you are thinking about Futon. I am Japanese and living in Japan. So I have been using Futon made from 100% cotton. It is really good to use pure cotton. But you need to keep dry as you told and showed to keep good condition. If you couldn't feel softness after you used for more than 5 years, you can re-whip cotton that has hardened. But we ask it to the pro-shop. Enjoy your Japanese Futon.

[@katherineleflufy7693]

I’ve side slept on a hard floor with just a blanket and sometimes a few, and sometimes just a sheet, I used to have a futon type arrangement then was somewhere it was a bed or a blanket on the floor, after two crappy nights in the bed I tried the floor - ached the first few nights but more in a manner of having had a bit of a stretch of muscles and ligaments than a strain, and haven’t looked back. I’m desperately hoping that if I stay accustomed to it I’ll be able to carry on into old age like this because I love it, and Im convinced it’s actually good for one’s back to be side sleeping on the floor because of the way you have to position your hips so that the weight is spread out rather than being all concentrated on the hip bone -I also think my sleep benefits from the extra proprioceptive feedback it gets from the extreme firmness -to me there are aspects of it thats like having a weight blanket effect underneath as well as over you

[@ninasiwulska8044]

part of the floor crew for a year!! love my futon and so does my spine 💃🏼

[@itsjoyandrea]

Ahhh thats amazing!! 🤩

[@rw8147]

I've been sleeping on the floor for around 15 years now. It happened completely by accident. My AC conked out during July and all I had was a floor fan. I fell asleep in front of it because it was the only way I could get to sleep, and I realized that back didn't hurt and I just felt better all around. Never went back to a bed.

[@hallyhop]

Thank you for sharing this! I’ve been trying to figure out how to make my bedroom work and this might do the trick

[@nataliesoutlet]

Such an interesting video, thank you for sharing. I’ve recently been struggling with back pain and I too am a side sleeper and have felt my bed may be too soft for me. Going to look into this

[@carlab7927]

This was a wonderful video! Your voice is so soothing. I love having my big bed with all my pillows and blankets, but I have to say, you made this all sound so lovely and peaceful. Perhaps one day I shall change my mind :)

[@mysticradha832]

I've been sleeping on the floor on a cotton futon mattress for almost 2 years now my back hasn't been this good in ages

[@itsjoyandrea]

I love to hear that! Do you sleep on you back only or the side as well?

[@mysticradha832]

@@itsjoyandrea I like to sleep on my back, however I have a spine disability so I generally roll over to my side and then I'll switch sides throughout the night . Oh and to add to my fun I have vertigo from my spine injury so if my spine condition is aggravated I get various forms of spins whenever I move or lay in a way that bothers my spine so. Anyway when I switched to a cotton mattress on the floor like 90% of my back pain went away and I stopped taking all the medicine from the doctor which has so many horrible side effects

[@Janina_ausWien]

I used to sleep on a futon the first 18 years of my life but I always used sheets on it. I would prefer that. now after this video I miss it, never slept so good again in my whole life. :) :)

[@itsjoyandrea]

Oh I love hearing that! Come back into the floor crew 😁

[@QSnarf]

I have a Japanese futon and tatami mat as well but currently I'm sleeping on a bed. The main reason is bedroom design... I wasn't sure where to put lamps and the side tables look really stupid with a floor mattress. But it's true... the futon and the tatami mat can go out in the sun. It's nice. And I really loved sleeping on the floor.

[@TalkingAboutGames]

I've been considering using a futon, just because a lot of people have been speaking about its benefits; I think your video has just convinced me to try it 👍

[@WhiteWolfBlackStar]

I bought 2 long fiber cotton futon mattresses and stacked them on top of each other. $800.00 ea HEAVEN! You can put them in the sun and they fluff up. I also used to turn them over quite a bit. They were fantastic! I loved the way they smelled. You made a delightful choice!

[@PaperCraneOfHope]

I’ve been sleeping on a futon for over a decade now, and I’ll never go back. 🥰

[@itsjoyandrea]

Yeyy i love that!! Do you have the same one or did you buy a new one at some point? ☺️

[@PaperCraneOfHope]

@@itsjoyandrea We brought a new one about 1-2 years ago. 🥰 Ours is thicker than yours.. and we have it raised on some bed slats so we aren't fully on the ground, but slightly raised.

