unusual beds

We have recently posted a list of unusual beds you may find yourself sleeping on. However, the list was so long that we simply had to split it in two parts. This is the continuation of the list, with even stranger (and less feasible) bed options. You won’t find these beds in mattress stores in San Diego.

Air bed

Many of us have encountered an air mattress at some point in our lives. The cheap variety is simply a rubber, (or rubber coated in some fabric) inflatable bed. Many of us have it for emergencies or for unexpected guests. These cheaper varieties are no different from the inflatable beds used at swimming pools and seaside resorts. Another common variety of an air bed is the camping under-mattress. It is usually thinner and has some sort of insulation on the bottom. However, there are actual bed mattresses which are filled with air, similar to the water beds we wrote about previously. These are relatively new and have some advantages over the traditional beds. For one, they can help relieve back pain. In addition to that, they tend to be hypoallergenic (similarly to water beds). However, the quality of ingredients used is not always certain, so toxicity may be a problem with some brands.

A hammock

The sailors’ choice all over the world, the hammock is rarely viewed as an actual bed option. Despite this notion in popular culture, hammocks have served as primary beds to various peoples the world over. The simplest form of a hammock is a rope net which is fixed at two opposite sides and suspended in the air. The Americas, the Caribbean and Mexican regions are well known for having cultures that sleep in these. Popular materials in this part of the world are tree bark and rope. In the modern age USA, we use hammocks predominantly for resting, commonly suspending them in our back yards, or in parks to read and share leisure time.

Swing bed

If you enjoy the idea of gently swinging while sleeping, but you can’t imagine relinquishing your soft mattress for a hammock, there are swing beds. Essentially, it is a full size bed which is put on a platform which is then suspended from the roof of the room. This contraption may look appealing, but it is pretty hard to make.

Net loft

If, however, you desire the softness and freedom of the hammock, but cannot abide the rocking, there are net lofts. Exactly as it sounds, a net loft is just a loft bed with a net instead of a regular mattress. Getting up might be a challenge though, with all those holes your legs could slip through.

Magnetic bed

There are a few types of beds which boast the ‘floating’ attribute. However, most of them are either suspended by invisible lines, or rest on transparent platforms, or have some other clever trick. And then, there is the magnetic bed. This particular design uses powerful magnets to keep the bed floating in the air. Even though it sounds pretty impressive and cool, it may not be the best option in the long run. Oh, and maybe the price tag of $1.6 million will sway you away from this choice.

Ice bed

Some hotels offer the chance to sleep on an actual ice bed made from a block of ice. The whole ice hotel fascination doesn’t sound particularly sustainable in the long run, though. You will either catch a cold, or your bed will melt in the spring. I would recommend reconsidering this as your primary sleeping option.

Many people choose these unusual beds for one reason or the other. However, most of us still use a conventional bed with a conventional mattress. If you are looking to replace your mattress and are looking for a mattress store in San Diego, consider visiting Mattress Makers. Contact us at 858 566 4408 for further information.

The best part of a long day is definitely the moment when you can finally slip into your bed and rest. Whether it is a state-of-the-art natural response mattress, or a good old coil-springs one, it feels like a cloud. Most of us have a solid idea what a bed should look like. However, there are some types of beds that challenge that notion. Listed below are some of the more unorthodox sleeping contraptions.

Rocking bed

The design is familiar from rocking chairs. It is just extrapolated onto a bed. Instead of legs, this bed has arched rails which enable it to rock gently. Presumably. However, the design itself might be detrimental to a peaceful night of sleep, as any motion by the sleeper would cause a response from the bed. It seems fun, but consider it carefully before purchasing one of these.

Water bed

The classic of unusual beds, the water bed (in its modern form) has been with us for decades. Their origins date back to the 19^th century when they were prescribed as a solution to people who suffered from back pains, since it was very soft. The modern version dates back to 1970s, with their popularity skyrocketing in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, however, only a small percentage of new purchases are water beds. Even though they have the advantage of being hypoallergenic, they are lumbering, heavy things and moving them is a long and complicated process, not to mention the possibility of a leak.

Vertical bed

This strange concept is just that – a concept. It has been created by several different inventors or designers. All of them have different ideas how to achieve the vertical support to the sleepers even when they are in deep sleep. One such design uses a kind of an exoskeleton which fixes the sleeper, with the neck region as the point of most stress. You can probably tell that this is the design flaw with this particular concept. However, some other designs are far less strenuous to the sleeper. Another vertical design includes a foam block of sorts with an indentation in the shape of a human. The sleeper immerses himself into this indentation and is supported from all sides by the foam bed. However, we are built to sleep in a more horizontal position.

Bed of nails

Even though they are best known as a magicians’ trick prop, these strange beds do serve a purpose. First of all, a bit of a spoiler for all those magic tricks you may have been amazed by. The bed of nails is actually very unlikely to cause any damage to the person lying in it. Due to the even distribution of weight over the whole surface of the bed, the pressure is never strong enough to pierce the skin at any single point. These beds have never been used for actual sleeping. However, they do have a purpose. Many Indian mystics have used this contraption for meditation. Furthermore, it has also been used for medical purposes as well, as an acupressure mat. In the Western world, it has been used for research purposes into back pain relief as well.

If these unorthodox sleeping options have sparked your curiosity, you can learn a bit more about them online, or check out Part two of this amusing list. If, however, they’ve made you happy you have a conventional bed, consider upgrading your old mattress for a natural response mattress in Mattress Makers’ showroom. Mattress Makers also offer a variety of other mattress option. Contact us today to learn more.