The Inspired Improvement It might be because females are more into buying stuff in general hence the need to solve this problem and go more towards minimalism
Excuse me? My bf is the buyer who collects tons of crap, while all of my stuff can fit into my car. I sleep on a yoga mat on the floor without a pillow, while he has a huge bed and 8 freaking pillows.
Nakidz I suppose this is a reaction to my comment. I said 'in general', of course there are loads of male hoarders. But IN GENERAL it might be that women are more into buying stuff like clothes etc. and that's what the majority of minimalism videos seem to be focused on. Read my comment more carefully.
I lived in South Korea for a few years, and I got used to sleeping on the Korean version (Yo) of the Futon. The Yo is much thinner than a Futon, more like a thin mat (there are a number of different versions). When I got back to Canada, I found it really hard to sleep on a Western type bed, and would frequently take a quilt and spread it out on the living room floor and slept there. There are a number of benefits of sleeping on a Futon or a Yo: In Japan, the Futon is hung outside with giant clothes pegs, on the balcony railing, to air it out, and to kill the Dani, which is a kind of bedbug. Many Japanese still spread their Futons over Tatami mats, which are prone to fungi and mold, from the moisture that the body and the natural environment releases. Hence the hanging out of the Futon. The Japanese, like most Asians, have a firm belief that fresh air and sunlight kill bacteria, and thus it is rare to even find a dryer because they like to hang their laundry out. In the West, we cannot hang our mattresses out on a railing, and they just become heavier and heavier over time - with the nasty dust mite poop that accumulates in the fabric. Very unhealthy to breathe in while you are sleeping! Then, the human body is meant to be self-supporting by its bone structure. When you sleep on a bed, your body gets lazy and does not rely on the bones for support, which is why it is healthier to sleep on a Futon or Yo. As our living spaces become smaller and smaller, it is important to remember that BALANCE is important to the human psyche. Having negative space and positive space is yet another Japanese concept and being able to roll or fold your futon and thus free up space is one way of achieving balance. After all, you have 24 hours in a day and only utilize eight of them for the necessity of sleeping. Why take up valuable space with a giant boxspring and mattress that is essentially a dirty object that provides housing for dust mites!
Joanne Urbany Sorry to burst your bubble re kdramas. They are a fantasy version of real life!!! The Korean Yo (Shikibuton in Japanese) is very thin, more like a yoga mat! Koreans are used to it and I don't think that they think and talk about comfort as we know it. They are very hardy people and sleep very few hours! Sleeping more than 4 hours per night is frequently seen as a personal failure! Especially for students! Being exhausted from lack of sleep and nearly constant studying, they will fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the floor and pass out. They also sleep on buses, subways, trains, sometimes standing upright. I have seen them being pinched awake by halmonis (grandmothers) or harabojis (grandfathers); like I said, sleeping is seen as a personal failure! Therefore, we Westerners cannot use words such as 'comfy' when wondering about a Yo. Comfort is seen as having enough food, and a reasonably warm place to pass out! If this sounds harsh, it is because it is harsh. Kdramas will allow you to believe that Korean life is not harsh.
Same! I used to have terrible back pain but after arriving in Korea it took me maybe a week to get used to sleeping on the floor or the hard mattresses they have there. Did you ever sleep on an ondol floor? I stayed at a temple stay where we slept on a heated floor for a few nights and I FELL IN LOVE! I had the best most rested body after sleeping on the floor, and you wake feeling refreshed and you dont have to stretch and pop your back and neck a million times like you do on a normal mattress.
Elise, I was thinking about getting a Tatami mat and Japanese futon next time I move, but I probably won’t have a balcony to hang the bed over. I am very allergic to mold, so based on what you said I would be better off just keeping a Western bed, right?
Yes! So wonderful to see a man talking about this. I’ve lived mostly out of a suitcase for the last 7 years with a single rack of clothes, it simplifies life so much! I prefer to sleep on the floor, I know what’s underneath my bed.
Very cool to hear. I’m looking for an apartment and I don’t have any furniture. I definitely will not buy a bed. Falling more into buying a Japanese Futon
Goodbye Things is my favorite book about minimalism. Seriously better than most any other and definitely better than Life-changing Magic of Tidying up. Which Kondo herself admits isn't actually about minimalism to begin with.
Tried to do this for about a month. Got rid of a queen sized bed for a twin sized futon. That was until summer hit and a spider crawled right past my face across my pillow. I bought a cot and threw the futon on top of it. It's been amazing to be able to just pack up my bed and have the whole room for whatever. :D Awesome video!
