A Trip Back in Time: How People Talked About Les lits à baldaquin 20 Years Ago

[Jiles Grayce]

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!

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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!

Captain beds are one of the best bed designs that offer just about everything you need for your bedroom whether you are sleep in a large, spacious room or a small, compact situation. This type of bedding furniture has been around since the early nautical days when wooden ship's designers had to make every inch of a captain's cabin provide maximum storage for those long hauls across oceans to worlds unknown. As these bedding designs have evolved over the last century, much of the old world charm is still available while providing updates to the storage and comfort requirement of modern day consumers. Also, modern designers have provided contemporary styling by not only recreating the original nautical flavors, but by also designing modern, sleek units that offer a broader appeal through various other styles.

Various Styles of Captain Beds

Captain's beds are most popular for their various storage features that can accommodate adult, youth or toddler bedrooms. There are many sizes of beds such as king, queen, double, twin as well as bunk beds. Drawers are made in various amounts and will define how high a bed sits from the floor. The typical design is either 6 or 12 drawers made to open on both sides of the beds. There are other configurations as well and it's best to explore your storage needs before making a final choice on what type of captain's bed works for you.

Be sure to compare prices, styles and storage capacity options before deciding which furniture to purchase for either an adult bedroom or child's sleep space. A captains bed is sure to meet your requirements for Get more info storage as well as style.