In today’s world, most of us don’t spend as much time sleeping as we should. One of the reasons is our busy way of life and the fact that 24 hours just aren’t enough for all the work we need to do for one day. We spend less time with our family and friends, doing things that make us happy, and more time working and thinking about what tomorrow holds.
However, all of us love that perfect feeling we experience when we sink into our beds after a tiring day, and we should thank our mattresses for that! You probably never thought so much about mattresses. However, we’re here to share some interesting facts about them with you!
The Most Expensive Mattress
Have you ever thought about what mattress is the most expensive one in the world? It’s a $1.6 million magnetic hoverboard, a mattress that floats.
The World’s Oldest Bed
The world’s oldest bed dates back to 75,000 BCE. It was discovered in 2011 in South Africa, in the Sibudu Cave. It was made from cape laurel tree leaves (Cryptocarya woodwii), probably because they act as repellents against mosquitoes and other pests.
Origin of the Word “Mattress”
The word “mattress” originates from an Arabic word “matrah” (“cushions”) that comes from the word “taraha” (“to throw something down”). It was most likely brought to Europe by Crusades.
Breaking Mattress Laws
The state of Washington made it illegal to purchase mattresses on Sundays. There isn’t an obvious reason, and we don’t really know why this law exists, and neither how strictly it’s enforced.
The Water Bed
We’ve all heard that the water bed was invented in the 1970s by Charlie Hall. However, the reality is somewhat different. The first water bed was invented by the Persians in 3,600 BCE, more than 5,000 years ago! They used goatskin filled with water to create water mattresses for royalty.
Can a Mattress Gain Weight Over Years?
Over ten years, mattresses can sometimes double their weight. The reason is the deposition of dust mites, sweat, and dead skin cells. Although the life of a mattress varies widely, the Better Sleep Council recommends replacing your mattress every seven to ten years.
Mattresses and Flames
Because of the US Federal Law, all mattresses that are sold in the United States must be able to withstand an open flame for at least 30 seconds before catching on fire. Please don’t test this!
The Phrase “Sleep Tight”
Mattresses used to have ropes tied around them to keep them from sagging. The phrase “sleep tight” was a reminder to tighten the ropes and have a better sleep. Who knew?
Mattresses Can Be Recycled
It’s very important to take care of the environment. That’s why we shouldn’t junk our old mattresses, but recycle them. There are a couple of ways to recycle our mattress, and one of them is to donate it to places like the Salvation Army. Some mattress companies can also take your old mattress and recycle it. With all of this in mind, you’ll be more of an eco-friendly person!
Bottom Line
Even though mattresses don’t seem so interesting to an average person, in our world, they are not only comfy but also very interesting and awesome. We hope that we embraced your inner mattress geek and that you’ll share some of these amazing facts with your family and friends.
Check out the infographic below to learn more about this topic.
Mattress Industry Overview
Considering that people are becoming more aware of the importance of sleep, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the global mattress market has been estimated at over $31.6 billion. What’s more, experts predict that the value of the mattress industry will grow by more than 30% to about $43 billion in the next five years.
The fastest-growing market in this industry is the Asia-Pacific region—it accounts for 41% of the world’s mattress production. Additional mattress facts show that North America follows closely with 31%. Interestingly, 70% of the global mattress production comes from five countries: the US, China, India, Brazil, and Poland.
When it comes to the US mattress market, it’s interesting that the total revenue in 2019 amounted to $14 billion. In the last five years, the annual growth of this industry was 3.2%. Considering that there are almost 16,000 businesses in the bed and mattress industry, we have to admit that this is a highly competitive environment. This means manufacturers need to keep coming up with new mattress technology that will make them stand out in the crowd.
Now when we’re talking about competition, we need to point out that smaller mattress manufacturers are really struggling to get their piece of the pie—more than 90% of all sales go to the top 20 brands. According to their annual revenue, the leading mattress brand is Serta ($1.66 billion), which is closely followed by Simmons ($1.64 billion). Third place goes to Sealy ($1.35 billion), while Tempur-Pedic ($861 million) and Select Comfort ($462 million) are left somewhat behind.
