Best Mattress for Tiny House + Alternative Options

One of the most significant decisions you need to make when you buy your very own Tiny house is a mattress. I’ve done considerable research on the topic and put together some detailed recommendations for you.

What is the best mattress for a tiny house?”

The best overall mattress for a tiny house on my list is the Tuft & Needle Original Mattress because it a high-quality product at a great affordable price. At the same time is packaged small enough, you won’t have problems getting it inside your tiny house. 

For some of you that have a dedicated bedroom space, that may mean a free-standing bed. For yet others, you’ll need to consider a bed that either pulls out or serves a double purpose in your living space. Also, your climate conditions could have an impact on what type of mattress you buy.

I’ll walk you through your options and guide you through how to decide what type of mattress and bed is the best for your living situation.

You mmight wanna read as well: how much power does a tiny house use?

Best Tiny House Mattresses

I’ll share my top picks for mattresses in tiny homes first and share some tips about selecting the right one for you. After, I will talk about all the creative ways little homeowners have found to make their bed both practical and stylish.

1. Tuft & Needle

Tuft & Needle mattresses are seriously great options for you to consider. One of the big problems tiny house residents run into when buying mattresses is how to get the mattress into their home and to their allotted space.

Tuft & Needle mattresses are compressed and carefully folded into a box before they are shipped. They can then be unpacked quickly in the bedroom. Once you remove the protective packaging, it will decompress on its own.

You can sleep on it pretty much right away, or open the windows and let it air out a bit. The mattress comes with a 10-year limited warranty, which is the same or better than the warranties that come with a lot of mattresses that cost over $2,000.

These mattresses are super high quality materials, comfortable and have a purchase price that is both surprising and irresistible.

For those of you concerned about air quality and VOCs, Tuft & Needle is an excellent choice. These mattresses have several impressive certifications that signify they have low VOC emissions and are free of known harmful chemicals.

Additionally, all of their mattresses come with the GREENGUARD GOLD certificate which means it passed the strictest criteria to qualify for safety and is appropriate for use in school settings and hospitals.

They are my favorites so let’s go through their characteristics quickly.

T&N Original

• 10-inch-thick mattress
• Medium-firm for pressure relief but provides support
• Graphite and cooling gel for cool sleeping
• Great price for quality
• Breathable plush cover
• compatible with an adjustable frame

T&N Mint

• 12-inch-thick mattress
• Softer than the original-better for side sleepers
• More graphite than the original for absorbing heat for cool sleeping
• Ceramic gel for cooling
• Great price for quality
• More support along the edges of the mattress-useful if mattress is also used for sitting
• compatible with an adjustable frame

2. Lucid Latex Hybrid

The Lucid Latex Hybrid mattress is a great option for those of you that want an affordable latex mattress option but are attached to the comforts of memory foam.

This mattress has steel coils, that are individually wrapped, that will prevent your movement from affecting your partner’s sleep. Producers call them pocket springs. They will support your body and memory foam mixed with latex will add overall softness so your sleep will be perfect all the time.

Lucid Latex Hybrid is 12 inches thick in total. It is shipped rolled up in a box that can fit through small spaces. Moreover, it comes with a 100-night free trial and a 10-year manufacturer warranty against defects. Its the most affordable latex mattress on my list.

3. Hope Latex mattress

The Hope Latex mattress by mygreenmattress.com is another latex option and totally organic. The mattress is certified organic Dunlop latex, and the quilted mattress cover is certified organic cotton and wool. If you want contouring but a thinner mattress, this one is for you. It’s only 8 inches thick but provides comfort and support with its medium-firm setting.

It comes with a 20-year warranty, and a sleep trial of 120 nights. Although it’s certainly an environmentally friendly and healthy choice for a latex mattress, it’s price is a bit higher.

Alternative Mattress Options for your tiny house

If you are looking for an even more affordable option that what’s already been listed or feel that you’d rather save the space used for a mattress for other things, you can consider a few other types of mattress options:

1. a Luxury RV mattress
2. a fold up mattress,
3. a roll up mattress
4. an air mattress.

These types of mattress options are generally considered best for temporary situations, but ultimately the choice is yours, and you know your body and circumstances best.

1. A Luxury RV mattress

When every inch counts in your tiny house. You may want to check out an affordable luxury camper mattress online to fit a short queen or short king RV mattress. It is a perfect solution for those who want to make the most of their space and have a comfortable night’s sleep.

This camper mattress online is designed with an option for memory foam or hybrid by GhostBed. GhostBed is now partnered with celebrity tennis star Venus Williams that is also an interior designer to launch the Venus Williams Collection by GhostBed .

The best rv mattress for tiny house will be one that can provide you with enough support to feel comfortable but also give you enough room to move around in your tiny home.

So if you can fit a regular mattress then check out this interesting “venus layer” in the new Venus Williams collection. If not the GhostBed rv mattress is a great for small space as it does not take up too much room. You can also use GhostBed’s 15 dual massage adjustable base or its super sturdy all in one foundation to fit the small minimalist space as well.

