As a result, mattresses have transformed from basic sleep surface solution to technology-advanced and health-enhancing sleep systems. Well, we can say that the next wave of wellness might not be just about steps or calories, it would be more about quality sleep and this is what is revolutionising the bedding and allied industry.

So, here is a closer look at the all the latest trends and innovations that already have reshaped the way we rest and will further impact the future of sleep solutions.

Mattresses to become ‘Cool’

The coming years will see mattress becoming ‘Cool’ from mundane. Well, we mean to say is that the cooling fabrics and cooling technology will gain momentum in the years to come. Vipul Kumar, VP- New Product Development & Sustainability, Duroflex, avers, “India is primarily dominated by a hot and humid climate and only 10-20 per cent of the population has access to air conditioners. Given this, the mattress industry in the country is continuously innovating on the cooling raw materials and technology front.” In future, this will aid in the growth of cooling fabrics and hybrid mattresses that combines more than one type of technology. So, while the inner springs can give better comfort and sleep to the consumer, the outer layer can be made from memory foam or latex that can provide better pressure relief, breathability and bounce. Kumar notes, “Presently, manufacturers are increasingly making use of latex in the manufacturing of mattresses. This is because latex mattresses bounce back well, are more responsive, comfortable and have more durability. Also, manufacturers are focusing on developing mattresses that use anti-microbial fabrics that promote better sleep.”

Further, these days, new memory foams are being used which have an open cell structure and this reduces heat retention, improve airflow and keep the foam cooler. Even gel memory foam is increasingly being used by the manufacturers as it provides enhanced pressure-relief and has cooling effects.

As per the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2022, “Mattress using cooling gel foams or Phase Change Materials (PCMs) can reduce sleep surface temperature by 2–4°C, significantly improving deep sleep quality.” So what are PCMs?

  • PCMs to beat the heat: In future, more and more mattress manufacturers are expected to use PCMs (substances that absorb, store and release thermal energy as they shift between solid and liquid states) in the mattress cover, foam or textile layers to offer a science-backed solution to one of the most common sleep issues that is over-heating. Generally, PCMs work by absorbing the excess heat produced by the body during sleep and undergo a change in phase (from solid to liquid), effectively cooling the sleeper. As the body cools down again, the materials release stored heat and return to a solid state, helping to maintain a comfortable and consistent sleeping temperature throughout the night. The benefits of using cooling PCMs include:
  1. Regulation of temperature : Adapting to sleeper’s body temperature in real time, PCMs offer a dynamic cooling solution rather than passive breathability like traditional foams.
  2. Better sleep quality : Boosting an optimal sleep temperature, PCMs help users sleep faster and enjoy deeper and uninterrupted sleep.
  3. Long-term durability : PCM-infused layers tend to maintain their properties over time, offering sustained comfort without chemical deterioration.

That said, it is rightly deducted by Dr. Michael Breus, Clinical Psychologist & Sleep Specialist, “Temperature would be the new frontier in sleep science.”

Sustainable and environmental solutions to carve a better bed:

‘Sustainability’ has become a new buzz word in every field and mattress industry is no different. Since past several years, mattresses were made using polyurethane foam, a petroleum-based material which emitted volatile compounds that are harmful for both humans and environment. Now, with the growing awareness about environment, customers are demanding mattresses that do not harm the environment as well as humans and this is leading to manufacturers developing and using organic methods and material for making mattresses. That said, demand for eco-friendly and sustainable products is touted to increase in the country. Hence, materials like eco-latex and organic wool and cotton are expected to gain prominence and mattresses like organic innerspring mattress and plant-based memory foam mattress are touted to garner more attention from the customers. These materials not only decrease the carbon footprint, but also appeals to health-conscious consumers who want hypoallergenic and chemical-free sleeping solutions. Many brands in the country are now designing mattresses using green-friendly materials and advanced technologies to ensure quality sleep like Duroflex and Kurlon. Kumar notes here, “Customers may find such mattress costly but the benefits of such mattresses offset its cost as they are not only environment-friendly but also comfortable, breathable and enhance the overall sleep experience.”

In future, brands will not only use eco-friendly materials, they will also focus on mattress recycling programs wherein they could take back the old mattresses from the customers and reuse the recycled foam and other materials. Also, modular and recyclable designs that create less landfill waste would gain prominence.

