How The Mattress Industry Has Evolved During The Past 10 Years

Take a careful look at your mattress… How old is it? If you’re reading this, then it’s probably seen better days. But, you’ll be glad to know that the mattress industry is undergoing a renaissance in the guise of burgeoning mattress brands that are taking the world by storm on and offline.

Of course, mattresses have come a long way since they were first invented, and have gone through many developments and improvements in their evolution. Tracing the historical trajectory of the mattress proves that sophistication and class are only two of the terms that characterize the modern plush mattress.

Join us on a journey of discovery as we look at how the mattress industry has evolved, particularly in the past 10 years.

“Wake Up To Reality, Sleeping Beauty!”

Well before you doze off, did you know that the soft sponge that you choose to rest upon has a history of its own? Think back to the first mattresses that were so enthusiastically created…

The 1980s were popular for innerspring beds that made a lot of noise, and while they felt luxurious at the time, it is but a drop in the ocean compared to the comfort offered by more modernized mattresses. That’s because these innerspring beds had a common box of springs foundation which is no longer a trend.

Now, cooling technology was unheard of at that time, and the only way to make sure your mattress stayed plush and comfortable was to turn them over quite often. This is mainly because many of the older mattress models were filled with layers of cotton to keep them comfortable, and turning them would take away any lumps of material that would formulate due to excessive material being used in their production.  

Another strikingly noticeable feature of older mattresses is that they were much lower in height compared to the higher mattresses available for purchase these days.

Can you remember your granny regularly having to change her mattress? After a maximum of five years or so, she would complain about the springs hurting. That’s because older mattresses were far less durable than today’s models.  

Dive Into Dreamland

From the 80s, we’re going to fast-forward a bit to the early 90s, which is when things really started getting interesting in the mattress manufacturing industry.

This is when the use of stretch knit fabric became more commonplace due to the ability of the material to stretch. That later evolved to the memory foam mattresses that we have today, which guarantee overall comfort. The introduction of cooling technology came about in the last few years as well, allowing users to adjust mattress temperature when required.  

There is rarely any advice given to turn newer mattresses because they’re made from good quality fabric that doesn’t require such MacGyver-like tactics to ensure long-term comfort. There’s simply no lumping of excess fabric.

Mattress heights have also increased making for less pronounced movement when you have two people sharing a bed.  The higher mattress is a noticeable feature of modernized beds, alongside increased bed length and size. In fact, modern-day beds are designed to cater for taller users as well, while adjustable beds offer varying comfort levels to suit different needs.   

Although modern mattresses are meant to last longer, many people replace them quicker because of how fast mattress innovations have been coming to the fore.

What Does The Future Hold?

As you can see, mattress creators are people who have a vision for advancement. A lot of big companies have designers that have worked for NASA and other reputable organizations. Software developers are also making their mark in the mattress industry.

However, one of the most exciting developments in the mattress manufacturing industry is the presence of online retailers. Aside from the obvious convenience factor, this comes with a number of other benefits such as the ability or customer to chat live with a mattress company representative through social media, and other perks like 100-day money back guarantees.  Some companies even send mattresses to clients in small and compact boxes.

But, if you’re wondering what it’s going to be like to catch a high-tech snooze further in the future, you’ll be glad to know that thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT) we can look forward to:

- Mattresses that can connect to all your smart devices.

- Mattresses with built-in sensors to track the health of the sleeper.

- Other sensors specifically created to minimize snoring.