10 Surprising Facts About Mattresses You Didn’t Know
In today’s post, we have prepared some interesting facts revealing curious moments from the history of our favorite bedroom items — from ancient times to today:
- The earliest recorded use of a mattress dates back 77,000 years — it is believed to have been invented by tribes living in the South Africa region, who used layers of various plant-based materials. It was about 30 cm thick and an impressive length of almost 7 meters.
- The word “mattress” comes from the Arabic word “matrah,” which means “something thrown down” — an interesting fact is that during the Crusades (from the 11th to the 15th century), sleeping arrangements were not particularly comfortable or stylish. They usually consisted of a pile of straw tied with rough cords. Only when the Crusaders reached the Middle East did they discover the joy of a soft and comfortable bed. At that time, they used soft pillows and mattresses called “matrah,” derived from the word “taraha,” literally meaning “to throw.”
- It is known that in ancient Egypt pharaohs slept on beds filled with feathers and made of gold, silver, and ivory — an interesting fact is that these beds were not placed completely flat. The upper part was elevated higher than the lower part, so the Egyptians slept at a slight incline. While the pharaohs rested on their luxurious beds, the poorer people mostly slept on piles of palm leaves placed in the corners of their homes.
- In ancient Greece, mattresses were filled with wool, reeds, fig branches, or dried leaves — interestingly, the ancient Greeks usually fell asleep before dusk, and their lighting devices were mostly oil lamps or candles.
- During the Middle Ages, sleeping arrangements were filled with straw, rags, or even horsehair — only the wealthy could afford feathers. Often, family members shared one bed, sometimes even with friends, and while traveling — even with strangers.
- In the 18th century, mattresses hung tied on ropes — interestingly, this is where the popular phrase “Sleep tight!” comes from. When the ropes sagged and the mattress slipped down, they had to be tightened frequently.
- Memory foam was developed by NASA in the 1970s — its primary purpose was to improve and soften pilots’ seats and help prevent crashes. Today, it is a main material in the most popular and widely purchased sleep products worldwide.
- The largest mattress in the world, according to the Guinness World Records, was created in the small village of Hertme in the Netherlands — it measures about 16 meters wide and approximately 26 meters long.
- The so-called “futon” is popular in Japan because it can be folded and stored during the day — in a country where every centimeter of living space is precious, this type of traditional bed is an extremely popular and practical option. It is a thin mattress, also called tatami (a soft mat made from rice straw), placed directly on the floor without the need for a wooden frame. Interesting, isn’t it?
- Some mattresses can be controlled via a smartphone app, allowing customization of firmness and temperature — technology in sleep is rapidly advancing, which inevitably affects these products. Today you can get a so-called smart mattress, which, with the help of a control unit and an app, can automatically adjust firmness, temperature, or other features according to your personal preferences.
Based on these fascinating facts, we can conclude that the mattress is the result of millennia of history, collective search, interesting experiments, and innovations worldwide. This is not a purchase to be taken lightly, and your comfort and peace of mind are our main priority! That is why at TED, we dedicate time and effort to carefully develop the mattress that best meets your needs and will provide you blissful sleep for years to come. Call us today or visit one of our showrooms to learn more!