2. Fold up mattress – Olee Sleep Tri-Folding

The Olee Sleep Tri-Folding mattress is a 4 inch thick memory foam that folds into thirds. When unfolded for sleeping, its dimensions are 25 inches wide by 75 inches long, slightly more narrow than an average twin sized bed. It can be used as a comfy seating option during the day, or even put in storage when not in use.

3. Hazli Roll up mattress

This Waterproof Memory Foam Rollup mattress by Hazli is 3 inch thick memory foam that has a waterproof cotton cover that is machine washable.

It has added the benefit of a non-slip surface on the bottom. Unlike the before mentioned folding mattress, this one has twin size dimensions. It rolls up for storage, and comes with straps to keep it rolled and a protective case with straps for carrying.

4. Beam Deluxe Air mattress

If you’re not opposed to using an air pump every night to ready your bed, then the Dura-Beam Deluxe Comfort Plush Elevated Airbed by Intex is my air mattress of choice. This airbed will hold up to 300lbs, and inflates in only three minutes. It’s 13 inches thick, and has a plush pillow top for softness. The sides of this airbed are velvety making them more resistant to punctures.

Different Types of Beds for Tiny Houses

Now that we’ve discussed mattresses, let’s move on to the types of beds, or platforms that you can use in a tiny house.

Lofts

Lofts are a common choice for sleeping arrangements in tiny homes. If the roofline is peaked or has a shed slant, you’ll need to be mindful of having enough headspace for you to sleep on top of the mattress. That doesn’t mean there has to be enough space to stand up in it. One of the benefits sleeping in a loft, is leaving the main floor of your tiny house free.

Another benefit of having your bed in a loft, is privacy. A loft is not a traditional place for guests to sit down in. If you don’t mind stairs or a ladder to get into bed, then you’ll be set.

Murphy beds

Murphy beds have already been sleep space savers for years. They’re popular in micro apartments in big cities and have found yet another niche in the tiny homes industry.

Murphy beds are typically wall cabinets with doors that pull up and hide your bed from the room, leaving all that square footage that is used up when you’re snoozing, to be available for entertaining. Murphy bed designs vary widely from very basic, to very clever, or very stylish. You can DIY your own if you don’t want to. Check this amazing Murphy bed kit on Amazon.

Convertible bed

Convertible beds are similar to murphy beds because folding and hiding is generally involved, however there is one glaring difference. Murphy beds generally only hide the bed behind cabinet doors on a wall, while a multi-purpose bed is a furniture that folds into serving another function aside from sleeping.

A common convertible bed is one that folds into a sofa for the daytime. There are even some convertible bed models that can transform from bed to couch to desk.

Non-loft beds

Non-loft beds are the other common type of bedding found in tiny homes. These beds are typically smaller either a twin sized mattress which is 38 inches by 75 inches, or an XL twin sized mattress which is 38 inches by 80 inches.

They are often located at the end of the tiny house, and don’t fold anywhere or hide. When covered and decorated with a nice blanket and matching throw pillows they aren’t an eyesore and can serve as seating for yourself or guests during the day time.

Bunk beds

Bunk beds are staple bedding solutions for families with kids, and so it should be no surprise that bunk beds can be used to great effect in a tiny home when you need more than one bed.

Hammocks

Hammocks are a less conventional sleeping option, but can be fun and are definitely affordable. By installing a few metal wires to the ceiling, you can hang a hammock for sleepy time, and if you like take it down and store it during the day. 

Helpful Tips for Tiny homes in Humid Climates

Whether your tiny home is in a humid climate or not, you need to take an active interest in ventilation, and humidity control. Due to the smaller space, moisture in the air that might not be a concern in a large home, will cause visible problems faster. One place that moisture presents itself as a problem in tiny houses is underneath the mattresses. 

Regardless of the type of mattress you choose to purchase, I recommend buying an underlay that will lift your mattress from its platform. This underlay by Ravenwolf Marine Den is designed to fit underneath a queen sized mattress, lifting it slightly so that there is air flow thereby reducing the humidity that develops between the mattress and platform causing mold and mildew. 

Here are some additional tips for you to consider:

• Avoid mattresses that have high polyester content. Polyester is not a breathable fabric, and while it can feel soft at first touch, can leave you sweating while you sleep.
• Avoid mattresses that conform to your body. Mattresses that really conform to your body will warm your body up which may make it difficult for you to stay cool.
• Avoid placing the mattress directly onto the floor. Placing your mattress directly on the floor can encourage mold and mildew growth over time.
• Latex mattresses are mold and dust mite resistant. Latex mattresses are an excellent option for humid climates because they will resist mold.
• Purchase an underlay

Helpful Tips having Tiny home in Cold Climates

If you live in a cold climate or are a cold sleeper, memory foam is your friend and best mattress choice for your tiny house. A dense memory foam will insulate your body more than latex. Moreover, consider purchasing a memory foam mattress topper. The more your mattress contours to your body will help with warming you also. 

Another great secret for warming your bed is to use a hot water bottle. Fill the rubber bottle with hot water, dress it in the sweater-knit cover and lay it on your mattress under your blankets. This will heat your mattress before you even slip into bed, and then you can push it down to your feet and fall asleep with toasty warm toes. Much more affordable than an electric blanket, and immensely practical.