TLDR: What can I use to support my shikibuton on a bed frame besides a tatami mat?
Hey folks.
Long story short, I'm sleeping on the floor on a shikibuton these days. It lays on my floor with a grid of interlocking foam mats under it to cushion my bony skeleton from the hardwood below. I sleep great.
I am a 40 year old man, and while my sleep is great, I wanted a bed frame so I didn't feel like I was a college kid sleeping on the floor. I got one, and I like it. It's a modern bed frame that has wooden slats to eliminate the need for box springs. If I lay my shikibuton on top of the slats- even with my foam mats in between- I can feel the gaps between the slats and it is uncomfortable.
Decently sized tatami mats appear to be more expensive than I really wish they were (yes I'm 40 but I have a job that doesn't pay super well), and I had hoped to find some sort of cheap alternative for making a solid platform to rest atop my bedframe slats. I've considered plywood, masonite, adding "inbetweener" slats, and most recently rigid pink insulation foam. They all have their benefits and drawbacks in my mind.
The biggest drawback to any of these options is the fact that they aren't breathable, and I don't want my mattress to get moldy. I live in Iowa where 5+ months out of the year the weather isn't particularly clothesline-friendly so I want to make sure I'm not introducing more elements that could make my mattress lose its freshness. I do intend to keep folding up my mattress every morning, flipping it once a week, and hanging it outside weekly weather permitting. The thing is, every website I've looked at that talks about shikibutons/tatami mats still talks about flipping your mattress all the time and hanging it in the sun weekly which makes me wonder... Does the tatami actually breathe? And if it does, does it help anything?
What do I use to provide a firm backing between my bed frame and shikibuton? Is there something from the hardware store that I can cut to an appropriate shape for ~$60, or do I need to bite the bullet and spend $200 on a grass mat?
Videos
How do you store a Shikibuton?
What is the difference between a Shikibuton and a Western Futon?
How thick should a Shikibuton be?
I love Japanese Shikibutton mattresses and I like to sleep on the ground, but I'm looking for a way to have the same firm natural fabric mattress but put it on an elevated bed frame. The important thing is that I don't want anything memory foam or a spring mattress. I like something 100% natural like the traditional Japanese ones and It must be firm. Any suggestions?
I'm thinking of getting a shikibuton for me and my girlfriend, but I'm stuck between two options. I can get 2 twin sizes (easier to handle, but more expensive) or 1 queen size (more heavy and bulky, but cheaper).
Is a larger shikibuton worth it if you need to move it around and air it out?
If so, and if you live in the West, how did you adapt it to work in your bedroom?
Some people put their tatami on the floor, but I've read that in Japan the floors are actually elevated, allowing for airflow. I'd assume that in a Western home the tatami would gather mold , and not to mention dust.
I'm trying to find a bedframe that would fit the tatami I want, but so far it's proving too difficult. (I'm in Canada, btw)
Unless anyone's found a way to make it work without a frame?
Regardless, I'd like to know who here sleeps on a traditional Japanese futon , why you do it, and how you set it up.
Thanks!
edit: Expensive and apparently can't be shipped to Canada, but god dayum these are perfect http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/emoorbaby/item/az-ewb005-sd/
http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/emoorbaby/item/tf-sob1401/?s-id=borderless_browsehist_en
I sleep on a korean yo, which is similar to a shikibuton, but a bit thinner. I live in a small apartment and love having the ability to pack my bed away and have that extra space during the day. It took a little adaptation, but sleeping on a firm surface is now quite comfortable, but not so much so that I'm tempted to sleep in.
I put it directly on a hardwood floor and haven't had any trouble with mold, moisture, or dust, but I do fold it up and put it away most mornings. Leaving it on the floor or another solid surface for a long time would probably lead to the problems you mention.
Since having that floor space is the main attraction for futon-style sleeping, I haven't looked into bedframes. I would think that a slatted bedframe would work as long as the slats were fairly close together. You may also be able to buy tatami bedframes that provide the cushioning and airflow of the traditional tatami mat but with a little elevation.
I'm not too familiar with the futon in question, but if you want elevation, it wouldn't be too hard to build an elevated frame out of 2x4s.