[@Ameha98]

@@PaperCraneOfHope Where did you buy your thicker futon? Also at futonbedsfromjapan? Did they change the hight??

[@PaperCraneOfHope]

@@Ameha98 Hey! I got mine from a Japanese futon shop local to me in Australia. Mine was made with cotton and coconut fiber! 🥰

[@PaperCraneOfHope]

@@Ameha98 Also, living in the subtropics of Australia … I really needed to be off the floor because of all the critters! (Cockroaches, spiders, potentially snakes etc 🤢)

[@vmobile890]

I threw out my large mattress and box spring 20 years ago for a 3” topper foam . Considered going to floor futon . Very practical making bedroom to multi use room .

[@ebrim5013]

I love the idea of the futon on the floor, put it away during the day. Thanks for the video!

[@iridiumscribe4915]

My parents introduced me to a futon since my childhood. They had one since moving from South Korea. My dad was in the Air Force at the time and always slept on a mattress. But after a futon he will never buy a traditional mattress again. I, personally, would always get a good nights sleep on one and I enjoyed putting it away before I got ready for school. It's a nice way to just stretch and be ready for the day. It wasn't until 2017 when I bought my first mattress and frame. I bought a memory foam mattress and at first it was nice. But within a year, I noticed that I would be tired and my lower back and shoulders would hurt. So much so there would be nights where I would grab blankets and sleep on the floor. It's not as comfortable as having a futon but I would sleep soundly. I do miss having a futon and actually sleeping well. Your futon seems so cozy and comfortable, it's like a little personal cloud you can retreat to every night.

[@KalvinSmithWarriorsPathSystema]

Been sleeping on the floor for years… so good for you. If you sleep on your side, just use a bolster pillow.

[@steven789]

Thanks so much for making this video!! Most I've found are US based and not helpful for the UK/Europe I've been researching floor sleeping with Shikibuton and Tatami for posture and back pain. This company seems to be well loved with many good reviews: - Futons from Japan (EU) - Futon Beds from Japan (USA) - Japanache (AU/NZ) - Futons Japan (Asia/ME/Africa) I believe they are the same company or sister companies in different regions. I plan to buy a Shikibuton and possibly a Kakebuton when I can afford it. I'm looking to sleep more natural without chemicals & foams. Currently, I sleep on a tatami platform bed from The Futon Company in the UK, to avoid direct contact with the floor. I fold my mattress daily and air it weekly.

[@fabiencazeau1506]

I've been in Japan for 18 years. Futon is a nightmare. Broke my back, and you feel all the vibrations in the floor. Bed + good mattress, unless you're in a great, quiet, and modern concrete built environment.

[@splashmoby]

Love it

[@ashmarie5049]

I’ve been sleeping on a floor futon since 2024 too. It’s so much more comfortable and easier on the back. I wake up with back pain whenever I sleep on a western mattress and I don’t know how my boyfriend and I are ever going to share a bed because I hate sleeping on them.

[@Bunno.menteritual]

I sleep on the floor for the last year or so, It’s helping with my neck pain, still need to buy a futon tho as I am just on top of the tatami with a heavy duvet on top, but I think a little bit more softness would be better. Some people think I am crazy or weird, now I don’t feel alone habahaba

[@kevpage]

I slept on the floor (a single duvet) for years and my back and hip joints were never so good, it was amazing, and as comfortable as a soft bed

[@R0GU351GN4L]

There are many reasons we invented raised beds. 1. It keeps them cleaner, 2. It better protects the user from Bugs/ticks/parasites and predators. 3. It helps with temperature regulation. - Sleeping on the ground you lose a lot of body heat.

[@lisa34478]

I guess you could put it on a raised platform. I think the experience is about the firmness, rather than the floor location. Could be wrong though.

