Those of you who keep a mattress or a futon on the floor: Please remember a mattress needs to breath, it stores a lot of humidity from sweat while sleeping. Put it upwards /put the futon away every day. Once I got into trouble with my landlord (as a student, a time of life when visits from the landlord from time to time were widely accepted), he insisted I use a bedframe, because the floor beneath might get damaged due to funghi developing. Today, after having selected and laid out the beautiful hardwood floors in my appartment myself, I can totally understand that. More on reddit.com

A futon is really different from a firm spring + foam mattress. A traditional futon is more like a very dense couch cushion, it can be soft or firm but will never support you like a spring mattress, so even if you like a very firm mattress it may not be for you. I recommend finding a store where you can try them out because it’s near impossible to predict your experience. I tried a bunch at a local store and settled on a more modern futon with steel pocket springs, which i am saving up for now. Haven’t bought it yet obviously, but I know that the traditional/plain futons were definitely not for me as I am a side sleeper and it just out too much pressure on my hips and shoulders. (Japanese people sleep on their back more often, but they’re also more straight in their body shape compared to westerns which is why they’re more comfortable than us on a flat surface) You could also check out Birch mattress if you’re in the US. I kinda wish i could get one of those but I’m in EU. More on reddit.com

You can get a tatami rug. But it isn’t necessary if you have carpeting. Have you slept on a futon before? If you don’t have any back problems or mobility issues, you’ll be fine. It depends on the thickness of the futon mattress, though. It is important to air-out your futon daily, especially in hotter/more humid weather to prevent mold. If you have a large closet it’s better, as they take up a lot of space, even when folded. More on reddit.com

If she has back issues, a futon is not ideal. I am really pleased with my ikea mattress and pillow top. I think going with a firm mattress and covering with a pillow top is the way to go. I'm trying to remember which mattress I have but I may have to check the tag at home. If you're interested, I can update with the names of mine. More on reddit.com