Make your own mattress?

After building a natural home, one of the first pieces of furniture to move into it are the beds.  

After building our straw bale house, moving toxic off-gassing slabs of foam into it was just not an option for me.  After researching what goes into mattresses these days (even the ones marketed as organic), I decided to make my own.  

A decade later I am still making our own mattresses, pillows, sofa cushions etc.  It is also now my full time "dream" job.  

I am always looking for new materials and new methods to try!  

So my question is what do you sleep on and why?   Have you tried something else that didn't work as you expected?

I'll start.  We sleep on hemp hulls layered over a base of natural shredded latex.  The reason I chose these materials was (1) I know they do not contain any harmful chemicals, (2) being granular materials they can never wear out unevenly, they can just be smoothed back to level, and (3) They feel amazing, like I am sleeping on a firm but forgiving sandy beach.  I never have any stiffness or back pain like I used to when sleeping on foam.  Better quality sleep.

This was also by far the easiest mattress I have ever made.  It took me under a half an hour.  These materials do not need to be compartmentalized like other fillings I've worked with.  I simply opened bags and poured them into some off the shelf (stretchy) organic mattress topper covers , zipped them closed and smoothed everything out (which is the fun part).

Anyone else sleep on something weird?  

Hemp sand mattress being smoothed -

I would love to know how to do this.

I'm so jealous! I've already my strawbale house, it's in my short term plan to try and make my own cereals and straw mattress. love it !

Trace Oswald wrote:I would love to know how to do this.

 

Here is a blog post detailing our mattress construction
https://openyoureyesbedding.com/blogs/news/hemp-sand-mattress-or-a-buckwheat-hull-mattress-which-is-best

There's an Iron level BB in the PEP merit badge system for Textiles that no one has gotten yet for making a mattress.  I bet you could take photos of your next build and be the first to get that one

Make a mattress with compressed stuffing

Haha ! good catch Mike! love to try my hand at BB nobody has accomplish yet! will definitely try my hand at this one !

Mike Haasl wrote:There's an Iron level BB in the PEP merit badge system for Textiles that no one has gotten yet for making a mattress.  I bet you could take photos of your next build and be the first to get that one

Make a mattress with compressed stuffing

Thank you, yes I have made so many mattresses that fit this description and I have detailed and shared the construction of them over the years.  
Here are two assembly guides, one is cotton tubing filled with buckwheat hulls and the other is kapok woven in tubular fabric in linen:  
https://openyoureyesbedding.com/pages/assembly-guides

I will post one or two later today!  

Mine is a purchased (but lovely) latex+wool mattress from Soaring Heart in Seattle.  However, I've read with interest articles at Root Simple - the linked one has a lot of other interesting links and updates about making one's own.

Morfydd St. Clair wrote:Mine is a purchased (but lovely) latex+wool mattress from Soaring Heart in Seattle.  However, I've read with interest articles at Root Simple - the linked one has a lot of other interesting links and updates about making one's own.

Your mattress looks wonderful.  Wool is such a great top layer for mattresses.

The Root Simple article your referenced was actually where I got my inspiration to make a sand mattress!  

But real sand attracts and holds in moisture (not what you want in a mattress) and real sand was a bit too heavy to work with so I figured something made from small enough granules that would feel like sand but not actually be sand would work best.  I tried granulated cork but it was too stiff.  Then I tried organic hemp hulls, a perfect alternative to sand!

Lynne Cim wrote:

Morfydd St. Clair wrote:Mine is a purchased (but lovely) latex+wool mattress from Soaring Heart in Seattle.  However, I've read with interest articles at Root Simple - the linked one has a lot of other interesting links and updates about making one's own.

Your mattress looks wonderful.  Wool is such a great top layer for mattresses.

The Root Simple article your referenced was actually where I got my inspiration to make a sand mattress!  

But real sand attracts and holds in moisture (not what you want in a mattress) and real sand was a bit too heavy to work with so I figured something made from small enough granules that would feel like sand but not actually be sand would work best.  I tried granulated cork but it was too stiff.  Then I tried organic hemp hulls, a perfect alternative to sand!

That's a great point about sand holding in moisture.*  I believe Root Simple is based in Los Angeles so it's probably not a big problem there...

Do you have any reaction to the hemp hulls?  I loved my buckwheat hull pillow until I read that buckwheat hulls could trigger an allergic reaction.  I realized that waking up every morning with congestion and a headache** might not be a mildew reaction (see below).  I swapped for a commercial pillow and the congestion/headache much improved, but I miss the physical qualities of the hulls.  

Also, rereading the article, I really should get my wool topper re-fluffed.  I wonder if there's anyone in Germany who still does that?

*My brain, going sideways:  Also, that much weight would not work in a 4th floor apartment.
My brain, going further sideways:  But my bf tells me that the floors in my elderly German apartment are actually wood layers with sand between, which has always sounded irrationally heavy as well, if good for soundproofing.
And further:  I wonder if sand in the floors is also a factor in the definite damp problem (which has progressed to mildew in my apartment) or if that's just climate + gas heat + stone construction.
**Which I knew was an issue with down pillows, so I feel dumb for not making the connection before.

Morfydd St. Clair wrote:

Lynne Cim wrote:

Morfydd St. Clair wrote:Mine is a purchased (but lovely) latex+wool mattress from Soaring Heart in Seattle.  However, I've read with interest articles at Root Simple - the linked one has a lot of other interesting links and updates about making one's own.

Your mattress looks wonderful.  Wool is such a great top layer for mattresses.

