Just as CanarsieBK declared the other day that Organic Isn’t a Splurge, It’s My Healthcare, so it shall be with our Tiny House sleeping arrangement. It won’t be a splurge, it will instead be our way of saving on future surgical procedures, acupuncturists, and chiropractors. That is why we spent this past weekend looking at some beds we had already researched online and ultimately purchasing a c3 SleepNumber, queen size, bed.
We currently sleep on a SleepNumber and because of the difference in our sizes (Crystal is not quite 5’2″ and I am 6′ even…and about 120 lbs. more) it is perfect for personalization and quality sleep for two mis-matched in size people. At about $1200 though it is no bargain and is certainly an expense when you are trying to build a home and furnish it to some degree. Why though would we want to spend $500 or $600 on a mattress (and box spring) that needs replacing every 3-4 years when we can make a solid investment on a bed system that has a 20-year warranty and such good reviews?
The first thing to consider though is that our Tiny House design (which, I promise, will be released in a matter of days) discards the traditional A-frame pitch roofing of most Tiny Houses in favor of a more flattened roof design with a less steep pitch. The loft will actually have dormers allowing for maximum sleeping space. And at 78″ across there will be ample room for the 60″ queen mattress as well as a built-in cubby of some sort.
I am not saying this bed situation will fall upon all tiny builders. Some already have a bed they like. Others are looking for something more simple like a tatami mat or a hammock while others may prefer something more universal like a Murphy Bed or Slide Away Bed. But since we didn’t own our own bed prior to this weekend, it was important for us to make a sound investment on something that fit our needs now and a year from now.
What about your tiny house? Do you have an unusual or an incredibly practical sleeping arrangement? And if you own a full-size house, would you ever consider alternative bedding?
When we downsized our belongings and moved about 6 months ago, one thing we did was give away our queen sized mattress, box spring, etc. We switched to a futon (japanese style, not the kind on a frame). So, it’s just a big pad, really – cotton fabric full of cotton…and that’s it. It lies on the floor.
Well, I am a convert!! I intend to write about this at some point, because I just never see in this part of the world singing the praises of these futons. I think they’re an excellent choice for someone with a small home (you can roll it or hang it up during the day, so you don’t even need a room dedicated to being a bedroom) and I think it’s an excellent environmental choice, too (uses so much less material, no metal or plastic, etc).
We thought there might be a difficult adjustment period going from a pillow-top mattress and box spring to 4 inches of cotton sitting on a hardwood floor. They say it can take a few weeks for you to adjust. For us, it was a smooth, easy transition. We didn’t have any bad nights and very soon it felt cozy, natural, and comfy. I love our futon now!
This is a really long comment, but I wanted to share all that! 🙂
Thank you so much for joining the r(E)volution Emma. Great to hear a new voice.
I hear what you are saying. Don’t think I don’t. In fact, the thing I value most about Tiny r(E)volution is the sharing of what people have done in their own downsizing efforts. It sounds like you and yours made quite a step and one that I am not sure many Americans would even consider.
Crystal and I considered a number of alternative beds and having visited and lived in several countries (Israel, Ukraine, Japan, Paris, Germany, India, etc) we have experienced our share of beds. So being the states now for what we feel like is the long term we were pretty set on a “traditional” mattress that was fitting for us and provided the comfort that we both need and want. I am not saying that futon mattresses are not comfortable. For us, it just wasn’t the route we desired. But mind you we would not have chosen the bed we did if it were not a well thought out, well budgeted, decision. We don’t take any purchase lightly and we don’t take any health decision lightly either. And for us good sleep and quality sleep are health decisions. In the long run they will keep us from the chiropractor and the acupuncturist.
And no, it wasn’t a long comment at all. I welcome your voice anytime. Hope to see you again!
Oh, I wasn’t criticizing your choice! I was just excited to talk about futons. Ha! 🙂
I absolutely did NOT take it as a criticism. I welcome all opinions and all thoughts here. We all have different need and desires and while some things may work for one person, they don’t always work for all. Thanks for stopping back by! Hope to see you for tomorrow’s post!
When Jim and I got our new, and smaller, bed, I splurged on good quality, high thread count, white bed linens. They match everything. I can bleach out stains. We donated all the mismatched, cheap, thin linens to our local animal shelter.
Now I don’t have a need for an entire shelf in the linen closet!
Monica