Here in japan,houses,apartments have very limited spaces,most of us use futon, and most all it’s a common thing for families to move from one place to another it’s tiresome and costly to pay for a lot of loads, a waste of money to throw pieces of furniture, we pay for our iranai mono,no longer needed stuffs,when we get rid of these,except small stuffs,but especially furniture and big electronic items
I slept on a futon-like mattress on the floor for many years. My back hurt, I was cold all the time, my bedcovers would get dirty super quickly unless I vacuumed everyday. Then I got a real bed. Such a relief!
I've been sleeping on a mattress, on the floor, for a couple years now and love it. I have been intrigued by such a mat for a while now .. I might get one for my next place. Such a great video! Your room looks a lot more spacious! 😊 I loved the clip of you rolling it up .. it folds up so small!! Ps: my thoughts exactly when I was living in NYC and London .. i was always hoping it would come with a mattress 😂
The Minimalist Ninja Nice! Yeah I say go for it. It's very similar to sleeping on a mattress but this way you can create more space and clean it very easily :)
The Minimalist Ninja The problem is that in the long term you'll damage your mattress with humidity if you don't let air flow below it. At least the futon is removed during the day so it dries.
Same here I do this. I created a huge piece of art on some MDF board (exactly the same dimension as my mattress), so when I lean the mattress up against the wall the art work is in front of it during the day and under it at night when it is flat on the floor.
I have the same futon! Single sized. Which is enough for me. I have carpet so it’s no big deal if my arm rolls onto the floor. I have an incredible amount of space. I just can dance and do whatever I want in here now. How it makes me feel: it’s very grounding. There is a better connection. I fixed my posture and reduced my back pain exponentially. I also have a buckwheat husk pillow. Which I find amazing.
The pillow is great for what you were talking about with the moisture and heat insulation and support. It’s adjustable as you can take some out, put it back in, whatever. I would’ve spent 100 dollars on it. Though it was like 40-45 or so. And worth it. Check it out.
Currently I don’t have a bed, but this wasn’t by choice. I had to suddenly leave my last home and left the bed behind. I have been without a bed for almost a year now. I sleep on a long bean bag chair and i actually love it. Thanks for this video because I think there is something so powerful about sleeping on the floor just the energy i get, i feel more grounded and connected to mother nature. I think that Japanese futon is an awesome idea! 😃👍
Thank you for this video. I'm going to look up that book, "Goodbye things". When I was young, I slept on the floor and liked it, but one day, a new friend came over and felt sorry for me and brought me some foam from a furniture store they worked at. I kind of miss sleeping on the floor, but now I am old and my body hurts and I'm not sure I could sleep on the floor anymore, but I sure did like the simplicity of it. As for mold, I live in an area of the world where the humidity is 80% most of the time, the walls molded, but and I never had issues with it in my mattress. Shaking it out is a two-person job so if you are single and not terribly strong, I recommend a single size.
I've been sleeping on a 4" thick full size mattress topper I got at Walmart for $115 on the floor for over 2 years and love it. It's 2" of memory foam and 2" of regular foam. I can also fold it in half and put it in my Honda Fit if I go car camping.
Had back injury long time ago. Slept on Living Room flloor w no mattress. Comforters instead. 2 years later my back is excellent, did less housework. The floor is very comfortable!!!
This is good to know. I have scoliosis and a pinched nerve in my lower back. I want to switch but I was worried about pain. I have hardwood floors and they hurt just walking on them.
I have been sleeping on the floor for 15years. No futon. A 4 x 6 area rug with 1/2" pad under it. I started this because at 6'4", beds were too short. I don't like my feet unsupported. After some time, I realized beds are too soft for me, even the hardest mattresses. I sleep longer in a bed, but often wake up with a sore back/neck. I try to sleep on the floor everywhere, but the family doesn't like it. I don't roll up the carpet, just fold up the blankets and make a neat pile. Works for me. The extra space just becomes normal after a while. Right now I have about 50 Sq. Ft. of private space for myself. Seems fine. I do share public space with others in my residence. Minimalism is just how I have always been.
I just ordered a king size futon from Japan. I had to get it custom made because the Japanese sizes are much smaller than U.S bed sizes. I also got tatami mats to go under the futon, which I’ll highly recommend as it helps with air flow and mold issues (especially during the winter and summer months). Great video..new subscriber!
