We embrace them every night, but chances are good that we don't flip them nearly as often as we might. Mattresses are a large part of our lives, literally, but we honestly don't think about them much. Whether you are enjoying a pleasant night's slumber or you are tossing and turning and ready for a new one, you will find that learning a little bit about mattresses and their history can make you go a long way towards appreciating yours a little more. When you want to learn about mattresses, take a look at the history and think about what that has to do with you.



During the Neolithic Era the archaeological record insists mattresses were nothing more than piles of leaves or straw piled on top of bed-like platform beds. It may be the case that these mattresses were covered with animal hides to be more comfortable. The first water beds occurred in Persia, when goatskins were filled with water, while during the days of the Ancient Egypt, palm boughs were heaped up in the homes of the poor, while the rich got to enjoy significantly more comfortable fare. As time went on, mattresses became bags that were filled with soft stuffing and mad more comfortable that way.

It was during the Renaissance and the centuries that followed it that mattresses started to take a shape that we would recognize as something to sleep on today. Around about that time, people started stuffing mattresses with cotton or wool, and the mattress covers were stitched out of linen or cotton and thus significantly more comfortable to sleep on. The spring bed, a mattress that used springs, was invented in Massachusetts around 1855, and ten years later, the steel coil for the bed came into common usage. As you can see, the mattress has a long and venerable history, even if it took a while before it really arrived to a point that we would want to sleep in!

When you are looking for a mattress that is going to do well for you, remember that you should try them out. Wear some shoes that are easy to slip in and out of and head to the furniture store. Lie on the mattress the way that you would sleep on the bed at home and see how well it holds you. Remember that if you have back problems or if you have trouble sleeping that you need to think about about a firmer mattress; if you have a chiropractor or anyone else who looks after your health in that regard, consult them about what their suggestions might be.

The prize for centuries was a good night's sleep. The least we can do is remember our ancestors and their quest for comfort. Learning about your mattress and where it has been and what has gone into making it can make all the difference when you are looking for some decent slumber, so don't miss out!