It is obvious that you definitely are enjoying sleeping or couching on a futon mattress. Therefore, there is a pretty good chance that while being cozy on it, you must have thought about your health and raised a justified question over are futons good or bad for your health.
Are Futons Good Or Bad For Your Back?
Research has ascertained that futons are good for the back. Because futon mattresses have quite firm and an uneven surface. And regular sleeping on a firm yet enough cushioned mattress supports the back muscles and keeps the back spine aligned throughout the night regardless of sleeping position.
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Over the years, futon mattresses are well-known as good for the back. As futons are quite firm than any regular mattress and have an uneven but not a lumpy surface.
Even research has proven that regular sleeping on a futon can reduce back muscle pain gradually. Because the mattress surface is firm yet enough cushioned so it supports the back muscles uniformly. Mainly keeps the back spine aligned during the night regardless of sleeping position.
Also, futons allow the body to have a natural turn and twist so it doesn’t put up with any back pain. However, remember that futons strongly don’t claim that sleeping on them can cure back pain fully.
5 Reasons Why Futons Are Good/Bad For Back?
You might have still some doubts regarding futons if they are actually good/bad for your back. So to end your confusion, 5 main reasons why futons are either good or bad or both have been explained below.
Keeps Your Back Spine Aligned
Sleeping on a futon during the night keeps your back spine aligned and it is one of the main reasons why futons are really good for your back. Futons are usually quite firm and have an uneven surface which let the back spine stay aligned while you are sleeping.
Supports The Back Muscles
As said before, futons have a firm and uneven surface, unlike the regular soft mattress. Therefore, it highly supports the back muscles uniformly and helps to maintain a good body posture regardless of different sleeping styles.
Helps To Reduce Back Pain
Another significant reason is sleeping on futons can gradually help you to reduce back pain. As you’ll be sleeping on a firm surface for a long period so it will start keeping your backbone aligned, maintaining your sleeping posture, and supporting your body muscles uniformly. Therefore, day-by-day your back pain, joint pain will start lessening.
Provides A Natural Body Twist And Turn
Being capable of twisting and turning while sleeping is equally important and futons allow the body to have a natural twist and turn during night rests, also it doesn’t restrict your body to move freely as it is cushioned enough.
Not Suitable For Older People
The only bad impression about futons is it is not suitable for older people. As they are aging, their body, muscles, joints require a soft mattress than a firm one. So it is suggested for orderly people not to sleep on futons.
Are Futons Good For Everyday Use?
There are no issues in using a futon mattress for daily use. In fact, futons are designed and manufactured with the purpose of everyday use. Therefore, you surely can use a futon for daily sitting or sleeping on it.
However, you must purchase high-quality, thick, and firm futons if you intend to use it everyday. And, if you want to use a futon both couching and sleeping on a daily basis then get yourself a combination of comfy sitting/sleeping futon.
Futons are required to have flexibility and rigidity of bending into seats and holding the seating position. So buy a futon with a quality core for daily use.
An important factor to add, futons are quite lightweight, foldable, and inexpensive. So on a daily basis, you can use futons whenever you want and then can fold them and store them anywhere. Also, it is easier to clean and hang up futons than a typical mattress.
You can make a quick bed too with it. Mainly, it’s a cost-effective product that surely will make your daily life easier. So futon is ideal for everyday use.
What Is Better A Futon Or A Sofa Bed?
Generally, it is seen that a futon is better than a sofa bed. Because futons are lightweight as well as portable. You alone can assemble a futon. Also, can just tie it up and take it out with you if you are going for the campaign.
Another factor that makes it better is, futons are foldable so you can fold them up and can both sleep and sit on them. Also, when they are not in use, you can fold and store them anywhere.
The other facet that makes it promising is futons are way much comfortable than a sofa bed. They are easier to use and take care of.
One significant thing for what futon is well-known for is, it comes in different sizes with different levels of firmness. Also, the comfort level can be adjusted by adding up an extra mattress topper, feather bed, or air bed.
Lastly, different sizes of futons are used for different purposes. They can fit any frame, any loft bed, and any other beddings due to their several sizes. Futons are inexpensive too.
On the other hand, sofa beds are a little less comfy, they don’t have a firmness option neither they are foldable. In fact, sofa beds are quite heavy and difficult to move. Over time these can degrade and are a bit expensive too.
Therefore, futons are a better option than a sofa bed.
Are Futons Good For Side Sleepers?
Futons are good for any sleeping position, certainly, they are good for side sleepers as well. Due to having a firm surface, futons provide an adequate amount of firmness and support to the side sleeper’s body. And they can sleep comfortably on a futon.
Futons are not soft therefore if you are a side sleeper, you will not sink into it. Rather your body will get enough space to move, turn and twist. As well as, your backbone and muscles will get enough backing, no matter if you are sleeping side-wise.
So, if you are a side sleeper and want to give your body full support during night rest then surely futons are good for you.
What Size Of The Bed Is A Futon?
Futons come in different sizes to fit different futon frames. Therefore, there is not only an exact size. Generally, futons come in five different bed sizes: twin, full, queen, chair, and loveseat. Here is a short illustration of these five sizes of the futon bed.
- Twin- Twin futon bed size is 39”×75”. Ideal for tough spaces like the underneath of a loft bed or tri-fold frame.
- Full- The size is 54”×75”. It’s the most common-sized futon bed. Can be used on bi-fold/tri-fold/a regular-sized platform bed.
- Queen- Queen-size futon bed is about 69”×80”. Can be used as a sofa-bed on a bi-fold frame and as a platform bed.
- Chair- Chair can be about 28”×54” for chair and 28”×21 for ottoman. You can use 28” for the only chair and an additional 28”×21” for using it as chair bed.
- Loveseat- 54”×54” for the loveseat and 54”×21” for the ottoman. You can use this size of futon bed to make a loveseat which can be both bed and a folded sofa.
Why Do Japanese Sleep In Futons?
Since the ancient age, the Japanese are sleeping on futons. As they believed and knew that sleeping on a thick yet firm mattress is highly beneficial to their health. Especially, for backbone and back muscles.
And Japanese love to stay healthy so they used to use a tatami mat under the futon and used to place the futon over it to sleep.
Another reason is saving up space. They thought a double bed will take lots of area which they can use for other purposes. So they used to sleep in futons so that during day time they can store the futon and use the room for different purposes.
The other significant reason is the earthquake. Japan is prone to frequent earthquakes so the Japanese made up futons. So that a large and heavy bed frame can’t block exits from evacuation during earthquakes. So sleeping in futons was much safer for them.
Why Futons Are So Uncomfortable?
Well, futons are not uncomfortable but in some cases, they can be. The first reason futons are uncomfortable is bed bugs.
Futons can get bed bugs easily as bed bugs live on floors and traditional futons are placed on the floor too. So at night, they can bite people which results in itchiness.
The other reason is dust mites. Futons catch dust mites and people who have allergies they may feel asthma or even an endless cold because of these dust mites.
How Do You Make A Futon More Comfortable?
5 ways you can adapt to make a futon more comfortable. And these are listed below.
- Add a featherbed over the futon
- Add a mattress topper
- Layer comforters on the futon
- Add an air mattress
- Lastly, change the futon if nothing works right
Futons are indeed good for your back. And over time it has been proven. Though it’s not guaranteed but regular sleeping on futons can give you relief from back pain. So, you can at least try sleeping on futons and witness the result all by yourself.