May 5, 2020, 11:11 am | Read time: 7 minutes
Sleep Like Royalty: The Comfort of a Cloud-Like Bed Comes at a Cost Sleeping like a king or queen in a cozy bed that carries you through the night as if on a cloud is certainly possible—but it comes at a price.
A person spends more than 24 years of their life sleeping. Often, this is done on a mattress that isn’t ideally suited to their body, making it uncomfortable. While we lie on our too-soft, too-hard, or sagging mattresses, we dream of the perfect bed. myHOMEBOOK editor Laura Graichen found a company that claims to make such dream beds–though they cost a small fortune. Are these prices justified? A test.
Do you know those nights when you toss and turn for hours, constantly changing your sleeping position, hoping to finally get comfortable enough for sleep to take over? In those moments, I always think: If only I had the perfect bed right now.
“Perfect sleep, tailored for you,” is the advertising slogan of the bed manufacturer Hästens. The Swedish family business was founded in 1852, and its name translates to “from the horse” in Swedish. Originally, it was a saddle-making business. When the horse accessory business declined, they shifted focus–but stayed true to horses. The product range expanded to include high-end beds that incorporate horsehair. The beds are so luxurious that the company is even recognized as a bed supplier for the Swedish royal family. I tested how luxury beds, on which royals sleep, feel and whether they live up to their price in the Berlin store.
Luxury Beds Padded with Horsehair
What makes Hästens beds unique is their horsehair filling–in this case, the tail hair of a horse. When thinking of bed padding, horsehair might not immediately come to mind. I was certainly skeptical when I learned that the beds are filled with horsehair. However, horsehair is one of the oldest upholstery materials, with special hygroscopic properties, minimal heat retention, breathability, and durability. When curled, it is also very elastic and has good resilience. But can it be comfortable?
The manager of the Berlin store, Isabelle Busse-Malempré, explained in an interview that the comfort theoretically derives from the construction of the beds and the use of tail hair. All Hästens beds are box spring beds: Bonell springs form the base of every box spring bed. The Swedish luxury models then have several layers of pocket springs, horsehair, cotton, alpaca wool, and wool–alternating repeatedly. On top is a topper, also filled with cotton and horsehair.
Horsehair and Allergy Sufferers
According to Busse-Malempré, allergy sufferers can also sleep on horsehair without worry, thanks to a special cleaning method. This process washes away the protein structures on the animal hair that cause allergic reactions. Additionally, the bed is said to be more breathable due to the horsehair, providing little habitat for dust mites.
Luxury Beds from a Sustainability Perspective
Wool, horsehair, wood–they work with natural materials. But are these materials sustainably sourced and imported? “The cotton is sourced worldwide. We only look for certified companies. Working conditions are also considered. Our companies are certified with ‘Oeko Tex 100,'” explains the manager. The tail hairs are sourced from Switzerland and the Netherlands, and the wood is pine from Sweden–where it is said to be abundant and grows relatively quickly.
The Bed Models–and Their Prices
But it wasn’t the horsehair or the brand’s typical checkered design that caught my attention about the luxury beds. It was the price. During my research, I came across a model that some celebrities have in their bedrooms. It costs over 300,000 euros. Yes, the number of zeros is correct–it’s a bed that costs almost half a million euros. The “Grand Vividus.”
This model was created in collaboration with luxury designer Ferris Rafauli. It is crafted in 360 hours of handwork, also made of wood, wool, and horsehair–and additionally stingray leather. Too expensive? There’s a less imposing category with the “Vividus.” In comparison, it costs (one is tempted to say “only”) just under 160,000 euros.
More Affordable Models
A look at the Swedish company’s catalog reveals that you have to shell out several thousand euros for any Hästens bed. But what justifies these prices? “Beds in this price range aren’t necessarily luxury if you consider that a regular mattress should be replaced regularly. You can save that with Hästens beds. Only the topper needs to be replaced. There’s also a 25-year warranty on the frame and springs,” Busse-Malempré explains to myHOMEBOOK. The cost for the so-called top mattresses for a bed size of 180 cm by 200 cm: between 3,090 and 1,780 euros.
Also interesting: 14 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Bed
Cleaning Is Not Possible
Typically, one would want to maintain and clean such costly purchases as best as possible to keep them intact and enjoy them for a long time. This is not possible with Hästens beds, as the fabrics cannot be removed and the layers are quilted together to prevent the horsehair from shifting. “The fabrics are all soaked in a saline solution, making them very flame-retardant. If you apply a liquid to the fabric, it dissolves these salt crystals, which can create a border. If you’re worried about stains, you can opt for a sheet that wraps around the mattress as protection or purchase an additional cover that can be cleaned,” the expert explains.
To ensure the best possible protection and cleanliness, it is recommended to protect the topper with a mattress protector and then with a sheet. All additional items, of course, also come with additional costs.
And How Does It Feel to Lie on One of the Luxury Beds?
In the store, various bed models were on display–from entry-level to mid-priced, to one with a built-in motor for the head and foot sections, to a model that costs about 36,000 euros–without a headboard. For that much money, you could take a small world trip, buy a fancy car, or set aside savings for later in life. So how must a bed feel at this price to say, “This investment was truly worth it!”? With this question in mind, I tested several of the available beds in different firmness levels and sizes at the Berlin Hästens store.
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The myHOMEBOOK Conclusion
Having stayed in good to luxurious hotels, I’ve had the chance to sleep in particularly comfortable beds a few times. If I had to list my top 5 most comfortable bed experiences, Hästens beds would be among them. As soon as I lay down, the mattresses conformed to my body. I didn’t sink in, nor did I lie like a board. It was a pleasant and thoroughly relaxing feeling. I didn’t expect that from a bed filled with horsehair.
But would I spend that much money on it? Nothing is as important as good sleep–for both health and mental well-being. However, the fact that I could never clean the bed if some nighttime tea or cream spilled bothers me. Just as the fact that I could only avoid this problem by buying additional covers, sheets, or slipcovers–which would further increase the purchase price.
And speaking of purchase price: While you save on buying a new mattress due to the longevity and warranty, if you regularly replace the topper and its covers, you end up with four-figure sums each time. An expensive pleasure for an item that few will see and (presumably) few will enjoy. Because, let’s be honest: If you spend several thousand euros on something, you want to proudly show it off to friends, family, and visitors. But who likes to invite guests into their bedroom, show off their bed, and then have to accept that curious people might want to try lying and sitting on it?