Product Substitutes for Mattresses

Futons

• Futons are traditional Japanese mattress alternatives. Traditional futons are made of a fabric pad filled with batting, much like a very thick quilt. A Japanese platform bed or Montessori floor bed consists of a futon pad layered on top of a tatami mat and covered with a blanket or comforter. Western-style futons are modeled after their Eastern counterparts, but usually have thicker wadding inside the pad. Western futon frames are designed to do double duty during the day as couches, while Japanese-style futon-mat setups roll up for storage during the day.

Cots

• Cot beds, also called camp beds, are temporary beds designed for use without mattresses. Cots are for temporary sleeping arrangements and are used where permanent bedding solutions are inconvenient or unwieldy. Cots consist of a metal, plastic or wooden frame with a piece of fabric stretched on top to create the sleeping space. Most cots fold up for easy storage or movement. Others disassemble completely.

Hammocks

• Hammocks aren't just for relaxing in the yard. Use a hammock in your bedroom in place of a traditional mattress and box-spring bed. Indoor hammocks are installed with an attachment to support studs. Free-standing hammocks come with a hammock stand, making installation painless and temporary. Single-occupancy hammocks are widely available, and some companies offer double-occupancy hammocks. They are available in a wide array of materials and colors, so it's possible to find one to match your decor and preferences.

Camping Pads

• The floor is an uncomfortable prospect for many, but for some it's a viable, much less expensive alternative to a traditional bed with a mattress. Camping stores sell pads designed to fit under sleeping bags to make floor-sleeping more comfortable. If a pad alone is not enough, you can layer blankets, pillows and additional pads to make your floor bed more comfortable.

Air Beds

• Air beds are inflatable mattress substitutes made of plastic or vinyl. Air beds contain a cushion of air to prevent direct contact between the sleeper and the floor. They deflate and fold up for storage. Air beds typically mimic the sizes of traditional mattresses, ranging from twin to king-size.