Futon mattresses and beds are a great alternative to regular beds for people who live in small apartments restricted on space, as well as for children, students, and the elderly who’d like to save some space at home, while also saving money as getting a futon mattress is more convenient for the price as well.
There are a lot of benefits of sleeping on a futon, and so far, there are no adverse effects from sleeping on one as long as you don’t suffer from some chronic conditions
It’s generally good for all sleepers, but it’s important that both the futon frame and the futon mattress are comfortable and made out of materials that won’t allow any kind of inconveniences, and won’t sag after only a few months of use.
Still, one inconvenience that a lot of people who sleep on futons report is that the futon mattress tends to slip and slide, making sleeping uncomfortable, causing tossing and turning, and the worst, keeps you up at night without a chance of you falling back asleep.
This article unveils the reasons why this happens and how futons just start sliding all of the sudden. We’ll help you recognize this issue, and solve it by either using additional products or doing some DIY work to make your futon firm and fixed in a position.
Either way, once you’ve done reading this article, you’ll know what’s causing your futon mattress to slide, but also how to keep the futon mattress from sliding. Let’s read on and learn!
Different types of bedding are known as futons. In the USA, a futon is often referred to as a sofa that is expandable and often kept in the living room. However, it’s also a good option for smaller spaces such as student apartments and dorms. It also comes with a frame where the futon mattress is placed on.
Futons primarily originate from Japan, where they look completely different. It’s a traditional bed that comes with a smaller mattress and a duvet cover. They are mostly made entirely out of cotton, although there are some options made with additional materials that make the futon appear more cushiony. It doesn’t come with a wooden frame, instead, it’s placed on foam, tatami matt, wooden mat, or simply on the ground.
The latter doesn’t usually slide, especially because a lot of futons come with special stripes that attach it to the mat and keep it fixed in the position. Given the floor is always in a fixed position, a Japanese futon is very unlikely to slide.
The same can’t be said about the former. We wrote this article because a lot of people sleeping on futons face this kind of inconvenience that doesn’t let them sleep properly. There are a lot of ways to fix that, but first, let’s learn what causes that.
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Causes of Your Futon Mattress Sliding
Futon mattresses should be firmly designed and compatible with your bed frame. The bed frame should also be strong and sturdy, made either out of metal or strong wooden material. If your futon mattress is sliding out of its position, the following could be the cause.
Unbalanced Futon Materials
We get it, a lot of people are trying to save an extra when they purchase a futon mattress. Unfortunately, it’s hard to expect it to last for long if you were trying to save an extra buck with it. Futon mattresses use a blend of cotton and polyester which are not known as the most stable materials when it comes to keeping a futon mattress in place.
Such futon mattresses will tend to slip or move across the bed and sometimes even fall, which can make you extremely comfortable during the night. We believe that a firmer design mattress with a foam layer and extra fiber is necessary if you want to sleep in a fixed position at the night.
Keep in mind that we spend about 1/3 of our lives sleeping on average, which is why using a good quality mattress is of utmost importance.
Old or Broken Futon Frame
Another possibility is that you’ve been using a very old or damaged futon frame. A lot of people buy second-hand futons thinking that they will save money, but they’re in no way doing a favor to themselves.
Futon frames are usually made of metal or wood. Wooden frames are less likely on the market because they’re not as durable as metal options. Moreover, a lot of companies opt for ivory or some other weaker tree for processing when making a bed frame, which leads to not-so-sturdy or durable frames.
As you’re moving on your futon, and as it naturally ages, the screws start loosening and the frame becomes wobbly. As the frame is wobbling and creaking, it’s causing the mattress to move, ultimately leading to sliding and slipping of the bed.
It can be extremely inconvenient, so it’d be great if you could invest in a whole new futon bed, and don’t shy away from spending extra if it means you’ll sleep comfortably and with seamless quality.
You’re to Blame
Unsurprisingly you could be the one to blame, in combination with the former two answers. You may be a heavy sleeper who’s sleeping on a plush futon, or the futon height is not high enough. As a result, you may be able to move the futon.
Additionally, you could simply be a restless sleeper who doesn’t have control over his or her movements during the night, resulting in tossing and turning that makes the mattress slide away.
If that’s the case, the reasons can be different. Perhaps, your mattress feels uncomfortable, too soft, or too firm, or you’re a sweaty sleeper and get hot during the night. Luckily, there are a lot of ways to tackle these issues.
Incompatible Mattress And Frame
Are you to blame for this one too? Maybe, or maybe not. Some people prefer to buy the mattress and frame separately. Some companies only allow you to buy them separately also, which is a bit confusing and resembles those shops that sell all bed frames separately from the mattress.
