Getting your hands on an antique bed is always fun. You might have noticed one in the corner of an antique shop, or an elderly relative is downsizing and has picked you as the recipient of their one-of-a-kind ¾ bed. Whatever the vintage or the construction, antique beds are a special blend of art and history – the thing is, sleeping on them might be tricky because of antique mattress sizing.
The most common size for antique mattresses is referred to as a three-quarter or a ¾ bed, because the mattress is ¾ the width of today’s queen-size beds, give or take a couple of inches. The problem is, “give or take” becomes a real problem when it comes to actually putting a mattress on your antique bed and sleeping on it.
Plus, that’s not the only size; antique “twin” mattresses are 31x75”, and antique “double” mattresses come in at 51x75”. This is similar to a short queen mattress, but it’s still not bang on. That ¾ bed frame is going to need a custom antique-style mattress made for it, especially if it’s a sleigh-style or has puzzle piece rails, because you can’t convert those to a standard size even if you wanted to.
Considering that today’s standard queens are 80” long, and all these antique sizes are more like 72-75” long, you may need a custom solution for an antique bed mattress. But how did we get here? Why weren’t beds just… always the same? And why is it that we can’t take a bedframe from just 100 years ago and easily fit a modern mattress to it?
Let’s go back in time and investigate, before showing you how to get a modern mattress that fits your antique bed frame just right.
A Brief History of Mattresses Through the Ages
Sleeping on our custom memory foam mattresses in the 2020’s, it’s hard to imagine how far back the idea of a bed, let alone a mattress, goes. Humans weren’t the first people to sleep in beds at all – Neanderthals and the Denisovans slept in beds as well, and they were just as bed-like as the better-known Egyptian ones that showed up over 50,000 years later.
Prehistoric Evidence of Mattresses Use
The first “mattress” we’ve found is at a 77,000-year-old site in South Africa. It’s a platform about 22 sq. ft. in size, and archaeologists assume it was a family bed. For comparison, a standard king-size bed today is about 42 sq. ft, but people were much smaller way back when.
Sites in Britain and Spain show evidence that Neanderthals had bedrooms in their homes. They included raised platforms covered in plant material for comfort and warmth. Archaeologists also theorize, because of the proximity of these beds to established fire pits, that a bed probably doubled as a bench/couch during the day.
Because Neanderthals and Denisovans coexisted and interbred, it’s safe to assume Denisovans had similar concepts of bedrooms and beds.
The First “Mattresses” Weren’t Mattresses at All
So, fast forward to the Egyptians. In this period of history, beds were raised platforms covered in mattresses made of reeds and fronds. Pretty simple, pretty effective. Except for the bugs… and rats… and moisture that caused rot… and the potential for fire when a heat source was too close.
As Egypt itself evolved, ancient mattress technology followed. Wood or metal bedframes – much like that antique bed you’ve got stored in the attic – became the norm. For middle-class people, they were plain or painted, but for the wealthy, they might have been covered in jewels or gold.
These bed frames kept people off the cold ground and also made it less likely for a snake or rat to curl up with them for warmth at night. And this is where the first “antique” mattresses appeared (read: mattresses we would actually recognize as mattresses today).
They were basically linen-covered cushions made of wool, and people slept under linen sheets as well. The Greeks and Romans followed suit with variations on these raised bedframes, with woolen cushions and blankets.
It’s interesting to note here that in true form, the overachieving Ancient Persians had waterbeds. No, seriously. They would fill goatskins with warm water and use them as mattresses.
In other parts of the world, down pillows, blankets made of skins, and huge bedframes covered in curtains became the norm by the turn of the millennium. Wherever you went, though, it was mainly the wealthy who had beds.
Most people of the lower and working classes slept on floor mats. Throughout history, the “antique mattress” of a poor person was stuff piled on the floor in the corner of a room that just allowed them to curl up and sleep in the fetal position.
Antique Beds and Mattresses of the Dark Ages
By the 13th century, most people in Europe slept on mattresses covered in a coarse fabric called “tick”. But, of course, the rich had it better - they slept on mattresses filled with down and covered in silk or velvet. During this time, historic beds were extra tall and surrounded by heavy curtains. Why?
You might think privacy for more intimate moments, but royal marriage rituals that involved a group of people “witnessing” the consummation would prove you wrong. It was actually all about heat conservation.
Rich people had huge bedrooms, and big rooms get cold, especially in stone castles and manors. Antique beds of the Middle Ages had to be tall because there was usually a heat source underneath, like heated rocks or bricks… and you don’t want to wake up to a burning bed. The ceiling-height curtains surrounding the bed were meant to hotbox the bed space.
Mattresses as Victorian Status Symbols
The Victorian Era and the century preceding it clearly didn’t invent the idea of custom mattresses as status symbols, but they were happy to continue the trend by spending big on their beds while peasants slept on the floor or on uncomfortable, hay-filled bedding.
Wealthy people’s beds got more lavish, Victorian mattresses got more comfortable, and bedframes and bedposts got more ornate. The more bedrooms you had, the more ornate beds you could afford, the more comfortable your mattresses were – that was how you’d show off your wealth.