Amanda Ponder I got mine from futonbedsfromjapan.com You’ll have to get it custom made. And yes, I ordered two twin size tatami mats to fit a king. The mats came from Haiku designs. Good luck!
If you buy a Japanese made futon it can have flame retardant and sometimes insecticides in the stuffing. You can avoid this by buying organic or wool, since it is naturally flame retardant. Just make sure that you don't use a normal mattress on the floor without airing it out because it can grow mold. The Japanese hang out their futons, and beat them to avoid getting Dani ( a type of bedbug that is invasive there). I slept on the floor for a long time, but it is difficult in cold weather climates where the houses have forced air heat, because the floor area is the coldest. If you have radiant in floor heat it would be heavenly. Great video!
What if I put a yoga/exercise mat beneath a futon? Will it help avoid the mold growing and damaging floor? Also, what if I am a vegan who does not want to use wool? I have no other choice than buying a futon with flame retardant?
You can buy organic cotton, but my understanding is that in some states you have to have a doctor's prescription to not have flame retardant chemicals. They are also more expensive. If you put a yoga mat under the futon, you will increase the likelihood of mold because what you really need is for air to circulate and the fiber to "breathe". If you get a thinner futon, you can just lean it against the wall during the day in order to deter moisture. There are also you tube videos about building a simple futon frame using wooden pallets which are often free or very inexpensive. Another alternative would be to buy a natural latex mattress topper (ikea sells one) and to use that as your futon. It's a natural material, and easy to fold and lean against a wall, or move about the room. We used one for several years, but with two large adults, and using it on a carpeted floor, it did break down after a couple of years. Hope that helps :)
I love the thought of having a Japanese futon and freeing up space, but I get a lot of peace of mind from having a solid bed that I can shelter under whenever there's an earthquake.
I have the same futon you’re using and I love it. I also got the full size after using a king size traditional memory foam mattress. Major improvements with my sleep and back health. Also less stress from owning unnecessary stuff, more space in my space, freedom. I invested in an expensive down duvet and duvet cover, 1 memory foam pillow and that’s it! My favorite part is there isn’t an end to the bed and the floor, which is why I had a king size mattress before.
I wish I could do this. But we have tons of wolf spiders walking around. I'm just terrified of them crawling on us at night. If it wasn't for that, I'd do it for sure because I love the whole idea.
Glad this showed up in my suggestions! My tiny home is only about 300 sq ft...used to be an old garage that was renovated! Might have to check this out because my bed takes up my whole room as well! Haha ❤️
An advantage to sleeping on the floor or very low to the floor is that as we age lose the ability to get up and down off the floor. Sleeping this way forces us to stay flexible.
Good point about us getting older. I can't decide if I want to get a Japanese bed frame that is close to the floor or not. It is hard to get up off the floor, I too thought it would help us wiser folks to regain muscles we've not used in a long time. Many years ago, when in my 40's, I slept on a hard old futon and when I awoke, I had this horrid pain in my shoulder. A nerve in the shoulder had been pinched and it took close to a year before the pain subsided. I still like the idea of sleeping on the floor; I love seeing the ceiling father away, it feels so open, but I'd need something softer than a futon.
I did this and I love it! I got a twin size (I’m small) futon and tatami mat to put it on. My back feels so much better after sleeping on it than on my previous super soft mattress. I also like that I can just pick it up and put it away after sleeping on it and have the whole room free.
Thank you so much for this video. My room was made by taking half of my already small living room so it’s incredibly small(and I’m almost 6 ft.).I was thinking of getting a futon but I am constantly being discouraged by my family and friends. I’ve been looking into Murphy beds and even fold out couches but they don’t really appeal to me. This video is definitely got me to make up my mind. I’m getting a futon! As an aside, I’ve been warming up to a more minimalist lifestyle so I’ve been steadily removing more and more stuff. I can say that without a doubt, as rough as it may seem getting rid of ones items, the feeling of freedom and satisfaction (and even relief) when you see the empty spaces open up in your house is intoxicating 😁
Yes! So stoked that this vid helped you make that decision. This is perfect for your situation. Listen to yourself bc people will always tell you why these kind of outside the box ideas wont work. Cheers
I’d get an inexpensive light weight adjustable/collapsable frame for the futon mattress so I can just fold it into little couch in the morning. Also good option for company. Sitting on the floor is not everybody’s cup of tea.
