Beds - The Evolution Of Sleep

There was a time when mankind did not sleep on beds. When we were still cavemen, we would sleep on treetops or even on the floor. Since then, we have evolved into quite sophisticated creatures and therefore require a more comfortable way of resting. Throughout the years, the bed became one of the most useful pieces of furniture in the house. Beds can be used for sleeping, resting, reading, sewing, and even eating! The First Beds Ten thousand years ago, in the Neolithic period, the first "beds" were made. They were probably straw or hay on large stones. In 3400 BC, the Egyptian pharaoh King Tut had a bed of ebony and gold, while the common people slept on palm bows stashed in the corner of their rooms. The first true luxury beds came along with the Roman Empire. The Emperors, with all their wealth acquired beds decorated with gold, silver or bronze with mattresses stuffed with feathers, hay, wool, or reeds. The Romans were also the discoverers of the most-famous waterbed. They would lay back on a cradle of warm water until almost falling asleep to then be lifted onto another cradle with a mattress next to it, where they would be rocked asleep. Modern Beds The Dark Ages came and mattresses pretty much followed suit. But then the Renaissance came along and made bed making a bit more sophisticated. They would stuff mattresses of coarse tick with pea shucks, straw, or feathers to then be covered by rich velvet, brocades and silk. In the 16th and 17th centuries, mattresses were placed upon a latticework of rope. That is how the expression "sleep tight" came around, for the tighter the rope, the more comfortable the bed would be. In the 18th century the iron bed structure was invented along with the use of cotton for stuffing mattresses. These two inventions together provided an almost bug-free sleeping environment. At that time, bed bugs were seen as completely normal even in the most luxurious beds. In 1865 the first coil spring bed structure was patented. Beds in the 20th Century In the 1930's innerspring mattresses were introduced to the North American market along with upholstered foundations. Since then they have become contenders for the dominant position in North America. In the '40s, the Japanese couch-bed named a futon was introduced into the American market. It was a tremendous hit due to its practical utility. In the '50s foam rubber mattresses and pillows entered the bed and by the '60s the modern waterbed was introduced. Adjustable beds were also a big hit amongst consumers. The 1980s were ultimately modernity-obsessed as the airbed exploded into the market. This practical item is greatly used while camping or traveling. In the 1990s space became a big issue once again, as it was in the 16th and 17th centuries. Twin size beds were outsold by queen size beds. Now in the 2000s we have a brilliant mattress-making future ahead of us. With all the technology in our hands, beds can become just another extension of the human body. There are now beds that have built-in TVs, computers, videogames, trays, adjustable inclinations, "memory foam" that reads the shape of your body to fully attend to your orthopaedic needs. The top luxury choice nowadays is the pillow top mattress, which has an extra-soft layer of cushioning. Everything just for the best bed!