Some people say that King Louis XIV had over 400 beds, and loved being in bed so much that he sometimes held court literally from bed. And as people have always wanted to “keep up with the Joneses”, it then became completely normal to host people in your bedroom.
Antique Mattresses: From Straw to Coil to Foam
Throughout this journey, beds were made individually. Mass production is a fairly modern concept, and so when you had a bed made for you in the past, you’d also have a mattress crafted to fit. That’s why we refer to historic beds as bespoke (read: custom), and by extension, so too were all antique mattresses. Mattress preferences and technology changed over time, but people kept heirloom mattresses and beds for as long as possible, simply because of their value.
The 19th century saw down mattresses replaced with cotton ones. It’s also when we first saw box spring technology to support mattresses as metal coils started to replace woven metal or rope. And then, in the 1870’s, the first inner spring mattress was invented.
An antique innerspring mattress would be awful to sleep on now, but back then, it was the cool new thing, replacing cotton and horsehair. Then, in the 1890’s, the waterbed made a comeback… seems like we low-key forgot about that one for a few thousand years.
By the 1930’s, encased coil spring mattresses and waterbeds were common, as were artificial fillings like foam beneath rubber mattress covers. Your grandma may still even have one of these antique mattresses lying around.
Memory foam entered the game in the ‘90’s as a result of 30 years of NASA scientists trying to make it work. That’s right – that memory foam mattress you sleep on is (indirectly) a product of some serious cutting-edge research. Does that mean mattress-making is rocket science? Maybe.
These 19th and early 20th century mattresses – the ¾ mattresses and short queen mattresses – are what we most commonly see today when we’re antique shopping. And the ¾ bed was a good size for when couples started pushing their beds together and actually sharing a bed to sleep in, in the 1900’s. Married people sleeping together? How scandalous.
Revamp an Antique Bedframe with a Memory Foam Mattress
All this history is enlightening, but it leaves us with a modern problem. Mattresses for antique beds aren’t sold in stores because their sizes were never consistent. Plus, no one wants to sleep on an ancient horse hair and rope bed anymore when the alternative is ultra-comfortable modern memory foam.
As a result, many antique bedframes are now just chilling in an attic somewhere, or a staple at your local antique shop (read: will never be bought). Where are you going to find a mattress for a ¾ antique bed? Or a short queen mattress for an old Victorian bed?
Well, a modern problem requires a modern solution: custom mattress manufacturers who specialize in antique beds.
It’s actually historically accurate to have someone hand-make a custom mattress for your antique bed, because that’s exactly how things were done. But we’re well into the 21st century now, so you can get a modern memory foam mattress for that antique bed – one that’s made to measure.
And you can do it all online. You get to revive a family heirloom, bring an antique back to life, or make use of something that was previously sitting in storage, all without having to sleep on an actual antique mattress.
Sizing Your Antique Bedframe
Since antique beds either require uniquely sized mattresses or three quarter ones that aren’t sold at big box retailers, it’s a good idea to start by measuring your antique bedframe precisely. Even if grandma tells you that you just need any old “standard” ¾ mattress, it could be an inch too long or too wide – you can save yourself a lot of trouble by getting the measuring tape out.
It is possible to convert an antique bed to fit your current mattress, and you might be considering that as an option if you love the way you sleep right now. The problem is, doing so will take away from the design and inherent value of the antique bed.
Using an Actual Antique Mattress
Another option is to find an old mattress in decent condition, or simply stick with the mattress that’s already on your newly acquired antique bed. This really isn’t an option you should be considering, though.
Old mattresses can have plenty of dust trapped inside them, or even worse, harbor critters like lice that you really don’t want anywhere near you. Just think of how many people have parked themselves on it over the years, and what they may have left behind.
Create A Custom Mattress for Your Antique Bed
Get the most blissful night of sleep you’ve ever had by crafting your own custom antique mattress on our site. Ditch those traditional horse hair beds that our ancestors lay on, and instead spring for a modern, handmade memory foam bed made for your very own needs. Then, protect your three-quarter bed with a sleek mattress protector that can withstand any stains or spillage, helping to prolong its life.
Before the internet, you’d be forced to venture out to costly custom bed manufacturers to take advantage of your historical and treasured antique bed. Now? You’re just one click away from giving your beautiful antique ¾ bed a new life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use the mattress that came with your antique bed?
Technically, yes, but it’s a good idea to get a new mattress for hygienic reasons alone. If that’s not enough, modern mattress technology has come a long way, and you’ll get a far better sleep on a new mattress than on an old, lumpy mattress.
Why don’t standard mattresses work with antique beds?
Antique beds were almost always individually made and didn’t follow standard sizing conventions. Besides, people were smaller back then, and their beds were smaller too. A modern bed is usually several inches longer than an antique three-quarter bed.
Can a modern mattress fit an antique ¾ bed?
Because modern beds are larger, so are the mattresses. Even if you can find some sort of standard ¾ mattress, your antique bed’s measurements might be a couple of inches off. Therefore, your best bet is to purchase a custom ¾ mattress, using modern mattress components and technology (such as memory foam) to fit your antique bed’s dimensions.