I’ve gone from living in a van to a rented room,it’s really small and I’ve been toying with the idea to take out my bed.. It’s so comfy and looks beautiful when it’s made,however I keep falling asleep while reading or drawing and it’s taking up nearly half the room xx wish me luck I will update how this Middle aged woman sleeps 😀
That's good if you can air it out but If you live in apartment (NYC) you will not be able to air it out. I have a fire escape but I have problem with pigeon droppings. Also my floor is cold especially in the Winter months. Can you put it close to a window? Interesting video. Thanks
Diana Sanchez I understand. I would recommend draping it over something in your house or hanging it in some way Japanese people hang it and beat it to clean the futon. As long as you hang it every once in a while that would really help and maybe once every 6 months you could get some sun on it
I believe that you can hang it inside next to a window and you will get the same benefits from sunlight that you get by taking it outside. Well, only one side of the futon would be getting sunlight, but I believe the sunlight disinfecting effect is not diminished by going through glass. (I don't want you to take my word for it, but maybe you can look on the internet.) You still wouldn't be getting outside air.
I would love to do this, but I love to decorate and I am not a huge fan of the look of this in a room or when it is rolled up and the room looks so empty.
PHAT PHILUSSY , thank you so much for suggesting peaceful cuisine! I love his channel and have subscribed. Ive been looking for a vegan channel like his. I like his Big Island vlog. Ive been following for a few years now three vegan youtubers who live in Hawaii and went there twice to take in the aloha spirit. Peaceful Cuisine really captures what Hawaii offers. We are still in Japan and we have found a few vegan restsurants. It seems like it is a growing movement here. What works best for us though is buying veggies from the grocery store and cooking them with noodles and tofu in our little kitchen in our VRBO. Thanks for the supportive tips.
This was super interedting! It's something i've been thinking about a lot recently. I'm not currently in a position where I could not use a bed but when I get my own space in the future i'm going to look into futons and floor sleeping for sure. So many great points, loved it. Your videos are so professional and eloquent! You're gonna go far 🙌🏼
I'm Japanese and used to sleep with futon for 15 years but I stopped it because of back problem, unfortunately. I'd use it again cz it's nice, especially with Tatami room:)
Hi everyone! What a great video!! Totally with you on all levels bro, and can really relate to this nomadic/simple way of living even when you are grounded at settled. And for viewers: I’ll vouch for him and say this is the way to go, I’ve traveled a lot too, and still do while I’m teaching abroad. Between travels I’ve lived in various countries and this video reminds me of when I spent a year living in Germany, before I hit the road again. I had a room which was an art studio/living space, and I had a futon mattress on the floor. Something about it felt so much more comfortable and free. Maybe it’s gravity. Maybe it’s not falling into the habit of sitting on the edge of the bed (which could affect posture over time). But whatever it was it was definitely an improvement both physically and spiritually (if you have an appreciation for the zen-like things in life!). I’ve also camped a lot as I’ve hitchhiked and traveled. I agree that space can help and having the unlimited “shelf space” around you. If you are camping a simple inflatable mat and sleeping bag with a few inflatable pillows for head and leg support is also comfortable. Just find some flat ground of-course...✌🏻😁
Great to think about this differently. I just did the opposite, we've been sleeping on the floor for 4 years now. I recently broke my leg, floor sleeping wasn't working for me and with this lockdown I just got sick of being on the floor. Think I went a bit overboard the bed is so high. But I've been spending lots of time in the bed getting my money's worth. Not to mention one place had too much moisture, no sun, and no balcony. Things got kinda icky. However if we move to a better apartment one of these days I'm toying with the idea of having two twin size roll ups pushed together at night but then each one can roll theirs up in the morning if they want to or not.
I think sleeping on the floor would be great if your home is reasonably well insulated, but in New Zealand many of the homes aren't and if you slept on the floor the cold and damp really gets to you in the Winter. If I end up living in a well-insulated home then I'd be keen to do this!
I have a huge phobia of there being too much weight on a floor. I will constantly move around furniture thinking I’m balancing the weight. I know Logically I’m being irrational but it calms my phobia. My bed takes up so much room. It gives me more anxiety than peace. I never thought of getting a futon but now I will be looking into one
We had such high hopes for our Japanese futon. Even though we keep it on carpeted floors, it is very uncomfortable for overnight sleep. It's fine for back sleeping for me, but I sleep on my side a lot, and my hips bother me from the lack of support. I even tried putting additional cushioning underneath. Also, rolling it up was such a chore (we got a queen) that we just keep it unrolled in the kids' playroom, which is great for comfy floor hangouts, but not really sleeping. Thanks also for the heads up about the Murphy Bed, that's what I was considering..
