Tatami Mats
What Is Tatami?
Tatami Matting is a traditional Japanese flooring which is today also incorporated into some bedding on the market.
Like many aspects of Japanese culture, the development of tatami mats was probably influenced by pressure on space. The tatami mat was originally a simple, thin straw mat that could be used for sitting or sleeping then folded up and put away when not in use - much like the traditional futon mattress which was often placed on top of it.
Over time the basic straw matting evolved into a more comfortable form which is what we know today as tatami. An authentic tatami mat consists of a straw core, a cover of softer reed or rush and a cloth edging. Today many of the "tatami" you can buy are not made from traditional materials but synthetic substitutes.
Tradition
The traditional mat size was approximately 3' by 6' - around 90 cm by 180 cm - and room size would be measured according to the number of mats it took to cover the floor. A "standard room" traditionally referred to a six mat floor space.
The layout of tatami flooring follows various traditional rules - for example, at no point should three or more mat corners meet. A grid pattern such as this is used at times of mourning and hence considered unlucky.
As with many customs, the rich and powerful adopted tatami as a status symbol. They would often have more opulent and comfortable matting, sometimes incorporating their own colours or symbolism in the design. Nowadays simple elegance tends to be preferred, however you can always have your tatami custom made to your preference - for a price.
Beds
Today you can buy "tatami beds" as well as floor matting. These are essentially a simple (usually wooden) bed frame with tatami mats placed on top. They are often then topped with a futon mattress. Thus they provide a fusion between the Japanese tradition of futon-on-tatami and the Western bed style for a Western-Oriental style bedroom.
Japanese style sleeping but not on the floor!