Rise and Shine: 6 Reasons You Don’t Want to Put Your Mattress on the Floor

Perhaps you’re toying with the idea of putting your mattress on the floor. Or, maybe you settled into your floor bed long ago. Setting up your mattress without a bedframe may seem like an easy way to save money and space, but is this the best option?

There are several disadvantages to putting your mattress on the floor, from risks that can damage your furniture to those that can affect your health. Don’t gamble with your mattress or precious sleep. Here are six reasons you don’t want to put your mattress on the floor.

1. Your mattress is susceptible to mold and mildew growth.

Ditching a traditional bed frame may not seem like a big deal, but it can cause major issues for your mattress. When your bed is propped up in a frame, there’s plenty of air circulation throughout and underneath the mattress. When placed directly onto the floor, that airflow is obstructed. Moisture from your body, like oils and sweat, accumulates in your mattress with no way of “airing out.” This can lead to mold and mildew growth – not exactly a recipe for sweet dreams.

2. It may worsen your allergies.

Have you ever noticed how much (and how quickly) dust can collect on your baseboards? The floor is where dust, dirt, and other allergens accumulate, and if you’re sleeping on a mattress on the floor, you’re in the thick of it.

If you’ve noticed any allergic reactions or irritating symptoms, sleeping on the floor might be the culprit. Even if you haven’t noticed any issues, protect your mattress from excess dust with a high-quality mattress protector, and be sure to clean it regularly.

3. You may void your mattress warranty.

Mattress warranties can be lifesavers. If your mattress is defective or flawed in some way, a warranty guarantees that the manufacturer will repair or replace it. However, many warranties stipulate the type of foundation that your mattress can be used on, from platform beds to box springs. In many warranties, no proper foundation means no luck if your mattress isn’t functioning as it should. Plop your mattress on the floor, and the manufacturer can point to user error if anything goes wrong.

4. It can become a breeding ground for bed bugs and other pests.

Placing your mattress on a bed frame does not make your sleeping space immune to bed bugs and other critters, but putting your mattress directly onto the floor gives them much easier access. Bed bugs and dust mites are attracted to heat and moisture, and your bed is their ideal new home. Can you put a mattress on the floor? Sure, but you might as well roll out the red carpet for these bed bugs, mites, and other pests like spiders, ants, and worse.

5. You may experience more aches and pains.

If you prefer an extra firm mattress, the hard ground might be the perfect foundation for you. However, if you sleep best on a soft, contoured mattress, sleeping on the floor might make for a sore, aching morning. This is especially true for side sleepers, who do best on pillowy mattress types that cushion their shoulders and hips.

6. It makes it harder to get out of bed ­­– literally.

It can be hard to get going when your alarm goes off, but this only becomes more difficult when you can’t simply roll out of bed with gravity on your side. When you put your mattress on the floor, that pre-coffee battle to get out of the sheets can feel like an even bigger task.

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