The Wonderful World of Mattresses

We have always sought to find a comfortable place to lay our head at night. This has been an evolutionary process through time. From stone covered in animal hide, goatskins filled with water, straw stuffed fabrics and the development of a more structured mattress, we have innovated and changed along the way to make sleep a better experience.

Through the years many innovations in mattresses have emerged, some have fallen out of favor and others have become iconic images representing the philosophy of the times. It was reported that the first mattress boxes came in the 18th Century. Prior to that it was more a bag stuffed with materials to soften the area.

Waterbeds began thousands of years ago, with goatskins filled with water. In the late 1800s water beds were sold in England, which looked like oversized water bottles, they developed in that time to aid in patient recovery. They fell out of favor largely, it is believed because of the material used. When vinyl became an available manufacturing material in the 1960’s; waterbeds re-entered the market and became the iconic symbol of that era. Waterbeds have changed to become more conventional in their design. For some sleepers with chronic conditions, the waterbed remains a contender. The waterbed garnered 20% of the mattress market during its heyday, but is reported to have only 5% today. Problems with image, mattress weight and rental restrictions against the waterbed mattress have led to its decline in the market.

Air mattresses have made great strides from the camping accessory inception. Adjustable settings, often with add on features such as heat and massage have made this style of bed popular as an option. As with the waterbed, the airbed allows the sleep to sleep supported without springs; for sleepers dealing with chronic pain or injuries, this is an appealing option.

Adjustable beds, another innovation from patient care has emerged as a lifestyle option. For the sleeper that sees the bedroom as a cozy retreat to read, watch TV, use the computer and rest in a variety of elevations; the adjustable bed is a dream come true. No longer a hospital looking option, but with wall hugging styles in a wide range of décor styles and frame options; the adjustable can become the centerpiece of the bedroom retreat or blend in to the design of the room. This is another mattress choice that helps with comfort, medical conditions and injury recovery. The movement of the bed allows for precise angles of elevation and comfort. Built in features like massage units can expand on the comfort factors.

The inner spring mattress still has a large chunk of market share. There have been some innovations in this style of mattress as well including individual coils as opposed to joined springs. But for people looking to reduce contact and pressure points, the inner spring mattress is not likely to be the recommended choice.

The options in the world of mattresses are ever expanding. The choice of where to start and which mattress to purchase come down to your usage, health conditions and comfort factors.