Before you rush into buying a new mattress for your bedstead, you should get to know the types of mattresses available in the market.
Spring. The comfort, support and durability of a mattress depend on the number of springs or coils, their shape, the gauge of wire used, the number of turns in each spring and the distribution of the springs.
Waterbeds. Make sure it’s full enough to give good body support. If you are not sleeping alone, look for a design that minimizes disturbance from movement. It’s cozy in cool weather and cool in warm weather.
Foam. High grade foam scores well for comfort and durability.
Latex. Natural rubber mattresses can be very expensive and also need an expensive flexible slat base. One made of good quality pure latex can be expected to last 20 to 25 years. This may be a good option for allergy sufferers because it’s less likely to harbor mould and dust mites.
Futon. This is basically a big cushion filled with fluffed-up cotton, wool or artificial fibers. It must be turned regularly to avoid mildew. It’s harder than most other mattresses and may better suit people with a light build as it won’t adapt to your curves and bumps so readily.
Memory Foam. Developed by NASA 30 years ago, it’s made from polyurethane. It “remembers” your shape for a while after you’ve moved – hence “memory foam”.
You know, you will have the Egyptians to thank for the fact of your sleeping today on a bedstead and a mattress after knowing the historical role of bedsteads that has its origins in ancient Egyptian civilization.
According to world history, the use of bedsteads by Egyptians goes back as far as 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. The Egyptian pharaohs began sleeping in beds raised from the ground after discovering that sleeping on higher platforms was more beneficial.
Over the years, archeologists have dug up ancient bed frames made of rich-looking, elaborately detailed pieces of metal, and reserved for use by the very rich and royalty.
Bedstead, a word to denote the wooden or metal-framed mattress-holding items, was first created by the British. There is evidence of the widespread use of bedsteads by the Romans, back when Britain was a province in their vast empire and known as Britannia.
The popularity of bed frames really began to take off in the 17th century, in Great Britain and Europe. They tended to be expensive, though, so only homes that could afford their price had them. Think of a movie showing that era and I am sure bedsteads equipped with four posts and thickly embroidered curtains to block out any light will come to your mind.
Modern day bed frames are usually made of wood or metal. The least expensive and most utilitarian are composed of just a frame, a few cross rails and a mattress while the most expensive and luxury ones are made of far more finer or exotic woods and metals that feature head and footboards, four posts and expensive silk or satin curtains, both overhead and on the sides.
The historical role of bedsteads in our lives is easy to see, now that we know a bit about them.
