Have you ever wondered where the delightful expressions “hit the hay” and “hit the sack” came from?
While their origins are a bit of mattress and bedding trivia, it’s fascinating to discover that these sayings date back to the early days of the bed as we know it today.
History of the Bed
In the days of the Anglo-Saxons, in what is now Great Britain, people would make their beds just before they wanted to sleep. There was no frame or base—just a sack stuffed with straw or hay. At the time, houses had a central “great hall” where everyone—the family, servants, and livestock—lived, ate, and slept. So when it was time to go to bed, everyone would literally “hit the hay” or “hit the sack”!
By the mid-11th century, beds had become much more comfortable, and those used by the gentry were grand, often featuring canopies to retain warmth.
Grand designs continued to be crafted by craftsmen for centuries, with the most famous being the Great Bed of Ware, now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. This massive bed measures about 11 feet (3.25 meters) square.
By the 17th century, European beds had become lighter and more elegant in design. The cords or ropes used to make mattresses were stretched with a tool known as a bed twitch. The base was still often stuffed with straw, but the top layer was typically filled with soft feathers, just as duvets and quilts are today. The feather-filled portion of the mattress could be opened to air out, and additional feathers were added when more bulk was needed.
Early settlers in North America slept on jack beds, which were made with slats of wood supported by the walls of cabins on two sides, with a single wooden leg in the corner for additional support. Unsurprisingly, the earliest mattresses were sacks of straw.
Gorgeous canopied “tent beds” appeared in America during the 18th century, while beautifully designed wooden beds gained popularity in Europe. Mahogany was favored by renowned furniture designers and manufacturers like Chippendale and the Adam brothers, particularly for the upper classes.
It is said that bed bugs and fleas contributed to the return of metal (which had been used in Roman and Byzantine times) as a material for beds in the 19th century. Plain designs were common in servants’ rooms as well as in prisons and hospitals, where maintenance and hygiene were top priorities. However, decorative iron and brass beds soon became coveted furniture, and today, some bed manufacturers replicate these classic designs.
Regarding the mattress, hair and woven cane were used in the 18th century, and by the early 19th century, coil springs replaced metal laths. Initially, vertical coil springs were used, but eventually, someone had the idea to encase each spring in a separate fabric cylinder.
Today, of course, there is a wide variety of choices, both in terms of bed design and mattress design. These range from mattress bases made with plain wooden slats topped with solid foam mattresses to manufactured bases topped with luxurious spring mattresses.
Unusual Bed and Mattress Designs
Some less conventional types of mattresses use air and water instead of straw and other fillings.
The water bed, which became popular in the 1970s, actually dates back to the 19th century when it was used in hospitals to support patients with bedsores, bone fractures, and even those who were paralyzed. This was because the water eliminated pressure points entirely.
“Modern” 20th-century water beds were typically made from heavy-duty vinyl, with sealed seams and a safety liner. Some even included an electric pad to warm the water, and thus, the bed.
Air beds go back even further, to the 2nd century, when Roman emperor Heliogabalus had one made for himself. Centuries later, in the 1470s, French King Louis XI copied this design, calling it his lit de vent.
Air beds never enjoyed lasting popularity, largely because they aren’t particularly comfortable. However, inflatable mattresses are an excellent solution for accommodating additional guests. When not in use, they can be folded and stored away, and when needed, a hand or foot pump can be used to inflate them.
Another unique type of bed is one that hangs. While never common, these beds have novelty value. Some are designed to be hoisted to the ceiling when not in use, making them a practical option for smaller spaces. Unlike a hammock, which is slung between two supports, a hanging bed is generally suspended from chains attached to both the bed and the rafters or joists in the ceiling. Of course, the hanging mechanism must be securely installed and strong enough to support the weight of the person sleeping in the bed.
Folding beds have been popular over the years and are ideal for small homes with multifunctional rooms. This is not a new concept—centuries ago, North American pioneers sometimes had beds that could be hidden behind doors or curtains when not in use, or positioned in recesses that were closed during the day.
If you ever watch a silent movie starring Charlie Chaplin, you’ll likely see him folding himself away along with the bed he was sleeping on. There’s also some interesting mattress and bedding trivia relating to folding beds and movie stars. For example, in one popular James Bond movie, Bond and a friend use Chaplin’s trick to escape a hail of bullets.
Folding beds can fold horizontally or vertically, and like those used by early American settlers, they may be curtained off or stowed away in a wall or recess.
