What is Floor Sleeping?

Floor sleeping is exactly what it sounds like: sleeping on the floor. The concept is similar to Japanese floor sleeping which involves sleeping on a thin breathable natural fiber mat on top of a thin soft mat. The main purpose is to allow the spine to align correctly while sleeping using gravity and a hard surface. American and European-style beds are made for cushion and comfort, not for the body’s natural curvature. They are bulky, heavy, made of toxic synthetic materials, and often are not very breathable. We spend about one-third of our lives asleep so the way we choose to sleep does make a difference in our overall health and wellbeing. 

My Testimony

My husband and I did a seven-day floor sleeping trial in April of 2023. When I heard about floor sleeping from Kate and another friend, I was ready to ditch my bed. My husband agreed to try it for seven days before fully committing. We camped out on our living room floor on top of a half-inch rug. As a stomach sleeper, I got advice from Kate to use a small pillow under my hips for a few days until I was comfortable laying completely flat. I found this to be helpful and after three days I had fully transitioned to the floor without using the support pillow. The first two to four days, Brett and I were a little sore as we adjusted to not having full cushion and support from a mattress but the soreness quickly subsided. After our trial run, we were both ready to commit to sleeping on the floor and we sold our mattress and bedframe. Since then, we have been sleeping on a wool blanket and have transitioned the rest of our sheets and pillows to wool or cotton. I have noticed a huge difference in temperature regulation and I would never go back to using synthetic materials in my bedding. Recently, we invested in a sheepskin hide from East Perry and are excited to get our order in! I’m sure it will make sleeping on the floor feel a little more elevated and cozy without compromising natural fibers. We have been on the floor for over a year and a half and we would both agree it’s one of the best decisions we’ve made for us. 

Other Benefits

Sleeping on the floor uses gravity along with a firm surface to realign the spine and promote its natural curvature. It can also help reduce back pain and improve posture in the long run. It is best paired with natural fibered bedding to allow the body to regulate temperature better and improve circulation. Cotton, linen, and bamboo are great options for bedding and are easy to wash. Wool is another great material but be sure not to put it in the drier. For those committed to long-term floor sleeping, investing in a sheepskin hide may be something to consider.A thing to consider is that sheepskin hides do take more time and effort to maintain. Regardless of the bedding you choose, sleeping on the floor can be beneficial to almost anyone at any age. 

Conclusion & Other Resources

Changing your sleeping habits to best aid your body will make a difference in the long run. I believe floor sleeping benefits are greater than using a mattress and switching to natural fiber bedding can change your health. As always I encourage you to further your research on floor sleeping and sleeping with natural fibers. Other good resources I have found for natural fiber bedding are The Woolroom, for everything from pillows to bedding to mattresses, and East Perry sheepskin hides, for all ages and sizes, for floor sleeping beds. 

Written by: Jessica Call