Beautyrest Sleep Gallery is celebrating 25 years in the mattress business! We’re incredibly proud that we’ve been able to help our customers get a good night’s sleep for two and a half decades. We love this community, and we hope to continue helping our customers with their unique sleep concerns for many years to come. As we look back on our years in business, we thought it might be fun to also take a look at the evolution of mattresses. How have mattresses changed over the years, especially in the last 25 years?
The Evolution of Mattresses
Because sleep is an absolute necessity, humans have been creating comfortable places to rest since the beginning of our species’ existence. In fact, researchers have discovered “sleeping mats” used as many as 77,000 years ago! These padded mats were made of plant material and likely not very soft – thankfully, we’ve come a long way since then!
The Modern Mattress
Today, mattresses come in a wide variety of sizes and materials. Your choice of mattress will depend on a variety of factors, including your sleeping habits, your sleeping partner, your budget, and any health concerns you have. Let’s take a look at the evolution of mattresses that are quite popular today.
Innerspring Mattresses
People have been sleeping on innerspring mattresses since 1871! However, they didn’t gain popularity until the 1930s. When they first hit the market, they were composed of steel coil springs beneath a layer of wool, down, or sometimes horsehair! As time went by, more and more padding was added to ensure that the coils wouldn’t be uncomfortable. Also, stretchy knit fabric became commonplace to further improve comfort and durability. And in more recent years, manufacturers have been adding memory foam to innerspring mattresses, creating a hybrid product that offers the support of coil springs and the comfort of foam.
Memory Foam Mattresses
Did you know that memory foam was invented by NASA? Although it’s been around since the 1970s, it wasn’t used in mattresses until the 1990s. Tempur-Pedic was the first manufacturer of memory foam mattresses, which have been popular since their debut. Since we’ve been in business, we’ve seen many improvements to memory foam mattresses. Today’s memory foam mattress is more breathable and durable than its predecessors, and it’s also safer than ever before.
Hybrid Mattresses
One of the biggest changes we’ve seen in recent years is the advent of hybrid mattresses. As we mentioned above, hybrid mattresses combine the features of innerspring mattresses and memory foam mattresses. In doing so, they create a mattress that is both springy and able to mold to the body. Although many people prefer either innerspring or memory foam mattresses, this hybrid product is a new favorite as well. It’s only been around for the past decade or so.
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When we entered this business, innerspring mattresses were the tried-and-true favorite. These days, many customers are seeking out innovative alternatives like memory foam and hybrid mattresses. Many options and features are available to make mattresses more comfortable, supportive, and cool, including latex, gel, and air-based technology. Mattresses are also much taller than they used to be, and some mattresses are even shipped in surprisingly small boxes! Who knows where the mattress industry will head in the years to come!
To explore top-quality mattresses for the whole family, stop by Beautyrest Sleep Gallery. At our locations in Springfield and Branson, Missouri, we provide an extensive selection of top-quality mattresses, including Beautyrest®, Serta iComfort®, Tempur-Pedic®, and Scandinavian Sleep Systems. A family-owned and -operated business that supports local charities, Beautyrest Sleep Gallery offers free local delivery and setup as well as a Best Price Guarantee. Shopping for a new mattress can be overwhelming, but with our wide variety of mattresses and expert sales staff, we can put your worries to rest. To get started, please visit us in store or explore our mattress selection online.