National Bed Month

We took a look at the history of the humble bed to see what weird and wonderful facts we could find, including:

• After work, the next place we spend the longest of our lives is in bed. The average person sleeps for 8 hours each night, which means we’ll sleep for 229,961 hours in our lifetime, or one third of our life!
  
  
• The next time you lie in bed, all comfy and snug, spare a thought for the residents of Catalhoyuk in Turkey some 10,000 years ago. They would lie on raised platforms covered in stones which are essentially viewed as the first beds - our backs hurt just thinking about this.
  
  
• We all utter the words “sleep tight” as we tuck the little ones in at night, but do you know where it comes from? Well, it turns out that early modern beds had lattice cords made from natural fibres across the middle of them. Over time, these would become loose from being laid on, so they would need to be tightened – leading to the phrase ‘sleep-tight’.
  
  
• It is reported that King Louis XIV owned 413 beds! 
  
  
• The world’s largest bed measured 86 foot, 11 inches long and 53 foot, 11 inches wide. The bed was displayed at the Summer Festival of St Gregorius in Hertme, in the Netherlands in 2011. Imagine spreading out in that and not even touching the sides – bliss!
  
  
• Ever wondered why your mattress always seems to get heavier each time you flip it? Over time, your mattress will absorb shed skin cells, dust, mites and sweat adding extra weight to the mattress. Doesn’t sound as comfy now does it..?
  
  
• There are many different positions people sleep in, whether that be on their front, back or side. But surveys conducted show that 41% of Brits sleep in the foetal position.

There are some weird and wonderful facts about beds, but the thing we should all remember is how important it is to get good quality sleep when we do call it a night, as this can lead to health benefits when we are awake, including: 

• Reduction in stress levels
• Improvements to your memory
• Lower blood pressure
• Can help your body fight back against illness
• Puts you in a better mood and frame of mind
• Helps keep your heart healthy