If u have not slept on the floor looking online for how to sleep on the floor really helped me transition. I don't have any pages to send u too but the positions to prevent bones being sore like not having hips stacked and others. Hope this helps.... floor/futon sleeping now for a little more than a year
Hello! I bought a twin size futon last year, based on the recommendations above, and loved it. This year I decided I wanted one that was a little wider and got a Full one from D&D Futon Furniture (as listed above). It had the same photo but this one was different; it didn't have a separate cover, it was thicker, and it was terrible about trapping heat, so it's really hard to get to sleep and I wake up sweaty and uncomfortable. Has anyone else had this experience? / Any suggestions? (Not a complaint! - Just looking for input!) Any help is appreciated because I love these futons and want to keep using them. Thank you!
Its been almost 4 months since you put this video. Have you had any problems with the Futon? Is it still comfortable? Im a college student in a similar situation, i have a small room, and not much money so this would be ideal for me. Do you think this would be the best way to go for the next four years in this tiny studio apt? By the way awesome videos, they have really helped me out.
Yeah so I have had the futon for around 4 months and it is so incredible. I get amazing sleep on it and prefer it to any bed I have ever slept on. I cant really imagine myself sleeping on anything other than a futon like this for the rest of my life because it makes so much sense. Get one!
My main concern w the sun on my skin now is cancer and premature aging. Yes, the sun disinfects things. It breaks them down after time too. Like salt water.
Did he mention it helps with back problems? I did't hear him say anything about it, but I've heard they are known to help those with back problems. I've been thinking about getting one of the real JapaneseFutons. This ones from Amazon...I don't know...Are they made with cotton too? In the description it says something about 100% Polyester...
I want to make this change as well ...my question is does it have to be on the floor or can it be put on a super flat bed frame ? Is it the gravity of it or??
It can be put in a bed frame for sure. The slats on the bed frame would have to be closer together so that the futon doesn't fall through at any points
I don't know why, but I love taking a duvet cover, putting it on the floor, and getting a blanket and sleeping on that with the blanket on top of me. I might of learned an appreciation of hard beds from hospital, but I love it. It takes time for my back to get used to it but it just feels good. Definitely going to be looking into a futon
shit really stupid reason about the money for a bed...it's not a house or other very expensive things...I don't think 500 dollars make you poorer...I'm sorry, I like minimalism but I think that the point here about minimalism and the bed sounds just ridiculous... I think it was better just say you bought a futon just you like it.
Also, can you feel the coldness of the floor when sleeping on a futon? My parents are so worried about me because the say I will always be cold when I sleep, since we also have a wooden/linolium floor.
jklfds85 The futon is 3 inches thick so no I don't feel the coldness of the floor at all. Trust yourself. If you feel the intuitive pull that this is the right decision then go for it!
Why improve yourself? Just be how you are, as the love, understanding and awareness of who you are, is the improvement. Life is diversity, avoid imitating models of perfection.
What about winter time? I live in New Hampshire where it’s winter 7month out of the year. I know japan has heavy winters just curious how they air it out during winter.
Are they made to prevent back problems etc because without sounding critical the mattress looks very thin.. can you feel the floor through it at all? This is a good idea for small spaces
Yes actually I think most people sleep on these for the back benefits. Most of the amazon reviews were about that rather than minimalism reasons. It is 3 inches thick but I am finding it super comfortable and it feels like a normal bed to me
There's a reason for why beds can cost so much. You spend your entire life either on your bed, in your office chair, or in your shoes. These are things that you should actually splurge on.
I've a small room and I have no place to put a desk. Solution: Make it a meter high, fill the space under it with a removable desk, and tons of storage.
My room is about the same size as a king size bed and I currently have a cabin bed. Would this still work and would I end up actually having more floor space?
I dont know what a cabin bed is. I would recommend getting this in the twin size. Then you can roll it up when you are not using it and you should have plenty of space
Hiya, im curious about feng shui and sleeping on the floor. Do you (or anyone reading this) know anything about this? In feng shui they say that for the energy to flow one must have a clear space under the bed, so this has been the only thing holding me back from getting a futon really. The space you have looks amazing though!
When I was little in Korea, I didn't have a bed. My bedroom was quite small with a piano and a desk. So every morning and night, making futon was a must. I remember my mom beat the hanging futon and comforter with a bamboo stick. (extra help for removing dust and stuff)