‘Smart’ mattresses to dominate the industry

In the coming years, equipped with sensors which can track sleep cycles, heart rate, and body movement, ‘Smart’ mattresses would bring about a revolution in the country. Such mattresses would help the users optimize their sleep. In fact, it is expected that these mattresses will be seamlessly integrated with the smartphone apps to provide real-time feedback and recommendations. As per Kumar, “No doubt that the ‘Smart’ mattress segment is still at a nascent stage in India and at present, mainly experiments are going on this field, yet it is believed that in future years, such mattresses will dominate the industry as they have the potential to promote overall health and well-being in addition to aiding in good sleep. At present, many brands in the country are already experimenting with tech-enabled beds and accessories that sync with fitness trackers or proprietary apps to deliver personalized sleep feedback.”

Emphasis on Orthopedic mattresses

In the recent past, spinal health issues have increased in India primarily due to factors like sedentary lifestyles, poor posture and obesity. Hence, a whole new market is being developed that is the orthopedic mattress market. In order to boost their spinal health, now the customers are increasingly demanding orthopedic mattresses that offer specialised support to relieve back and joint pain. Crafted to ensure proper spinal alignment, such mattresses are best suited for those looking for comfort as well as therapeutic value. In future, demand for such mattresses will only increase and more innovations are expected to be seen on this front.

Online mattress market boom

There is no doubt that the economy suffered very badly during the Corona virus pandemic phase but as they say everything has a silver lining. While physical stores suffered major losses, it was online shopping that got a boom in the country and is still a growing trend. This affected the mattress industry as well. Kumar says, “During the pandemic phase, people started buying even a product like the mattress online unlike before and the trend is still continuing as the e-commerce is on a boom in the country. Today, many people, especially those who are constantly shifting cities due to transferable jobs or looking for affordable solutions are buying mattresses online as they find them affordable as well as lightweight.”

Further the ease of browsing, comparing and then making the purchase decision while sitting comfortably at one’s home has also made online mattress shopping very lucrative. As a result, established big brands that had only only physical presence earlier are now increasingly focusing to have online presence to attract more customers. Many brands online are offering free trial periods, good discounts and home delivery options to attract more customers and this trend will further intensify in the future. More big brands are expected to indulge in virtual consultation and sleep quizzes online to help customer choose the best mattress as per their need, making the online buying experience even more satisfying and justifying.

Here, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will also come into play and increase the online mattress buying experience of the customers. In future, more advanced algorithms using customer data to guide them toward the ideal mattress as per their need would be used by the manufacturers.

Physical stores to gain ground

While the online mattress market would definitely grow in the future, the offline market would be left no behind. Given that the physical retail experience is still of primary importance in the mattress industry and people want to touch and feel their mattress before they buy, in the times to come, mattress companies having only online presence would enter the physical domain. Brands in the segment would definitely invest in creating an engaging as well as immersive shopping experience not only online but offline too. In fact, it would be seen that more and more digital native companies would open physical stores to attract more customers.

55-year-old Jyoti Taya notes, “When I wanted to buy a new mattress, I told my son to look for good options. He showed me many mattresses online which were actually good, going by the details and features, but still I wanted to see the mattress physically. So, I insisted to see these mattresses at the store and get a feel of them. Interestingly, one of the brands had recently opened their store in our city. So, we went to check it out and finally took the purchase decision, leaving out those options which we could not see physically.” That said, in India, people still want to buy the mattress after physically checking it. Thus, noticing this trend, many native companies are planning or have already opened their physical stores in various cities giving enhanced personal experience to their customers. They allow the customers to physically choose or test mattresses in a very relaxed and non-pressured environment. For that, the trend of companies hiring sleep specialists who have the right knowledge to guide the customers throughout their mattress selection process is on the rise. Kumar notes, “In India, people don’t take sleep so seriously. They consider it as a natural process and pay least attention to the sleep quality. However, sleep is essential for overall well-being. So, these days, there are sleep trainers at the physical stores that educate the customers about the importance of sleep and products necessary for it and increase their physical buying experience.” In future, like the online mattress stores, the physical stores are also expected to adopt.

free trial period as a standard practice to boost sales, enhance customer experience and retain the customers by building a good bond with them. Augmented Reality (AR) shopping experience to be introduced: In order to enhance the shopping experience at their stores, brands would also make use of the AR technology through which, they would help their customers in assuming how a particular mattress would look in their home and even aiding them in virtually testing its feel before making the final purchase decision.

Customisation and personalisation would become the key

Who would not want a personal touch when it comes to shopping? The trend is no different for the mattress industry. In the present times, customers are increasingly demanding personalisation i.e., mattresses tailored as per their specific individual needs. In fact, in future, it is personalisation and customisation only that will be the key trend-setters in the mattress industry. Given the increased awareness and sleep education, customers would demand mattresses as per their sleep preferences. So, different sleepers like ones sleeping on the side, sleeping on the back and likewise, will demand different mattresses. They will also ask for customisation based on their need for firmness. So, gradually, the number of such mattress brands offering customisation to their customers by allowing them to select the firmness, material and design, is increasing and will continue to do so.

