Is it better to have your bed on the floor or on a frame?
Solid Custom Heirlooms
Is it bad to not have a bed frame?
Every once in a while we meet a customer that wants to "go back to the basics" and put their bed on the floor instead of using a bed frame. Sometimes it's because they had a bad past experience with a poorly built bed, other times people are looking to save money in the short term and still others simply wonder why they need a bed frame if they have a perfectly good floor.
Despite the apparent ease of putting your mattress on the floor, there are many reasons to keep your bed frame! This is because a bed frame is not simply a statement piece. There is a reason why people over the centuries have all came back to a framed bed to sleep comfortably on. Using a bed frame is good for people, for mattresses, and for everyone who is in the bedroom.
Is it OK to put a mattress on the floor?
While it is certainly OK to put your mattress directly on the floor for a few weeks while you are moving or waiting for new furniture to arrive, there are many disadvantages of sleeping on the floor in the long term. Based on countless discussions with customers, we have learned that it is best for the sleeper and mattress longevity to use a bed frame. Let's discuss why.
Dust and Pests
No matter how much you clean your bedroom, dust, dust mites, bed bugs, dead skin cells, and all types of vermin are on the floor. If a bed is used directly on the floor, all of these items can make their way into mattresses and clothes, making it almost impossible to keep your bedding clean.
The reason why pests flock to mattresses on the floor is because it is a great place for a bug to live. The sleeping surface traps heat underneath, providing the perfect hiding spot for bugs. Creepy crawlies in your bed are not ideal, because it decreases sleep quality. Not only bugs but dust and grime are caught there, leading to allergic reactions.
There is also mold growth and mildew growth to consider from the warm, possibly moist environment trapped against the floor.
Mattress Health
Not only is putting a bed on floor without a frame bad for the sleeper, it is bad for the mattress's warranty. First, you may void your mattress's warranty if you keep it on the floor. Many mattress companies, especially the makers of memory foam mattresses, will not honor their warranty if the mattress is used for an extended time on the floor.
A properly constructed platform bed is the best choice for memory foam and hybrid mattresses because it provides a strong foundation and air circulation under the mattress, keeping the warranty intact as well as helping to avoid dust, bugs and mildew growth on the underside of the bed.
Always remember that what is bad for you is bad for the mattress. Most mattresses need a proper foundation, and many mattress companies design their beds with that in mind.
Overall Comfort
There is also the overall feel of the sleeper. Hot air is often circulated from floor vents, making people feel uncomfortably warm. There is no support, so soft material like a memory foam mattresses may cause back pains that lead to other chronic pain issues. Soft mattresses, or any other mattress for that matter, are not designed with structural support in mind.
They are designed with frames implied. So they will not adequately support body weight, or help with back pain relief even if they are advertised to do so.
Heat
There is also the heat question. A hot sleeper will find that the mattress is acting like a second blanket for the floor. Heat from your body, heating vents, or pets will build up and trap heat in your body, to the point where you cannot sleep well.
Solution to the Heat
A bed frame solves both these problems by promoting air circulation and good ergonomics. Air flow flows under the mattress, so that hot sleepers can choose from thin mattresses or any other mattress type in order to get the sometimes elusive good night's rest. A dose of cooler air is one less blanket away!
Solution to the Structure
Structurally, a bed frame supports the mattress in more ways than one. It gives support around the edges to get rid of the mushy feeling as well as giving softness to the middle of the bed. A good box spring configuration is great for your back and stomach sleepers, as well as for your body. It promotes blood circulation.
Sleeping Position
Sleeping position is also a factor when putting a mattress on the floor. Side sleepers and back sleepers will gravitate towards softer beds, while back sleepers will prefer harder ones. In either case, floor mattresses are a bad fit.
The key is that stability does not equal firmness. For the back sleeper the lack of surrounding structure will make the bed feel mushy. For the side and back sleeper, the bed on floor will seem hard, because you are stacking the filling between your body and the floor.
A bed frame solves all those problems by giving good structure to your mattress, so that all it's potential is utilized.
Walking Through the Room
Also, we have to consider that what happens to mattress on the floor is not passive. Mattresses often get treated like a very thick, bouncy carpet. It gets stepped on by people and animals. Stuff gets spilled on them.
The longer they stay on the floor, the more dirt, grime, sweat and bacteria gather to the point where you have to get rid of the mattress, even with a mattress cover.
So in the long run, leaving a mattress on the floor does not save money because you will have to replace it sooner than having it off the floor.
The Pros of Framed Beds
Bed frames solve all of these problems. Bed frames protect from bugs and mold by lifting up the bed from the floor. They give structure and more lift with box springs. And they stop people from stepping on the mattress. And the thing is, it could be a low bed. A low profile bed will have a similar height to a mattress on the floor, but it will protect better from bugs and dust
Extras for Any Bed
Whether you frame your bed or not, there are some things that every mattress should have.
The first one is a mattress protector. These pieces help increase the life of the product, as well as your investment. Instead of removing the mattress, just remove the mattress protector.
A more optional but still important component to consider is a foam mat for underneath the mattress. This helps to give a soft mattress foundation, that works in conjunction with a box spring to give people with back problems a soft comfort, giving pressure relief.
Alternatives
Now, frames are not the best for temporary situations, or for space-limited ones. But a mattress on the floor is not the right solution for either. For temporary situations use a sleeping bag or look for air mattresses. Air mattresses are convenient for spending time on the floor regularly. They are more bug and dust resistant, and can easily be blown up with a manual or electric pump.
For tight areas look for folding mattresses or rollup mattresses. But do not put a mattress directly on the floor.
Conclusion
So, whatever your sleep setup may be, the best answer is a frame of some kind. It keeps you completely dry, offers sturdy support, and stops nasties like bugs and bacteria from living in your bed. A bed frame makes all the difference.