[@Mintfriction]

@@lisa34478 Floors get inevitably dusty, unless you clean very - very often. A bed usually pretty low, but raised enough from the ground to avoid this problem. In the end sleeping on a futon or on a bed, no difference. Ages ago, when I moved on my own, I didn't have a bed but had a mattress and slept on that mattress on the floor a few months. Then moved the mattress to a bed. Made no difference in terms of sleeping quality. So it's all about finding the right mattress. Futons are usually firm as a surface, so if you enjoy them then try a very firm mattress. In Japan there are also raised tatami platforms that are basically a "multi-use bed", as they are quite raised (same a bed) compared to the rest of the house. So again, futon or bed, it's all in the mattress.

[@graygreysangui]

A thin blanket or even leaves solves some of the heat loss from being in contact with the ground. A futon wouldn't allow you to lose enough to worry about. I was in an Airbnb once where I got to be on an air mattress on the enclosed porch (with windows, not screens) in the summer. I kept waking up at four in the morning. I figured out it wasn't just because I needed to pee. I couldn't go back because it was too cold. That time in the morning was when the air mattress had taken enough of my body heat and lost it to where some sort of backup system in my brain said it was too dangerous to continue sleeping. It was very odd.

[@JD-oe5uc]

1 and 2 are not very relevant inside a house and 3….in Japan they but the futon traditionally on tatami mats as she explained. Personal I am always too hot in bed and since I sleep on a futon/tatami I sleep much cooler and better.

[@xmartinl]

Perfect video, full of information, thank you very much! I have a standard bed and for the past 2 years I’ve been on the look for new matraces to replace the old ones, but I’ve been unable to find any I am satisfied with. Tonight I came across a futon option and I’m considering trying it. Maybe as an additional option next to my standard bed, just to try it out first. Btw. I always liked rock-hard matraces.

[@annaalm18]

Danke, sehr hilfreich! Ich schlafe derzeit im Wohnzimmer auf der Couch (mein Bett hab ich verkauft und mein Schlafzimmer zu einem Homegym umgestaltet) und überlege schon länger, mir einen Futon zuzulegen. Du hast mir wirklich gute Tipps gegeben! Liebe Grüße 🇦🇹

[@itsjoyandrea]

Freut mich dass es hilfreich war 🇦🇹☺️

[@SunniNomad]

I just sleep on a comfy blanket surrounded by pillows and two cats. It's comforting to me. I really enjoy it

[@MichaelChengSanJose]

Funny, my daughter has always preferred sleeping on the floor. And she doesn’t want all that plushy softness. It’s just a blanket over the hardwood and she sleeps on that every night. Still don’t know how she does it.

[@Camilliamahal]

I’ve been doing it for 8 years the health benefits too are incredible

[@BronwynAlexandriaa]

i am so for this but i would still want a bed frame, cuz i just like having the storage underneath and a cute bedding set. but i am so down for this setup - just on a frame.

[@johnnyc8775]

Thank you for sharing your experience without a bed and why you choose the option you did. I do think a futon is a great for health and a cheap option in certain circumstances.

[@ZipzZzzz5]

It really helped my back pain for sure.

[@bk1507]

I slept on a futon on the floor at a Hostel during a trip to Japan a few years back and it was the best sleep I've had in years even though I was in a shared room with other guests.

[@nalaalexis8631]

I am sleeping on the floor for almost 10 years now,most of the time even outside. If I stay overnight somewhere else in a bed,next morning I feel the urgent need to do yoga,because of back-pain.

[@mysticradha832]

I also love talking about my Japanese cotton futon mattress lol. Like I was saying in my other comment I sleep on my side a lot so I thought I'd mention I find it very comfortable on the floor on my side as well as on my back or on my stomach and I don't use props I used to but less is more with me. Because I kind of hate that part where you roll over and have to bring the three pillow props with you so I stopped using them and I don't really need them I think I've heard that the firmness is good for the joints and the circulation and I need all the help I can get LOL. I just use one alternative feather pillow under my head it's like a medium sized side sleeper

[@itsjoyandrea]

Thank you for sharing your experience. When you sleep on your side do you round your shoulders a lot? I always struggle with that and get really painful shoulders and extreme extreme neck lines 🥲

[@mysticradha832]