Consumer Behavior
Considering how many mattress brands there are, shopping for a new bed is not an easy task at all. Learning all about mattresses, reading through dozens of mattress reviews, and comparing their features and prices take a lot of time and effort. On average, consumers need between three and seven hours to find the perfect mattress for themselves. According to statistics, 83% of them are somewhat satisfied with their purchase.
When buying a new mattress, the consumer’s choice mainly depends on the price and comfort. Other mattress features, such as mattress cooling technology, don’t affect their decision that much.
And when it comes to online shopping, millennials are more likely to buy a mattress online than Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. Over 50% of them said that they would consider this shopping method, while about 25% of them claimed that they probably wouldn’t buy a bed online.
Although 43% of people are very satisfied with their current beds and 38% of them are somewhat satisfied, 30% of them are nonetheless planning to buy a new mattress within the next two years. In addition, 8% are currently looking for one and 9% want to buy one within the next few months. Apparently, they’re interested in the latest mattress technology and want to take advantage of it. Currently, queen-size mattresses are the most popular, since 47% of people sleep on them, while only 6% sleep on twin mattresses.
Among the top five reasons for getting a new mattress are health and comfort, and mattress deterioration. They are followed by mattress improvement and home improvement. On average, people plan to keep their mattresses 6 to 11 years depending on their age. Namely, older generations tend to keep their mattresses longer than younger people.
Online vs. Offline
The emergence of online mattress companies has shaken up the traditional market. Even though you can’t feel the mattress material before you buy it, an increasing number of people are considering buying a mattress online, which was almost unimaginable a few years ago. However, there are still many customers who don’t trust online brands or simply prefer shopping in a regular store. So let’s see what the main pros and cons of each shopping method are.
Online
One of the main advantages of buying a mattress online is that you can get a quality mattress at a lower price. Also, you can compare dozens of mattresses before deciding which is the best option for your needs, from finding the most suitable construction to researching the best mattress technology.
However, you can’t test a mattress before buying it. To address this problem, many online brands offer a free trial period during which you can decide if you like the mattress. Still, the return process can sometimes be complicated, and manufacturers may try to persuade you to keep the mattress.
Offline
Of course, the best thing about shopping for a mattress in a brick-and-mortar store is that you can actually lie on a mattress before buying it. Also, you can get the help of a salesperson, who will provide you with all the necessary information about their mattresses’ technology and their features.
On the other hand, many people don’t feel comfortable lying down in a store, and more importantly, you can’t say if the mattress really fits you after only a few minutes. And while a salesperson can be kind and helpful, they can also be pushy, so you might end up buying something you don’t like.
Types of Mattresses
Before you start looking for a new mattress, you should learn more about various types of constructions. There are a number of different types of mattress, and here we’ll try to quickly cover the pros and cons of each of them.
Innerspring
Most consumers are familiar with this type of mattress, and although there are numerous developments in mattress technology, these traditional beds are still very popular. You can find a huge number of models that come in many firmness levels.
While some sleepers prefer them because of their bounce, light sleepers avoid them since they tend to have poor motion isolation. In addition, they can be noisy. Finally, their greatest disadvantage is probably below-average durability.
Memory Foam
Memory foam has recently gained in popularity thanks to its ability to conform to the sleeper’s body. It offers amazing pressure relief, and it usually excels in motion isolation.
However, memory foam mattress technology has a few disadvantages as well. These mattresses tend to retain body heat, so they aren’t recommended for hot sleepers. Also, they don’t perform very well when it comes to edge support.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses combine a coil system with foam layers. So it’s often said that with a hybrid mattress, you’ll get the best of both worlds. They nicely contour to the body, while providing excellent spinal support.
Keep in mind that these mattresses tend to be pricier than foam beds. They are also often quite heavy.
Polyfoam
Polyfoam mattresses are generally cheaper than hybrid beds and those using memory foam technology. They are great at motion isolation and should have better temperature regulation than memory foam.
The quality and durability of polyfoam mattresses mostly depend on the foam density. If it’s low density, they can quickly sag and lose support.
Latex
Latex is a natural material, and it can provide great support and comfort to sleepers. It’s naturally resistant to mold and dust mites, so people prone to allergies can sleep on it. Moreover, it’s a good choice for hot sleepers, since it doesn’t retain heat.
