Could the future of beds be just around the corner?

by | Feb 23, 2022 | Press Office

bed sleep

Waking to the shrill tones of your phone or alarm clock speaker could soon be a thing of the past, while back problems caused by an awkward night’s sleep could soon also be eliminated.

That’s according to predictions made by leading bed and sleep experts ahead of March’s National Bed Month, which encourages Brits to think about their own sleeping habitats, and aims to raise awareness of the importance of buying the right bed.

The common bed has already evolved beyond all recognition from the humble threads upon which we snoozed in generations past, with modern incarnations featuring breathable, eco-friendly and more comfortable materials.

The modern mattress offers different varieties of firmness to suit almost every body type, which is no surprise given that we spend an average of one-third of our lives asleep.

With the average mattress being subjected to more than 20,000 hours of wear and tear over a seven-year lifespan1, and recent survey data showing that 24% of Brits suffer 12 or more bad nights’ sleep a month2, choosing the right one has never been more important.

Rising standards led by the National Bed Federation, alongside leaps forward in manufacturing technology means there are more reputable brands in the marketplace than ever – but what does the future of the bed look like?”

Here are the National Bed Federation’s bold predictions:

  1. Automatic temperature adjustment to keep your body at just the right climate
  2. Ambient lighting and soothing sounds to ease you into a deep slumber
  3. Gentle vibrations and simulated sunrise lighting to wake you more gradually
  4. Customisable ‘zones’ allowing individual sleepers to control the conditions on their side
  5. Self-cleaning, self-airing and bacteria resistance to boost hygiene and cleanliness
  6. Automatic rotation to guide you gradually to the natural light as the sun rises
  7. New space-saving features, such as rising to the ceiling when not in use
  8. The use of VR and AR to literally take users to the land of nod
  9. Ceiling projections to plot a vivid starlit night
  10. Integrated sleep tracking and reporting without the need for a smartwatch

Simon Williams of The National Bed Federation added: “In the not-too-distant future,  even the run-of-the-mill bed will be capable of self-adjusting its firmness automatically, depending on who is occupying it at any given time.

“Some of the current sophisticated  mattresses are capable of adjusting support to keep the user’s spine in perfect alignment, recognising the user’s sleeping position, their weight and pressure points. It’s fantastic to reflect on the progress made in recent years.

“We think the bed of the future will double-down on comfort, while also providing imaginative ways to help people nod off, saving space and generally offering better cleanliness and hygiene.

“But perhaps most importantly, the technology must help us sleep better. Otherwise, there’s really no point!”