In 1993, furniture stores accounted for 56 percent of mattress and foundation sales. Egyptian pharaohs discover the benefits of raising a pallet off the earth. King Tutankahmen had a bed of ebony and gold. Common people slept on palm bows heaped in the corner of their home. Often decorated with gold, silver or bronze, these beds featured mattresses stuffed with reeds, hay, wool or feathers.
Romans discover the waterbed.
The sleeper would recline in a cradle of warm water until drowsy, then be lifted onto an adjacent cradle with a mattress, where they would be rocked to sleep. Together, they provided a sleeping space that was less attractive to bugs. Until that time, assorted vermin were simply an accepted component of even the most royal beds. Adjustable beds become popular with consumers.