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An Epic Journey Of Mattress

Dean Jones's picture
Submitted by Dean Jones on Sat, 07/22/2017 - 02:19

Have we ever given a thought for a second the piece of bedding which we sleep on every night and enjoy our sleep has evolved from leaves and mud mattress to soft comfy spring or other types of mattress? One of the major benefits we avail by living in this modern era is just enjoying the simplicity of things without getting deep into their history, how our ancestors developed them and changed them time and technology. Mattress has gone through an interesting journey. It has a long journey may be as old as mankind, and now the commonly used in our bedrooms. 

Here I am going to give you a glimpse of eternal evolution of mattress through time from the Neolithic age to its technological transformation into the luxurious base we use today on our beds. We use mattress in our daily life to sleep on, we just simply lay down and rely on them to make our time peaceful and tranquilizing.

Neolithic age

The first ever mattress created was many millenniums ago. It consists of layers of grass, plant materials and covered in animal hides. They made them usually thick enough to save them from pests and bugs. Leaves were placed on top to provide a cozy top sheet above all the grass and plant material. 

Egyptian era

Egyptian civilization is considered to be one of the most successful civilizations. Because they manage to advance in basic things required for easy living. Egyptians were the first to use raised beds made of palm leaves. Further they advanced and made them of wood only for rich which were covered with gold and jewels often. This base or a mattress help sleeper off the cold and hard ground.

Roman period

Romans were the first civilization to build a luxury bed. The wealthier citizen of roman period used to sleep on raised beds made of metal with woven metal supports to hold on the mattress which they used to make out of cloth stuffed with reeds, straws, hay or even wool. The common people used to have the same bed structure but built in wood. 

Medieval period

People who lived through medieval Europe, they knew the beds were according to the status. The people who were rich used to have wooden raised beds with gold and jewel ornamentation and some also had four poster beds with velvets and silk draping. The mattresses at that time were used to be thickly stuffed with down or feathers. And if you are poor than you had a plain platform and hay mattress to sleep on.

Renaissance 14th – 17th century

Same medieval period beds continued for the rich and poor continued but the beds for wealthier were made even more lavish. Mattresses start to be wadded up with pea shucks, straws and even down, feathers and wool into fabric bags covered in velvets, silk and brocades or even more luxurious and lavish appeal. 

18th century

During the 18th century beds simpler in style but often surrounded by heavy curtains. Beds were still made of wood but in late 18th century metal bed frames start becoming popular. Cotton stuffed cloth bags were replaced as mattress filed up of hay or other stuffs. The first thing good happened in this period was beds became private space for sleep and no other activity was entertained there like in past periods. 

It was in 1865, when the first ever coil spring mattress was licensed.

19th century

Amid the 19th century bed rooms became more devoted to sleep and rest more like the ones we enjoy today. All heavy curtains, four poster beds faded, headboards and footboards shrunk in size. In 1930s innerspring mattress was introduced with upholstered foundations and became popular. 

1950s was the time when memory foam mattress and pillows came into being. And a decade late water beds were introduced with adjustable beds and non-flipping mattresses. This was the time of advancement, in 1980s air beds were on the market and some years later queen size mattress was revolutionized.

 

20th century

This was the time for bed innovations. The inner spring and memory foam were developed with improvements during the 20th century. They both became the most commonly used mattress at that time. Choice and comfort became the key words as there was a wide range of mattresses to select from.

21st century

Today we have an unlimited choice of comfort when it comes to mattresses and styles of beds. Innerspring, memory foam, hybrids, gel foam mattress, latex, air are some of the mattress available today. The mattress has evolved from grass lined pits but the concept has been unchanged, a comfortable, safe and cozy place to sleep and reenergize throughout the night for the next day. 

Mattresses are now tailored to help relieve certain back and joint pains. After years of research it is recommended to change the mattress after every 8 years as it lost its comfort level. 

Now you can buy good quality memory foam mattress from Raymat Textiles