That being said, maybe you bought a frame that is a tad smaller than your mattress or vice versa. Don’t worry about it, as if the difference between the dimensions is not too high, you’ll be able to fix it with some of the tips we listed below.
5 Ways to Keep Futon Mattress From Sliding
Not many things can cause the futon mattress to slide, but the aforementioned reasons can be extremely inconvenient and irritating for anyone who wants to get a shut-eye. Here’s a list of things you can do to stop your mattress from sliding, leading to a more comfortable and balanced night rest for you or your guests.
Place Cotton Sheets On
You probably know this one, but it doesn’t hurt to mention that it’s super important to use beddings on your mattress.
Not only do you prevent bacteria and germs to bother you while you sleep, saving yourself from allergies and irritations, you are also making a softer, cooler, and more supportive sleeping environment for yourself.
You can either put normal sheet covers or even use fitted sheets. The latter is probably a better option if you don’t want the sheets to slide off the mattress too.
They are super-helpful for people who are restless sleepers and tend to sleep hot, so preventing heating up, also prevents the mattress from being pushed and slid off the futon once you’re deep in the sleep.
Editor’s notes:
Make sure that you use a fitted sheet made of pure cotton or sateen.
Percale feels rougher to the touch so it’s a good idea to use it to prevent slipping of your own body while you’re laying. It’s worth noting it’s also more expensive.
Another alternative is purchasing a removable sofa cover that will work just the same.
Velcro & Grip Strips
Velcro & Grip strips are a great way to reinforce both your futon mattress and your futon frame. They can be found anywhere, but if you want to be 100% sure that you’ll find them, you should visit any nearby hardware store.
Grip strips are made out of polyfoam which also comes with a sticky another side. They’re also good because they will not only fix your mattress in place but also reinforce your bed frame so that it’s quieter and stands in place. That being said, regardless of whether your mattress or frame is to blame, you’ll be able to fix it in a position.
Velcro strips provide a firmer grip on your futon mattress, and they’re quite similar to grip strips. It’s worth noting that a Velcro strip is a little bit sturdier than the grip strip, so people are more likely to use them to reinforce their bed.
Editor’s notes:
- In both cases, you’ll have to remove the futon from the frame.
- Measure the length of the grip stick that you’ll use on each side of your futon mattress. Apply the pressure on each side of the mattress that you want to reinforce.
- With Velcro, you’ll need to glue the hook side to the bed frame.
- Loop sides are glued onto the mattress while making sure that the hook and loop are compatible and touching each other.
- To make sure they touch together you can either use safety pins or additional glue
- Merge them while ensuring they were measured properly not to damage your mattress.
- You can consider Melsan Velcro hooks and loops or this Anti Slip Tape.
DIY Corner Straps
If you see yourself as a visionary and a designer, then you’ll find the following task exciting. A lot of people reinforced their futon mattresses by designing a DIY futon holder. The result should keep your mattress in place, as well as prevent your frame from wobbling and creaking. Even if it doesn’t save the situation in its entirety, you can combine this method with grip strips.
Editor’s notes: Here’s how to do it:
- Get a stretchable fabric, threads, needle, and a cording piece.
- Make sure to measure the bed frame and mattress correctly. That will help you tell how much cording you’ll need
- Make sure that the cord you cut is twice the height of the futon frame. Cut it 8 times.
- You will have to stitch cording on every corner of the futon mattress. For that, you’ll need two pieces of the cording on each side.
- After putting the mattress back up, you’ll have to wrap or tie the cording pieces you just stitched onto the slats of the bed frame. That way the futon will stay in the same position.
Rubber Mat
Buying a rubber mat can help you fix your mattress in one position and not worry about the consequences. You can find a DIY rubber mat such as a Yoga or beach mat, or you can buy one at Amazon, like the BalanceFrom Puzzle Exercise similar to the ones found in the gym or exercise rooms for pilates and Yoga.
Editor’s notes:
Keep in mind that these rubber mats attract a lot of dust, so you’ll have to remove these rubber mats and clean your bed frame every few weeks, and even less if you are allergic to house dust.
Mattress Topper
As mentioned earlier, some people are either heavy or hot sleepers and they’re causing the futon mattress to move.
Using a mattress topper may not be able to stop the wobbling of your bed frame, but it could calm your mattress down if it’s too firm or moves too much by adding level of support.
Using a mattress topper with a cool, supportive foam can help you avoid heating up at night, and you’ll be able to cradle your curves and get more peaceful sleep while strengthening your mattress. It’ll calm you down and allow you to rest soundly so you won’t toss and turn, moving the futon mattress in the process.
Editor’s notes:
Avoid getting toppers of 1-2 inches height, look for a more supportive option of 3-4 inches.
