Futon Mattress Covers

The History of the Futon: How They Can Help Your Sleep

The Japanese are known for their heritage and culture, and one of their traditions when it comes to retiring for the night is to sleep on a futon mattress that is laid on the floor. Today, most Japanese have exchanged their futon mattresses for beds. Most people from the West know futon to be a small couch that can be turned into a bed, but this is very different from the traditional futon of the Japanese. In Japan, three parts make up a futon mattress: shikibuton, or the under futon, kakebuton, the comforters laid over the shikibuton, and the makura, or the pillow. The shikibuton is filled with cotton batting and wrapped in sheets called shikifu. Different futons are used depending on the season. Heavier futons are used during cold winter nights and lighter ones are used during the summer.

Light futon mattresses are stuffed with down feathers, making them very comfortable but also very expensive. The kakebuton cover, or futon cover for North Americans, are placed over the kakebuton. The makura in Japanese tradition is filled with red beans and buckwheat chaff. During the day, beds are stored in closets known as oshiire. These closets have two shelves and sliding doors. The Japanese have already mastered the art of living in small spaces, and storing their beds in ways that save space is no exception. Futon mattresses are often kept in the upper shelf of the oshiire closet because the bedroom may be used for other purposes, such as entertaining guests or working.

Covers of futon mattresses are the most visible as it covers the inner mattresses of your futon set. Therefore, the covers and the frame of your futon mattresses can best add character and design to your couch. However, if you have been using the same piece for a very long time, it is likely that your sofa set appears old and drab.

The good news is you can update your sofa set in a variety of ways, one of which is a complete overhaul of your sofa set by buying another set in your nearest home furnishing store. This may be quite expensive, and if you’re not willing to spend so much for a new futon, you can choose to just purchase a new cover for your futon mattress on your couch. A wide selection of colors and designs are available for your futon mattress cover, whether you like bright colors or toned-down ones.

The Japanese often bring out their futon and its cover outside and place them under direct sunlight. This maintains their futons feeling dry and fresh. Futons that are left on the floor or in the closet for too long will ruin the mattress. Dry mattresses can provide more comfort, thus making you sleep more soundly. According to the Japanese, sleeping on a futon on the floor helps prevent back problems better than soft beds.