Shiki Futon Mat: Do You Need It? This Will Help You Decide.

Posted by HaikuDesigns on March 17th, 2015

Traditional Futon Defined

The preferred way of sleeping In Japan, Taiwan and other Asian countries along the Pacific-Rim is to rest on Tatami mats or grass, straw floor-mats, upon which a futon is placed. The mat or futon is then made into a bed with sheets, pillows and blankets for a firm and comfortable place to sleep. Long before the box-spring came along, this is the way that people slept.

Basically, a futon is a form of traditional Japanese bedding that consists of padded quilts pliable enough to be folded and stored away during the day, so a room can be used for other purposes. In Japan, a futon has 2 components: 1) a shikibuton mattress on the bottom, and 2) and a kakebuton on top, which is a thick quilted bed cover. The word futon is an English “loan word”. It is a Sino-Japanese term, meaning 'round cushions filled with cattail flower spikes', and it is derived from Chinese.

A futon is a mattress with soft exterior fabric that is stuffed with cotton or wool batting. Futons are designed to be placed on tatami flooring, and are traditionally folded away and stored in a closet during the day to allow the tatami to breathe and to allow for flexibility in the use of the room. Many Japanese people beat their futons regularly to prevent the pad from getting matted. They use a special instrument called a futon Tataki, which is traditionally made from bamboo, resembling a Western carpet-beater.

Japan is a country with a limited landmass and a large number of people. As such, it serves as a model for those of us who also live in a small homes or apartments. If a lack of space is something you need to be concerned with, then the Shiki Mat will serve you well, since it can easily be rolled up and stored in a closet during the day, or used as a couch to entertain visitors. The Shiki mat can also serve as a convenient spare bed for friends and relatives who need a temporary place to sleep.

Modern Futon Applied

“The Western futon is based on the Japanese original, with several major differences. It is almost always placed on a configurable wood or metal frame for dual use as a bed and a chair or couch. Typically, the frame folds in the middle, allowing the futon to be used as a couch, and flattens for use as a bed. It is usually filled with foam as well as batting, often in several layers, and is often much thicker and larger than Japanese futons, resembling a traditional mattress in size. Western-style futons are an alternative to a bed or other furniture, and are often sold in sets that include the mattress and frame. Futons normally feature a removable and replaceable cover in a variety of colors to match evolving modern decorating tastes. Western Futon mattress fillings vary from the economical off cut pieces of foam, to the highest quality eco-friendly natural fillings of felt and wool.” – Wikipedia

Fusing the old with the new, Haiku Designs is now offering a modern alternative to the traditional Japanese futon that is handcrafted and custom-made in the United States, using high-quality, eco-friendly materials that meet the ever-conscious public demand. Providing a notable advantage over other traditional futons, the futon-mats that Haiku Designs offer is made in an environmentally-friendly way that uses certifiable natural materials, such as organic and unbleached cotton.

Orthopedically, the Shiki All Natural Sleeping Mat-Level is firm and comfortable, resilient, made from natural, organic cotton that has not been dyed, bleached or treated in any way. As most cotton is heavily bleached with toxic chlorine and dioxin chemicals, Haiku Design’s Shiki mat is an affordable move towards creating a safer and healthier bedroom environment.

To explore alternative forms of bed-clothes, bed-frames and eco-friendly furniture, take a short second to visit a site of various colors @ https://www.haikudesigns.com/shiki-futon-mat.htm

About the Author:

Clay Phipps is the founder of Haiku Designs which is a market leader in platform beds and modern furniture.

Since its inception, Haiku Designs has provided the finest collections of modern furniture for home and offices. It offers all kinds of bedroom, living room and dining room products. Apart from this, Haiku Designs also offers natural bedding, floor covering and accessories.