The first mattresses of the Neolithic period were made of animal skins, possibly supported by leaves, grass, or hay. Later in history, everybody had their own types mattresses, Persians would use goat skins filled with water, while Egyptians used bundles of palm leaves. 3,000 years later, Romans slept on bags filled with hay or wool, sometimes reeds. If you happened to be in a wealthy neighborhood you would find the rich folk sleeping on beds stuffed with feathers.

During the Renaissance, beds mostly consisted of mattresses stuffed with straw or feathers. In the early 1700s mattresses are stuffed with cotton or wool. During the mid 1700s we start to get mattresses that we would recognize today (bed frames come about, mattresses are buttoned). In 1865, the first coil springs for bedding are patented, and in 1871 German inventor Heinrich Westphal invents the innerspring mattress. Rather sadly, he dies poor, never profiting from his invention. In 1873 the waterbed is invented, as a sort of hydrotherapy for back problems. In the 1930s, innerspring mattresses become commonplace in American homes. 20 years later, foam rubber mattresses are introduced as an alternative to other artificial fillers. In 1999, the queen size mattress is the most popular choice for mattress size in America. That brings us to today, were we can sleep comfortably knowing that we've come a long way from animal skins stuffed with hay.