Other significant trends:

First, earlier, customers did not focus on the quality of the mattress. However, now the trend is changing. Today, people want mattresses that are not only comfortable but last long too. In fact, durability has become a major trend and a priority. So, in the future, mattress manufacturing companies would have to manufacture mattresses that use quality materials and better construction methods to make their products last longer.

Second, given the increasing spending capacity of the customers and the wish to live a luxurious life, luxury mattresses would be in demand in the future. Including several comfort layers, better edge support and longer warranties, such luxury mattress often appeal to the buyers willing to pay a premium for high-quality sleep products. Hence, mattress manufactures will have to increasingly develop such mattresses in the future.

Innovations in the Indian pillow and other sleep accessories market

Not only the mattress market, but the allied sleep solutions market is also expected to see a wave of innovation. As India is realising the importance of quality sleep, the spotlight is expanding beyond mattresses to the entire sleep ecosystem. So, once overlooked segment like pillows, mattress toppers, protectors and accessories, are now increasingly being seen as critical players in delivering quality sleep. This shift is mainly driven by rising awareness, evolving lifestyles, and increasing willingness among the consumers to invest in sleep wellness.

Specifically, many innovations are being seen in the pillows segment. Kumar notes, “Pillow is a smaller segment, so it is easier to experiment in this segment. Also, as compared to a mattress, pillows are not costly, so there is fast and frequent decision making. That said, it cannot be denied that the pillow segment is often overlooked as customers don’t pay much heed to the quality of the pillow. They either buy a pregnancy pillow or a travel pillow, rest they don’t pay much attention to. However, this is gradually changing. Customers are realizing the importance of a good pillow. Various innovations are now being seen in the pillow segment in terms of material and technology.”
Here is a look at the innovations happening in the pillow segment:

Here is a look at the innovations happening in the pillow segment:

  • Smart pillows : Technology is not just reserved for the mattresses anymore. A growing number of Indian companies are exploring the smart pillows that track sleep posture and movement, offer anti-snore technology, use built-in speakers for noise, meditation or music and sync with sleep apps to provide data-driven sleep insights.
  • Ergonomic and orthopedic pillows : Due to rise in back and neck issues in urban India, there is surge in demand for memory foam contour pillows for spinal alignment, cervical pillows for neck support and wedge pillows to alleviate acid reflux or improve breathing.
  • Cooling and temperature-regulating pillows : Today, many manufacturers are using cooling gel-infused memory foam pillows, PCM covers that regulate temperature and ventilated pillow covers that allow better airflow.
  • Sustainable and hypoallergenic innovations : In future, the eco-conscious and health-conscious buyers in the country would drive the demand for organic cotton pillow covers, natural latex pillows free from synthetic chemicals and hypoallergenic materials for sensitive skin and allergy sufferers.

Allied accessories like mattress toppers, protectors, and pads are also no longer considered as mere add-ons, in fact, they have become the essentials in sleep products industry and thus, many innovations are happening in this segment as well. First, these days, mattress toppers with memory foam or latex are increasingly being used to enhance softness or support without replacing the entire mattress. Second, there is growth of waterproof and antimicrobial protectors as they protect against spills, sweat and allergens, increasing the mattress’s life span. Third, cooling pads are increasingly being used in cities with high summer temperatures. Overall, the Indian market for these products is expanding rapidly, mainly through e-commerce channels.

India’s sleep revolution has just begun

Driven by technology, wellness, awareness, education and customer empowerment, India’s sleep solutions industry is undergoing a seismic shift. In the past few years, the role of the mattress has elevated from a basic necessity to a sophisticated wellness tool as sleep has becomes central to health, longevity, and productivity. Thus, the humble mattress in India is now seen as tech-rich and health boosting device.

From cooling materials that can beat the heat to sensors that can indicate health issues, the future of sleep in India is not only comfortable but it is intelligent too. In addition, innovations are happening on all fronts, be it online or offline mattress marketing. Further, personalisation is sinking in fast and sustainability is further preparing a new base for innovation.

Well, not only the mattress industry but its allied industries are also seeing good growth and innovation.
Pillows, protectors, and toppers are no longer considered as secondary, rather, they have become the core components of the sleep revolution sweeping the country.

As more and more consumers are seeing sleep as a pillar of health, the mattress and the allied sleep products industry is definitely expected to see a boom in the future with may innovations happening on every front. The mattress and allied sleep products manufacturing companies need to keep abreast with these changes and demands of the customers to beat the competition and reach new heights of success.