The Root Simple article your referenced was actually where I got my inspiration to make a sand mattress!  

But real sand attracts and holds in moisture (not what you want in a mattress) and real sand was a bit too heavy to work with so I figured something made from small enough granules that would feel like sand but not actually be sand would work best.  I tried granulated cork but it was too stiff.  Then I tried organic hemp hulls, a perfect alternative to sand!

That's a great point about sand holding in moisture.*  I believe Root Simple is based in Los Angeles so it's probably not a big problem there...

Do you have any reaction to the hemp hulls?  I loved my buckwheat hull pillow until I read that buckwheat hulls could trigger an allergic reaction.  I realized that waking up every morning with congestion and a headache** might not be a mildew reaction (see below).  I swapped for a commercial pillow and the congestion/headache much improved, but I miss the physical qualities of the hulls.  

Also, rereading the article, I really should get my wool topper re-fluffed.  I wonder if there's anyone in Germany who still does that?

*My brain, going sideways:  Also, that much weight would not work in a 4th floor apartment.
My brain, going further sideways:  But my bf tells me that the floors in my elderly German apartment are actually wood layers with sand between, which has always sounded irrationally heavy as well, if good for soundproofing.
And further:  I wonder if sand in the floors is also a factor in the definite damp problem (which has progressed to mildew in my apartment) or if that's just climate + gas heat + stone construction.
**Which I knew was an issue with down pillows, so I feel dumb for not making the connection before.

I have never had a reaction to buckwheat hulls, millet hulls, or hemp hulls.  I do make sure they are organically grown, not fumigated, and fully dusted for use in bedding. All natural materials make some dust but I have never been bothered.  Some people are allergic to buckwheat but that's rare here in the US.  I have not heard back from anyone allergic to hemp hulls.  If you can eat hemp cereal or buckwheat hull flour pancakes without any reaction, chances are the hulls you had may have been chemically treated to meet import regulations or not fully dusted and could have gotten moldy at some point.

The weight of a hemp sand mattress is spread out in just under a 3" layer spread over a very large area so weight is usually not an issue.  Hemp hulls are much lighter than real sand.

That is very interesting about sand being used in your floors!  That would be interesting to research.  Maybe hemp hulls could also be used as a sound barrier in construction, the building would certainly smell great

I would soooo love to sleep on something like the mattress that started this thread.  Wow.  I hadn't researched this before but wondered if it would be comfortable to sleep on a sack of corn husks?  I wanted to make my own beanbags and fill them with corn or corn husks, but I never looked into possible allergy factors.  I just wondered how easy it is to avoid insect invasions.

re: concerns about weight.  Could a mattress of hemp/latex be just as comfortable if it were thin, just 4-6 inches thick?  Edit: Nix that, I missed the comment where thickness was already addressed.

Hannah Johnson wrote:I would soooo love to sleep on something like the mattress that started this thread.  Wow.  I hadn't researched this before but wondered if it would be comfortable to sleep on a sack of corn husks?  I wanted to make my own beanbags and fill them with corn or corn husks, but I never looked into possible allergy factors.  I just wondered how easy it is to avoid insect invasions.

re: concerns about weight.  Could a mattress of hemp/latex be just as comfortable if it were thin, just 4-6 inches thick?  Edit: Nix that, I missed the comment where thickness was already addressed.

Corn husks is a good idea!  As long as they can dry out completely while not being too flammable. Some seed casing like buckwheat hulls are completely flame resistant.  I had them tested in a lab that certifies mattresses. The lab could not believe the results.  Makes sense though as the outer casing could protect the seed in a forest fire.

I once thought about using onion skins as a mattress filling, but could not find a source for them.

A good way to test natural materials to see how they feel and hold up is to make a floor pillow or a pet bed.  My pup has has had so many prototype beds. His hemp sand bed seems to be his favorite so far.  

Lavender buds can be added to fillings keep pests away and makes your bed smell really fresh.

Making your own mattress can be a challenging and time-consuming task, but here are some general steps to get you started:

Choose your materials: Depending on the type of mattress you want to make, you will need materials such as foam, batting, fabric, and other filling materials. Consider the level of comfort and support you want your mattress to provide.

Measure and cut your materials: Measure and cut your foam, batting, and fabric to the desired size and shape of your mattress. Be sure to measure twice and cut once to ensure accuracy.

Layer your materials: Start by layering your foam pieces to achieve the desired thickness and support. Add any additional filling materials, such as batting, to enhance the softness and comfort of the mattress.

Sew the fabric cover: Cut and sew a fabric cover for your mattress, making sure to leave openings for the foam and batting. Insert your layered materials into the cover and close up the openings.

Test your mattress: Once your mattress is complete, test it out to see how it feels. Make any necessary adjustments or additions to achieve your desired level of comfort and support.

It's important to note that making your own mattress can be a challenging and time-consuming process, and may not always produce the same level of quality and durability as a professionally-made mattress. If you're not comfortable making your own mattress, consider purchasing one from a reputable manufacturer instead.

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I'm curious whether flax tow might be a good mattress ticking filler?  I see that it is rather expensive to buy for any bulk use, but if I grew my own flax and then after retting did a sort of low-fi version of breaking, scutching, hackling, I wonder if I could produce a good pile of fibers?  I'm just rather ignorant as to how uncomfortable the bits of plant stem might be if I do a "quick and dirty" version of this to make it a viable source of bulk mattress filler or, possibly, quilt batting.  I know a few people on here do work with flax, so I'd love to hear some knowledgeable thoughts and suggestions to (or warnings away from) this idea.