Can You Put A Mattress On The Floor?Can I put a mattress directly onto the floor without issue? July 19, 2009 SubscribeBedroom SarahFor The BedroomBedroom BlissBedroom DecorBedroom IdeasBed IdeasCanvas HeadboardFaux HeadboardCloth HeadboardForwardEclectic bed on floor with painted fabric as a faux headboardA low bed surface lends itself to a simpler, less cluttered room design. You don't have to follow any rules in the bedroom except your own, so it's as OK to leave your box spring and mattress on the floor as it is to mount your bedding into a conventional bed frame. Before you decide which choice best suits your preferences, consider the advantages of each. Argument for Bed Frames Bed frames raise your box spring and mattress away from the floor, which better isolates your sleeping surface from cold drafts in the winter. That elevation also can protect your bedding from moisture, mold, bedbugs and other vermin. The empty space it creates under your box spring can serve as storage space for out-of-season bed coverings or slippers.
But most importantly, the bed frame and its support slats add another layer of resiliency to the bed. Argument for Flooring It A conventional bed frame with a pillow-top mattress set may force you to climb 39 inches off the ground at nap time. By comparison, a standard box spring and mattress elevates the mattress a mere 16 to 18 inches off the floor -- a little beneath the height of a chair seat. Homeowners who enjoy visits from children or pets at night may find that height more accessible. The lower sleeping surface stays cooler during the summer months, which may allow you to save on your air conditioning bill. Kids on the Floor Devotees of attachment parenting sleep with their infants, which means the parents and baby should share a sleeping space close to the floor for the first months of a child's life. After a few months, the baby transitions to a regular mattress in the parent's bedroom -- ideally, at the same floor height as Mom and Dad. As a similar school of thought, the Montessori method recommends allowing children to sleep as close to the floor as possible to encourage safe freedom of movement.
Designing a Lower Bedroom Minimalist decorating schemes embrace the notion of designing a bedroom around a bed that's close to the floor. Other furnishings such as nightstands and dressers should match that low profile with a low horizontal shape, and long vertical wall hangings help emphasize the room's spacious visual contours. In keeping with a minimalist theme, avoid cluttering the room with excess furnishings -- which means leaving the box spring and mattress on the floor is a good fit for young people who are just starting out. References City of Portland Health & Human Services Department: Bed Bugs: Guidelines for Best Practices in Prevention and TreatmentNest Bedding: Can I Put My Mattress on the Floor?STL Beds: What Is the Typical Bed Height?The Baby Sleep Site: Are Montessori Floor Beds Bad for Your Baby? Photo Credits Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionThere are several reasons why having a mattress on the floor may be worse for your health.1) Dust gathers on the floor and it tends to get swept around by drafts.
The consequence is that you will likely breathe in more dust by sleeping very near the floor. /about_554105...2) Another issue is bed bugs. /bedbugvide...This article says you even want anything hanging off the bed to touch the floor:http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/en...3) There is some concern that mold and mildew could become an issue when the mattress is on the floor because the mattress is not adequately ventilated. //175387...4) If you live in a cold environment, it will be colder closer, to the floor, so that may be a concern. Of course, if you live in a hot environment, the reverse may be a concern.5) There is some concern that there are more drafts near the floor. Cold air falls and if cold air is coming in some where, it will form a draft near the floor. The Japanese -- among many others -- have been sleeping on mats or cushions on the floor for centuries, if not millennia. In general, no, but there are some situations where it is important.We should start by defining what a "bed" is.
A bed is the frame that supports your mattress and / or your box spring.While you can certainly put a mattress on the floor there are reasons you might not want to. It's dirtier, the mattress doesn't breath as well, it can be more difficult to get and out of bed, among others.If what you are really trying to avoid is using a boxspring you could consider a platform bed (IKEA has lots of inexpensive ones) or perhaps a steel frame / boxspring combo (you can find these on Amazon).In most cases it is best to use a boxspring or platform bed. This improves the longevity of the mattress, allows it better airflow, and will ensure your mattress warranty stays intact. Note: many mattress warranties will be voided if the mattress is not supported by a boxspring / frame or platform bed.I just wrote a new guide on my blog about boxsprings and their use (or lack thereof). You can find it here: Do You Need a Boxspring?There is nothing wrong with putting a mattress and boxspring directly on the floor as long as you have a quality mattress.
