Double Bed Kapok Mattress

Double bed kapok mattress: medium-soft Illavam Panju comfort for two

A double bed kapok mattress is for couples who want a softer, springier natural bed than cotton, without turning to foam. Kapok, the fibre Tamil homes call Illavam Panju, grows inside the seed pods of the kapok tree. Its fibres are hollow and loose, so the mattress cushions the shoulder and hip and springs back when you move. The Soft Souls double bed kapok mattress measures 54 × 75 inches, weighs about 8 kg, has a 100% cotton cover and comes with two pillows.

The feel: medium-soft and springy

Lie down on a kapok mattress and you sink in slightly, then feel the fill push gently back. Our product notes list side, back and combination sleepers as the best match: side sleepers in particular often like how the shoulder settles into the fill. Kapok is springier than cotton, so a little more movement passes across the bed when one of you turns; if that matters to you, compare it with the steadier double bed cotton mattress.

Is your bed a double?

Our double kapok mattress is 54 inches wide and 75 inches long. Many Indian double beds are 48 inches wide; others are 54. Measure inside the frame. If your bed is 60 inches wide, choose the queen size kapok mattress; if it is 72, the king size kapok mattress.

Why couples choose kapok

• Softness without foam. A medium-soft natural fill that cushions without the sinking, enclosed feel some people dislike in memory foam.
• An airy fill. Kapok fibres are hollow, so much of the fill is air. Many couples in warm, humid towns prefer that open feel; how cool you sleep still depends on your room, sheet and fan.
• A familiar tradition. For many South Indian families, the Illavam Panju methai is the bed they grew up on.
• Two pillows included. One for each side, ready on the first night.

Two sleepers, two dips: keeping kapok even

On a shared bed, kapok settles in two places where you each sleep. The answer is a simple routine. Once a week, pat both sides of the bed firmly so the fibre spreads back out. Every few weeks, turn the mattress end to end with your partner. Once a month, carry it out together to a shaded, breezy spot for a few hours of air. At about 8 kg, it is easiest with two people, one at each short end.

Caring for natural kapok

• Keep it dry: never wash or soak the mattress.
• Air it in shade rather than long hours of strong sun.
• Spot clean the cover with a damp cloth and let it dry fully.
• Repair any small opening in a seam early; kapok is a fine, loose fibre.

Natural kapok compresses gradually with regular use. Fluffing and airing restore much of its loft, and we say so on the product page.

Choosing pillows to match

The two pillows in the box give you a start. Side sleepers often want a fuller pillow; back sleepers a flatter one. Our kapok pillows use the same Illavam Panju fibre, in 15 × 22 and 18 × 28 inch sizes, so each of you can pick your own height while the whole bed keeps one natural feel.

Dressing the bed

Our double bedsheets are 90 × 100 inches with two pillow covers, enough to tuck in around a 54 × 75 inch mattress. For a smooth, cool-to-touch finish choose a satin double bedsheet in wine, silver grey or navy.

Kapok through the seasons

In summer, a loose, airy fill and a cotton cover make the bed feel open; pair it with a light cotton or satin sheet. In the monsoon, humidity is the thing to watch: air the mattress whenever there is a dry spell, keep the room ventilated, and do not make the bed while the mattress still feels damp. In winter a kapok mattress feels pleasantly soft under a thick blanket. In every season, the weekly pat keeps the fibre spread evenly between the two of you.

The first night together

Your mattress arrives packed with the kapok compressed. Unpack it in the bedroom, lay it flat for a day in an airy room, pat it firmly all over and press and shake the two pillows. Keep the packing until you are happy: unused mattresses can be returned within 7 days.

Kapok or a quilt mattress?

If you want an Illavam Panju layer to roll out on the floor or to soften a firm bed rather than a full mattress, see the double bed kapok quilt mattress: the same 54 × 75 inch size at about 5 kg, without pillows.

Double kapok mattress questions

Is it softer than the cotton double? Yes. Kapok is medium-soft; cotton is medium.

Is it lighter than the cotton double? No. Our product sheet lists both at about 8 kg.

Will it suit a stomach sleeper? Our notes recommend kapok for side, back and combination sleepers. A stomach sleeper usually prefers the flatter cotton mattress.

What comes in the box? The mattress and two pillows.

Kapok on an old cot

Many couples put a new kapok mattress on a wooden cot that has served the family for years. Check that the cot is level, tighten any loose joints, and wipe the base dry before the mattress goes on. A sound, dry base keeps the kapok fresh.

Price and delivery

Orders are dispatched within 1 working day; cash on delivery is available, and unused products can be returned within 7 days.

Part of our Mattresses range. Also see Double Bed Mattress, Double Bed Cotton Mattress, Single Bed Kapok Mattress, Kapok Mattress, Single Bed Mattress, Single Bed Cotton Mattress.