The History of Bedding: When and Why Were Bed Sheets, Duvets, Quilts, and More Invented?

Bedding has evolved significantly over time, starting with Egyptians using linen sheets around 1000 AD for warmth and protection. The first known use of the term bed sheet was in the 15th century. The fitted sheet was invented in 1959 for convenience. Modern bedding includes various materials to cater to individual preferences, ensuring restful sleep.

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, it’s never been easier to reach your sleep goals faster and longer while being super-supported.

Our love affair with sleep must-haves got us daydreaming about the history of bedding. How long have we been seeking warmth under covers?

Who invented the fitted sheet, and did they know how to fold it? Why are some bedding trends eternal while others fade into a starless sky?

Let’s go back in time to see how our nighttime essentials became an integral part of waking and dreaming hours.

When and why were sheets invented?

It seems the phrase, “Don’t let the bed bugs bite,” wasn’t coined until circa mid-20th century—but even our earliest ancestors were finding TikTok clever hacks to protect themselves from unwelcome critters crawling up their skin (and making their skin crawl).

According to BBC, thoughtfully constructed mounds of leaves were designed for warmth, while a top layer of insect-repellent foliage protected them from unwelcome sleeping partners. [1]

egyptian linen sheet
Linen cloth from ancient Egypt, circa 1492–1473 BC (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

It’s been reported that the first flat bed sheet, a dense Egyptian linen sheet made out of flax, was conceived around 1000 AD. [2] Egyptians continued to improve upon the original by perfecting their weaving skills to produce lighter versions that took less time to dry after washing.

It’s been reported that the first flat bed sheet, a dense Egyptian linen sheet made out of flax, was conceived in 1000 AD.

However, the first known use of the term “bed sheet” wasn’t until the 15th century, per Merriam-Webster. [3] What’s more, it wasn’t until the advent of the cotton gin in 1794 [4] that cotton linens revolutionized the production of and accessibility of bed linens. [5]

But from the beginning, sheets were always about comfort, cleanliness, and protection.

When were fitted sheets invented?

The beloved yet complicated fitted sheet was born out of the desire to replicate hospital corners without becoming an origami expert.

We owe this stroke of genius—a sheet with fitted bands sewn into the fabric to hug each bed corner to protect a mattress—to American Bertha Berman, who patented the design in 1959. [6]

Until the ‘50s, people were still folding or stuffing corners under their mattresses, hoping they wouldn’t become unfurled from their propensity to toss and turn while sleeping.

In the patent paperwork, Berman describes the three whys behind the need for a fitted sheet: convenience, affordability, and durability.

Fast forward to modern times, we’d have to agree that, despite the frustration of folding it, fastening a fresh fitted sheet onto our mattress is a deeply satisfying feeling of accomplishment.

vintage bedspread ad
Bedspread ad from the Evening Star, Washington, DC, 1947 (Library of Congress)

When did it become popular to use a top sheet?

Is a top sheet too extra or a necessary layer of the bedding cake we delight in every night? How many of us forego it in the name of convenience?

A 2018 USA Today poll revealed that about 70% of Americans make their beds with a top sheet, while 27% skip it altogether. For those of you keeping score, the remaining 3% go sheetless, which we highly discourage for the sake of a clean, restful sleep. [7]

Historians believe the top sheet, also known as a flat sheet, came into modern use in the 15th century (which is when the term “bed sheet” was coined). It used to be the only kind of sheet available until the fitted sheet was patented in the late 1950s.

A 2018 USA Today poll revealed that about 70% of Americans make their beds with a top sheet, while 27% skip it altogether. The remaining 3% go sheetless.

Its purpose was to provide an added layer of comfort and to save you from having to wash your sheets more than every two weeks, the rule of thumb for proper sheet cleaning.

Once the fitted sheet arrived on the scene in 1959, some people eschewed the top sheet altogether. In particular, Europeans have remained loyal to duvets, which have a removable cover that can be taken off and washed, making the top sheet superfluous.

american quilt from 1790
Quilt center, John Hewson, circa 1790 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

When did bedspreads, blankets, and duvets become popular?

We often equate a quintessential sleeping experience with sleeping on a cloud, but let’s not forget the warmth and calming weight of blankets, bedspreads, and duvets. For centuries, most people piled up wool blankets to tuck themselves into a cocoon of warmth. [8]

The 1930s saw a need for softer options exclusively constructed for beds of different sizes and an interest in luxe materials and designs as a focal point of a bedroom.

