Where Do You Place Your Mattress? Survey Finds About 20% Place It on the Floor, Struggling with Maintenance and Dust

As living environments and lifestyles change, not only the choice of bedding but also how mattresses are placed is diversifying. Choices are adapted to individual circumstances, such as the increase in compact rental properties, saving on furniture costs due to rising prices, or measures to prevent falls for families with young children. Moon Moon Co., Ltd., which operates the comprehensive sleep information site 'Kaimin Land,' conducted the '2026 Survey on Mattress Placement and Lifestyles' among 200 men and women in their 20s to 60s nationwide who currently use a mattress. The survey revealed that over 30% (31.5%) of respondents use their mattress in a state of being 'almost always left out,' and 20.5% have experienced mold or moisture from placing it directly on the floor in the past, highlighting the challenges of bedding care in modern living environments.

Survey Background With the trend of smaller rental housing, mainly in urban areas, and a heightened sense of financial defense due to recent price hikes, more people are opting for lifestyles that save space and money by not purchasing a bed frame, instead using 'sunoko' (slatted bases) or placing mattresses 'directly on the floor.' It is also not uncommon for families to deliberately place mattresses at a lower level to avoid the risk of falling from the bed when co-sleeping with children or pets. However, in Japan's hot and humid climate, placing a mattress directly on the floor or insufficient maintenance can increase the risk of mold and dust mites, potentially affecting sleep quality and health. Therefore, this survey was conducted to visualize 'for what reasons people choose their mattress placement and what challenges they face,' aiming to provide hints for creating a comfortable sleep environment.

Survey Summary - The top mattress placement is 'on a bed frame' (57.5%). Meanwhile, 'floor-placer' types, including 'directly on the floor' (16.0%) and 'laid out daily' (8.5%), account for about a quarter of users. - The reasons for choosing a placement method were led by 'habit/no particular reason' (29.4%), followed by 'good ventilation' (20.8%) and 'easy to clean' (13.9%). - Regarding mattress care habits, about 30% (31.5%) reported 'almost never doing it (left out continuously).' - On the impact of placement on mold/moisture, one in five (20.5%) have 'experienced mold/moisture with direct floor placement.' - Current placement issues are topped by 'heavy and hard to move/maintain' (22.0%), followed by concerns about 'floor dust/mites' (15.9%) and 'mold/moisture/odors' (11.1%).

*When citing these survey results, please include the URL for 'Kaimin Land' (https://intiinti.com/goodsleep/).

Detailed Data **Q1. How do you currently place and use your mattress?** - On a bed frame: 57.5% - On a slatted bed base/mat: 17.0% - Directly on flooring or tatami: 16.0% - Laid out daily like a futon: 8.5% - Used also as a sofa: 0.5% - Other: 0.5% → While over half use a bed frame, a combined 41.5% use it in a 'position close to the floor,' including on slats, directly on the floor, or laid out daily, showing diverse styles adapted to Japanese living spaces.

**Q2. Why did you choose that placement method?** - Habit/No particular reason: 29.4% - I think it has good ventilation: 20.8% - Easy to clean: 13.9% - Saves space and makes the room feel larger: 10.2% - Room is small/rental constraints: 6.9% - Other: 18.8% → While 'no particular reason' was the top response, reasons reflecting modern living environments and lifestyles, such as 'ventilation,' 'ease of cleaning,' and 'space-saving/rental constraints,' also accounted for a significant portion.

**Q3. Do you have a habit of airing out (or storing) your mattress by standing it up or lifting it?** - Almost never: 31.5% - Not necessary as I use a bed: 25.0% - Occasionally: 24.0% - Almost every day: 11.0% - A few times a week: 8.5% → 'Almost never' was the most common answer at 31.5%, highlighting the reality that routine maintenance is often neglected, even among those who don't use a bed frame.

**Q4. Do you think the 'placement' of a mattress affects moisture/mold?** - I think it does, but I haven't had issues with my current setup: 42.0% - I think it does, but I don't take any specific measures: 29.0% - I have experienced mold/moisture with direct floor placement: 20.5% - I didn't think it had an effect: 8.5% → While over 90% recognize the effect, about 30% 'do not take any specific measures,' and one in five (20.5%) have actually experienced trouble with mold or moisture from direct floor placement.

**Q5. What problems or concerns do you have with your current placement?** - Heavy and hard to move/maintain: 22.0% - No particular problems: 19.4% - Concerned about floor dust/mites: 15.9% - Lifting it is a strain on my back: 11.8% - Concerned about mold/moisture/odors: 11.1% - Other: 19.8% → The physical difficulty of it being 'heavy and hard to move' came in first. This likely leads to neglected maintenance, which in turn fuels a vicious cycle of concerns about 'dust/mites' and 'mold/moisture.'

**Q6. Do you want to change your mattress placement in the future?** - I'm fine with my current placement: 52.5% - I don't know/haven't thought about it: 24.0% - I want to add a slatted base/dehumidifying mat: 14.0% - I want to get a bed frame: 6.0% - I want to stop placing it directly on the floor/leaving it out: 3.5% → While many prefer the status quo, among those considering a change, 'wanting to add a slatted base/dehumidifying mat' (14.0%) was a top response. This suggests a desire for easy moisture and mold prevention while maintaining a simple, space-saving lifestyle.

Survey Conclusion This survey revealed that mattress placement is strongly influenced by individual 'habits' and 'living environment constraints.' With a significant portion of 'floor-placers' and 'continuous-placers,' many people face the problem of mattresses being 'heavy and difficult to maintain.' This, in turn, leads to anxiety about 'mold/moisture' and 'dust/mites,' or even actual trouble. While some consumers opt for simpler setups due to high prices and rental situations, interest in the maintainability of bedding for hygiene is also increasing. In the future, the demand for bedding and related items (like dehumidifying mats and slatted bases) that allow for easy moisture and hygiene management within limited spaces and budgets is expected to grow further.

Comment from the 'Kaimin Land' Operator Comment from operator Koichi Takeda: From this survey's results, it's clear that mattress placement is changing to match modern, diverse lifestyles and living environments. However, placing a mattress directly on flooring or tatami, or leaving it in place for long periods, can cause moisture (sweat) from the body during sleep to accumulate on the bottom surface, creating a breeding ground for mold and dust mites.