The mattress has a long history, dating back thousands of years. It is something most of us probably take for granted, but it is actually an extremely important part of our daily lives, the quality of our sleep, and our overall health.
Mattresses have been around for thousands of years – though not always in the modern variations with memory foam and down pillows.
It is believed that the first mattress was invented by inhabitants of a South African region about 77,000 years ago. They created mattresses (about 30 cm high and an impressive 7 m long) from layers of plant materials.
Thousands of years later, around 3400 BCE, the Egyptians made another significant step forward in bed development. Pharaohs and other members of the upper class slept on raised wooden platforms, which more closely resembled the style of beds we know today.
There are suggestions that the Romans made a big step forward with the creation of the first waterbed! Although the water was not placed directly inside the mattress, they created a sleeping device for young children that could be tilted into a warm water tub to prepare them for sleep.
People during the Renaissance continued to experiment with softer materials for filling their mattresses, such as straw and feathers, and popularized the use of duvets (some of which were made from finer materials such as velvet and silk). They also introduced the canopy bed with curtains.
In the late 18th century, our ancestors in colonial America switched to wrought iron bed frames, even closer to the style we know today. A cotton mattress was then placed on this frame. In the mid-19th century, the spring mattress was invented, with the first patent for such a mattress issued in 1865 to Heinrich Westphal.
The late 20th and 21st centuries were marked by the introduction of memory foam, latex, and foam. By the 90s and 2000s, mattresses became increasingly associated with quality and comfort.
Innovations in mattress design lead to better body support during sleep. The development of softer, more adaptable materials significantly improves sleep comfort. Modern mattresses are designed to promote better health by addressing issues such as back pain and sleep disorders.