High-end duvets called eiderdowns rose in popularity at this time for their ability to warm the body, although there was much ado about their price and lack of durability. [9] Duvets eventually became very popular across Europe in the late 20th century, according to BBC. [10]

The art of quilting dates back to medieval times. [11] In the US, quilt-making first became popular in the colonial era and then saw a more recent resurgence in the 1970s and 1980s. [12]

As the Metropolitan Museum of Art describes, during the 18th and 19th centuries, women often gave bedcovers to their future husbands’ families as wedding gifts. [13]

Quilts and bedspreads were easier to maintain and longer-lasting options. Whether one liked flowers or stripes, both options were advertised as ways to personalize your bedroom and create a cohesive color scheme.

FAQs

When did we start using sheets?

Ancient Egyptians began using flat sheets on their beds around 1000 AD. For centuries, sheets were reserved for affluent households. However, the end of the Industrial Revolution produced affordable cotton sheets that were made available and embraced by the middle class.

What did people do before fitted sheets?

Before the invention of the fitted sheet, an additional flat sheet served as a protective layer between people and their beds. To keep them from fleeing the corners of a mattress, they labored over complicated folding patterns, often referred to as hospital corners. Some wealthy families had the sheets sewn into the mattresses and replaced as needed.

Who invented the first bed sheet?

The first bed sheet was invented in 1000 AD in Cairo, Egypt, by Rashid Sab-Anah. The flaxen material symbolized “ light, purity, and prosperity.” It was eerily similar to the fabric used to wrap mummies.

When did humans start using blankets?

As temps drop at night, humans have been seeking warmth under covers since prehistoric times. The earliest evidence points to the use of animal furs or skins to provide heated comfort. Our first known blankets were unearthed in South Africa and date back to 2000 BC [14], a sign that weaving blankets was derived as a survival skill predating written documentation.

saatva linen sheets
Bedding in the current age: Saatva linen sheets and linen duvet cover

Find the best bedding for you at Saatva

While we’ve come a long way since scratchy linen fabrics and animal coverings to keep us warm in bed, we can now delight in the pleasure of dressing our beds in high-quality bedding to enhance our sleeping experience.

Nothing quite says “sweet dreams” like a fluffy down quilt or a touch of soft sheets. Depending on your preferences, Saatva offers everything from lighter-than-air

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to

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.

Flannel sheets
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add an extra layer of cozy for those chilly winter nights, while our cooling

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keep you snoozing comfortably throughout the night.

Light one of our

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while winding down with a good book and say goodnight to the day’s stress and worry.

References

  1. BBC. Sleep tight: A curious history of beds through the centuries. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240126-sleep-tight-a-curious-history-of-beds-through-the-centuries
  2. Sleep Savvy. Making History. https://sleepsavvymagazine.com/features/editors-columns/making-history/
  3. Merriam-Webster. Bedsheet. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bedsheet
  4. History.com. Cotton Gin and Eli Whitney. https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/cotton-gin-and-eli-whitney
  5. How Products Are Made. Bed Sheet. https://www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Bed-Sheet.html
  6. Google Patents. Fitted bed sheet construction. https://patents.google.com/patent/US2907055
  7. USA Today. After Millennials ‘killed’ chain restaurants and bras, will this controversial piece of bedding be next? https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/nation-now/2018/03/27/top-sheet-no-sheet-surprisingly-fierce-debate-uncovers-strong-opinions-bedding/461978002/
  8. Medium. From Farm to Fabric: The Journey of Wool Blanket. https://medium.com/@linensconz/from-farm-to-fabric-the-journey-of-wool-blankets-cf720e9db9f7
  9. 20th Century Home. Beddybyes. https://20thcenturyhome.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/beddybyes/
  10. BBC. Almost 300 years without a duvet. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34848546
  11. Victoria and Albert Museum. An introduction to quilting and patchwork. https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/an-introduction-to-quilting-and-patchwork
  12. Quilting in America. American Quilting: Evolution of an Art Form. https://www.quilting-in-america.com/
  13. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. American Quilts and Coverlets. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/amqc/hd_amqc.htm
  14. Smithsonian Magazine. 200,000-Year-Old Bedding Found in South Africa May Be World’s Oldest. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-find-200000-year-old-bedding-south-african-cave-180975592/

Top image credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art / design attributed to Mary Hergenroder Simon

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