You can use tatami mats in several ways such as floor coverings chairs or benches as well as for sleeping on.
Using tatami mats in america.
Regardless of the reason we would recommend that if you re placing your futon on a hardwood or a laminate flooring that you use some sort of natural fiber absorbent mat set such as a goza or igusa mat these are essentially the outer material of a tatami mat or throw rug underneath.
A soft pat with a stick releases dust from the mat and it is considered cleansed.
We would also recommend that you frequently even daily if possible lift your shikibuton up off of the floor and drape it over a chair so air can flow around it and allow it to breathe and shed moisture.
A tatami mat cannot last permanently.
The rush grass covering can last for at least 10 years.
These mats are also great for thermal and acoustic insulation.
Every 5 years you can turn it over.
It is important to never walk with shoes on the tatami mat as it can damage the woven rush material.
In the west these mats probably most familiar to any person who has been in a martial arts dojo.
Tatami floor mats are regularly used as sleeping mats for the floor.
Perfected over 1300 years handmade japanese tatami is the most versatile flooring available.
So if you ll be working for aeon geos or some other school in japan there s a chance you ll have an apartment with tatami mats as the flooring in at least one room more info.
Walking barefoot or with socks is the best for a tatami mat.
On tatami mats here.
Although many newer japanese apartments have wood and tile floors there are still quite a few that will have tatami as the flooring.
Put tatami out in direct sunlight once per season on a warm day.
Tatami mats are great for keeping a balanced level of moisture in the room by steadily absorbing or dissipating moisture when there are periods of high or low humidity.
The fresh air rejuvenates the mat and uv naturally disinfects the tatami.
They need to be replaced from time to time.