@@itsjoyandrea rounded shoulders and poor posture is a real problem for me ever since my spine got injured almost two decades ago. So I try to sleep fairly straight with my head on the pillow and my shoulder off the pillow. And my neck injury causes vertigo Sensations if uneven so in a way that helps and it's also kind of awful the vertigo so. I do Kundalini Yoga specifically to correct my posture everyday and it helps. But the bed is amazing I'd like to sleep on my back more but I need like a really flat pillow so it doesn't push my neck out of alignment. I'm so in love with my bed that's why I love commenting here. All my other friends they sleep on regular beds I got rid of my regular bed this year I paid to have it hauled away in the trash I'm never getting a standard bed again

[@sbstn451]

I'm not sure what algorithmic magic happened when KZbin recommended your video to me, but I think it's great. I've been part of the floor crew for a year now, and I love my futon and tatami mat. I have never slept better. Thank you so much for sharing your honest thoughts. Grüße aus dem Münchner Umland.

[@itsjoyandrea]

Eyyy das freut mich so zu hören!! 🤩 Futon on 🔝. Alles liebe an dich im Münchner Umland ☺️

[@simplenothing]

The floor feels so much more welcoming than a bed I think. Unlike a bed, a futon also serves as a good yoga mat right after waking for light morning stretching.

[@hollisticc]

this might be what convinces me to switch

[@mateuszkrytyk5711]

Just.... Just put a fucking yoga mat next to your bed

[@MrJCerqueira]

7:28 just be wary of hanging lots of weight on doors, it can lead to creaky doors that eventually won't click shut properly. The rate that this happens of course depends on how often, for how long, and at what weight you drape things on the door

[@speicaldark]

I'm from China originally and grew up sleeping on a wood bed with a very thin pad. Even though I've lived in the US for nearly 20 years, I still can't get used to the soft mattresses in the US. I sleep on a mattress directly placed on the floor most of the time. In recent years, a regular mattress is too soft for me, so I sleep on a 3-inch floor mattress on the floor. That has cured all my body aches.

[@johnw4595]

You have a wonderful voice. And way of speaking. 😊

[@Hannah7Banana]

I am a slightly heavier woman and I've always slept on a plush mattress... but sometimes I take naps on the bare floor lol. Maybe I will try this?

[@Jeff-cn9up]

I sleep on a big pool of water. It's in a plastic bag, though. I would recommend a waterbed for anyone that doesn't have mobility issues (because getting in and out requires decent mobility). They're inexpensive, last essentially forever, easy to clean, easy to move houses with, and can be set to be cool in warm weather and warm in cold weather.

[@randomaccessfemale]

Precisely. You need a mattress that will accommodate to your body shape and keep the form throughout the night. The key is to keep the spine and neck straight. This is especially important for side sleepers.

[@HealingMinimalist]

Sooo cool, beschäftige mich gerade auch ganz viel mit dem Thema☺💪 vielen Dank für die Infos ✨

[@itsjoyandrea]

Ja sehr sehr gerne 💕

[@mirisunshine1981]

Ich schlafe seit etwa 4 Jahren auf einem Schaffell…. Geht auch :-) Love it!

[@skystygian]

This is super appealing to me tbh. I'll never forget one time as a kid when I slept over at my Korean best friend's house I fell asleep on the heated stone bed instead of sleeping on the regular mattress like usual. It was just a big flat slab of warm stone covered in thin padding and super hard. I never got such good, restorative sleep in my life! Maybe this is my sign to convert to a futon...

[@MMacNicol]

Love this video! Thank you for making it.

[@itsjoyandrea]

Thank you for watching! ☺️

[@donhopf]

For about 8 months I slept on a cheep American futon mattress on the floor. It was great until the mattress started to wear and it become uncomfortable. After seeing this I may try it again with a better mattress.

[@wild_cub_times]

I can imagine this helping me sleep, for to not hanging around on my bed all day all night. Rn my bed is my only sitting place, so I just hang in my bed all day :P

[@itsjoyandrea]

Oh yes! I heard that it actually helps us sleep better, because then our brain associates the routine of preparing the futon and laying on it with sleep. :)!