Futon moves from a mat on the floor to so much more

The futon has evolved from weed rugs that originated in Japan.

According to Kayo Matsushita, who researched the history of futons for his master’s thesis at Columbia University, the Japanese-style futon of today is typically about 2 inches thick and made with cotton or synthetic padding.

They are put on tatami flooring, a woven straw mat, and come with a comforter, blanket, towel-like blanket and pillow filled with beans or beads, somewhat similar to a Western-style bed set.

During the day, they are folded up and stored to expose the tatami flooring to air, according to Matsushita.

Futons are put in sunlight on a regular basis and beaten with a bamboo tool to keep their shape.

Western futons are thicker, less mobile and require a lot less maintenance.

Like the Japanese futon, the Western futon mattress can be filled with cotton or synthetic material, but can also contain foam or springs, making for a stiffer, more bedlike pad.

Futon frames made the futon more of a casual living fixture.