Among the major drawbacks of these mattresses’ technology is their cost since latex mattresses are often more expensive than other types. They also tend to be quite heavy.
Waterbeds
Just like other mattress types, waterbeds have both advantages and disadvantages. They conform to your body and many people find them relaxing. In addition, they’re often recommended for people with allergies.
On the other hand, they don’t always provide adequate support. Also, you might need to deal with leaks.
Mattresses for Different Needs
Your choice of mattress should depend on your preferred sleeping position because different types of sleepers require different levels of comfort and support. The good news is that current mattress industry trends offer a wide selection of mattresses, so everyone should be able to find the best mattress for their needs.
Side sleepers typically need a mattress that contours to their body and allows for pressure relief.
Stomach sleepers, on the other hand, need a firmer mattress that provides ample support to their hips. Therefore, the best mattresses for people sleeping on their stomach are usually hybrid or latex ones.
Back sleepers generally prefer medium to firm mattresses. This position is often considered the healthiest because the spine is naturally aligned. Moreover, a self-adjusting technology mattress is a good pick for back sleepers who tend to snore.
Combo sleepers should avoid mattresses with deep sinkage because they might feel stuck while changing their sleep position.
Couples should pay special attention to motion transfer and edge support. A mattress that isolates motion well is especially important if at least one partner is a light sleeper. Strong edge support is particularly important if you sleep on a full size mattress or a queen size mattress. However, a king size mattress is always the best option for couples.
Mattress Technology – Future Trends
Today there are a few interesting trends that are popular in the mattress world. One of them is customization. Namely, consumers are able to customize their mattresses according to their needs. Eco-friendly mattresses are also very popular because more and more people want to sleep on natural mattress materials.
Now that the value of sleep has been acknowledged, people are trying to get more quality shut-eye. One of the better ways to improve slumber is by tracking sleep habits. That’s why mattress manufacturers implement modern technology and offer smart beds that can monitor sleepers’ movements, sleep patterns, and more. This is just one example of a high-tech mattress.
Considering the fast technological development, it’s difficult to predict what the future has in store. Some of the innovations we can expect are self-cleaning mattresses and beds that control room temperature.
FAQs
What is the best type of mattress to sleep on?
The mattress type that will best suit you depends on your preferred sleeping position and other sleep preferences. Each type of construction has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, memory foam mattresses offer amazing pressure relief, but they tend to retain body heat. Conversely, innerspring beds are good at temperature regulation, but they are not so great at motion isolation.
What are the different types of mattresses?
The five most common types of mattresses are innerspring, memory foam, hybrid, polyfoam, and latex beds. They all have their pros and cons, and your choice should depend on your sleep preferences. You can read about each type in more detail above.
Which mattress is best for back pain?
Based on everything we’ve looked at, medium-firm memory foam mattresses are perfect for those suffering from back pain. Memory foam contours to the entire body without any gaps, unlike innerspring mattresses. Most often, medium-firm mattresses let the spine to rest in a natural position.
What are the top 5 mattress brands?
The top 5 mattress brands according to their annual revenues are as follows:
Serta – $1.66 billion
Simmons – $1.64 billion
Sealy – $1.35 billion
Tempur-Pedic – $861 million
Select Comfort – $462 million
Conclusion
Knowing all the benefits of a good night’s sleep, people are investing more in their bedrooms. Sleeping on a comfy mattress is one of the crucial factors for catching some quality Zzz’s, so the bed industry is doing everything it can to improve mattress technology and provide customers with the ultimate sleep experience.
Author’s Bio – Mira Rakicevic
Before she started working as a sleep expert, Mira always envied people who were passionate about their jobs. Now Mira finally has an opportunity to do something she truly enjoys, and no, that doesn’t mean she can sleep at work! For Mira, it’s definitely as good as it gets—she spends a considerable amount of time lying down on various mattresses, testing sleeping products, and reviewing them to help guide you to your ideal sleeping situation. Plus, she also works tightly with other sleep experts and doctors to provide you with valuable information and helpful advice about sleep.
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