However, boxsprings are not the standard anymore. Foundations are better than boxsprings because they don't squeak or make any noise. they have excellent luxury mattresses for reasonable prices and you can get a foundation from them to put directly on the floor if that's what you want to do. A bed fit for beauty sleep Feeling your best when you wake up starts with the right bed. One that’s big enough to stretch out but cozy enough to snuggle up tight. With storage for the things you need, so you don’t have to get up once you’re all tucked in. And built to last for years – in a style that you’ll love just as long. Full, Queen and King beds(39) Loft beds & bunk beds(18)Mattress shopping can be one of the most agonizing experiences, from pushy salespeople to an overwhelming number of options to not actually knowing what you need in the first place. It's so easy to end up with the wrong one, but it doesn't have to be that way. The Huffington Post spoke with Jay Orders, the co-owner of Christeli, to get a better understanding of what we really need to look for when we hit that showroom floor.
His family has been in the mattress-manufacturing business since 1931, and he's worked in almost every part of that process in a factory setting to be able to separate the hard product truths from the marketing myths. "People come in with a list of specifications, because there's so many things out there about mattresses that they read," Orders told The Huffington Post. "A good mattress is something most people don't know a lot about: How it feels, the quality of the construction, the quality of the materials used, the final product. There's a lot of information out there, and it's hard to trust some of it. There's a lot of smoke and mirrors." Ready to look past all the gimmicks? Here are seven myths you've probably heard at some point in your mattress shopping endeavors that couldn't be further from the truth. Myth #1: You must, must, MUST get a pillow-top mattress because they make the most comfy beds EVER. "I always get requests for things that don't make sense," said Orders.
"For instance, people always ask for a pillow-top mattress, and when I ask why, they say they heard it's supposed to be a softer, nicer mattress, but none of that's true. I have to explain to them it's just a marketing gimmick." This is a common misconception created by different companies looking to distinguish their products from their competitors. But Orders claims that the same plush feel can be achieved with a traditional mattress design, despite how boring that may sound. It's moreso about the structural integrity of the mattress. And if you want to create a fluffy princess bed, there's nothing wrong with topping off a solid, standard mattress with a cushioned pad of your choice. Myth #2: No biggie -- one size fits all.Why would one mattress feel the same, offer identical support and last the same amount of time for a 120-pound woman and a 250-pound man? Simple answer: It wouldn't. It seems to be a growing trend among new mattress companies to try and cut out the complicated distinctions that come along with a catalog of different models, and make the case that all mattresses are essentially the same.
But it's still important to factor in things such as a person's natural sleeping position, any sleeping difficulties or disorders, their age and weight, and general preferences from previous mattress experiences, according to Orders. Myth #3: You're most definitely going to get the total value (and then some) of that lifetime warranty. "When most companies say 'lifetime warranty,' they're referring to the materials inside the mattress, which really isn't a warranty at all," said Orders. "It's saying as soon as this mattress is worn out from normal wear and tear, it's no longer covered under warranty. It's very vague and can get very expensive." The National Sleep Foundation recommends changing your mattress every seven to 10 years, regardless of any outstanding warranty. That's the most important detail to keep in mind. How long your mattress will last depends on several factors like usage and its original quality, but generally speaking, it's gotta go after that 10 year mark.
It won't provide you much support and comfort after that. Myth #4: There's no such thing as a proper bed setup without a box spring... Unless your bed frame still uses slats for support, you do not need a box spring, according to Orders. Box springs were first invented to help absorb shock since mattresses themselves were so much thinner back then. Nowadays, all box springs really do is just raise the profile of your bed. So again, if you're going for the princess look, start stacking. Otherwise, it's just an additional, unnecessary cost. All you need is a solid platform underneath your mattress for support. Myth #5: Giving your mattress a test lie-down on the showroom floor is enough. Believe it or not, the only real way to test out a mattress and make sure it's the one for you is to actually sleep on it. This fact is key when it comes to shopping with a mattress company that offers both a reasonable trial period and return shipping rates in case the one you choose initially ends up not being the perfect fit.
Some companies don't offer trials at all, and others' return pricing can get pretty steep. Either way, don't just sneak in a catnap in the store and call it a day here. Myth #6: There's a reason these people are selling mattresses: They're SLEEP GENIUSES. Sorry folks, it doesn't take much sleep expertise to work as a mattress salesperson. And just like many others in the trade, they work on commission, says Orders, which is why in many retailers, they tend to push the higher priced options the hardest. When it comes to gaining the best mattress insight, Orders recommends finding someone you really trust and discussing your needs and concerns candidly with them. Product reviews online can also be a great source of information that are worth a read. Keep your eye out less for brand names and more for quality materials, because that's what's ultimately going to help you sleep well at night. Myth #7: If you have a bad back, you'll regret not buying a hard, firm mattress.