With so many mattress choices available today, from adjustable to gel memory foam mattresses, it can be hard to imagine sleeping as our ancestors did—on piles of straw, leaves, or animal skins. Luckily, the evolution of the mattress has brought consumers some truly innovative and comfortable selections using space-age materials to ensure a relaxing night’s sleep. Would you like to know more about the evolution of comfort in mattress technology? Read on to learn more.

In the early 18th century, mattresses began to be constructed of more comfortable fabrics such as cotton and linen.  Instead of straw—commonly used as a stuffing previously, while the wealthy often used feathers—coconut fiber, cotton, wool, and horsehair were used as stuffing for mattresses.

In the late 19th century, the box spring was invented, which significantly extended a mattress’ life by evenly distributing weight and absorbing shock.

In 1926, the company Dunlop invented the means to produce latex foam from vulcanized rubber. At first, this breakthrough was only sold to British royalty, though it soon became extremely popular and widespread.

In the 1930s, the innerspring mattress became popular, and encased-coil spring mattresses were first introduced.

In the 1960s, the waterbed gained widespread use. Together with the air mattress, these adjustable beds became quite fashionable.

In 1992, Tempur-Pedic introduced the world’s first mattress made of memory foam, which had been invented in the 1970s by NASA. The memory foam mattress raised the bar for mattress comfort, and memory foam is still used today.

In 2011, Serta unveiled the iComfort mattress, a gel memory foam mattress that solves the problem that many consumers experience with memory foam: its tendency to trap heat. The iComfort mattress features open-cell memory foam that is breathable, allowing air to flow through it and keep sleepers cooler.

Does the iComfort mattress sound like just the thing for a great night’s sleep? Then come see the professionals at Mancini’s Sleepworld. We offer a wide selection and 28 locations in Northern California for your comfort and convenience. Call us at (800) 641-5337 today to learn more!