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The Family Bed vs. King vs. Alaskan King: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to sleep, size matters more than most people realize. A standard King or California King may feel generous at first glance, but for families, co-sleepers, or pet owners, it can quickly feel cramped. That’s why oversized mattresses like the Alaskan king-size mattress and The Family Bed by Taylor & Wells are gaining attention. If you’ve ever woken up pinned to the edge of your bed by a toddler’s foot, a partner’s restless tossing, or your dog stretched out like royalty, you know exactly why bigger beds are trending. But how do you know which oversized option is right for you? This guide breaks down the key differences between the King, California King, Alaskan King, and The Family Bed by Taylor & Wells, so you can choose the mattress that truly gives your household the room it deserves. Why Bigger Beds Are Gaining Popularity Oversized mattresses are a...

Kevin Spencer - Sep 24, 2025

What Is Sleep Hypopnea? Could It Be Affecting You?

Poor sleep can affect every part of your life, from how alert you feel in the morning to how well your body protects itself from long-term health problems. Many assume their restless nights, morning headaches, or daytime fatigue are due to stress or a bad mattress. But in some cases, the cause is a sleep disorder you may not have heard much about: sleep hypopnea. What Is Sleep Hypopnea? Sleep hypopnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder. It occurs when one's breathing becomes unusually shallow during sleep. Instead of smooth, normal airflow, the upper airway becomes partially blocked, reducing the amount of air one takes in. This decrease in airflow means less oxygen reaches your blood. Over time, repeated episodes can lower your blood oxygen levels, strain your body, and prevent you from reaching restorative sleep stages. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine defines hypopnea as a partial reduction in airflow...

Kevin Spencer - Sep 17, 2025

Do Expensive Sheets Really Help You Sleep Better?

You’ve probably seen them, glossy magazine spreads or celebrity home tours where someone casually mentions they “only sleep on $2,000 Egyptian cotton sheets.” It makes you wonder: Are my regular bed sheets ruining my chance at a good night’s sleep? Here’s the truth: studies show that high-quality bedding is linked with better sleep. The right sheets, blankets, and pillows can help regulate body temperature, reduce tossing and turning, and keep you comfortable through the night. That means you’re more likely to reach restorative stages of sleep, the ones that help your body repair, reset, and recharge. But before you run out to splurge on luxury bed linens, let’s look closer. Because while bedding accessories matter, the biggest factor in long-term sleep quality will always be your mattress. Why Bedding Matters for Sleep Your bedding is the closest layer between you and your mattress, and it sets the tone for comfort....

Kevin Spencer - Sep 09, 2025

What Is Mattress Off-Gassing? Should You Be Worried?

Mattress off-gassing refers to that distinctive “new mattress smell” you might notice after unboxing a bed. When you open a freshly manufactured, vacuum-sealed mattress and place it on your bed frame, you may detect a chemical-like odor in the room. This happens because volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released from the mattress materials into the air. In simple terms, off-gassing is the process of a new mattress emitting these leftover manufacturing fumes. It’s especially common with mattress-in-a-box products that are compressed and vacuum sealed right after production (the packaging traps those VOCs until you open it). The smell can be unpleasant, but what does it mean for your health and indoor air quality? Why Do New Mattresses Smell? That “new mattress smell” is largely caused by VOCs escaping from synthetic materials in the bed. VOCs are chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature. They’re found in many household items (paint,...

Kevin Spencer - Aug 25, 2025

Can One Bed Fit the Whole Family (and the Dog Too)?

Not every family moment fits on the calendar. Some of the best ones happen in the quiet glow of a bedside lamp, with a toddler curled into your side, your partner half-asleep on the other end, and your dog tucked at your feet. But most beds weren’t made for memories like that. A standard king might sound big, until you’re sharing it with two kids, a Labrador, and a dream of just one uninterrupted night’s sleep. That’s why more and more families are asking the same question: Can one bed really fit all of us, and still leave room to breathe? Yes, it can. It’s called The Family Bed by Taylor & Wells, and it’s changing the way families sleep, snuggle, and stay close. This mattress is a lifestyle shift for co-sleepers, pet parents, movie-night lovers, and anyone who believes that togetherness doesn’t have to come at the expense of...

Kevin Spencer - Aug 18, 2025

Mattresses in Space: What Do Astronauts Sleep On Up There?

In a recent article, we explored how a NASA invention for astronauts turned into memory foam mattresses that improve our sleep every night (see From NASA to Your Bedroom: The Evolution of Memory Foam Mattresses). But what about the astronauts themselves? Up on the International Space Station (ISS), crew members aren’t dozing on king-size beds; they’re cocooned in sleeping bags attached to the wall as they hurtle around Earth at 17,500 mph. In fact, an astronaut on the ISS experiences 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours, making a “normal” night’s sleep a bit of a cosmic challenge. It sounds wild, yet many astronauts insist that sleeping in space can be extremely comfortable – perhaps even more comfortable than on Earth – once you get used to it. How Astronauts Go to Bed Astronauts don’t use traditional mattresses in space. Instead, each crew member sleeps solo in a small, closet-like...

Kevin Spencer - Aug 11, 2025

Customize Your Sleep with an Adjustable Bed

If you’re tired of tossing and turning or waking up with aches and pains, an adjustable bed base might be the solution for you. Unlike a flat frame, an adjustable base lets you raise the head or feet (or both) into positions a standard bed can’t. These changes may seem small, but they add up to big benefits. For example: Elevating your upper body a few inches can reduce snoring and ease Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) by keeping stomach acid down. Lifting your legs helps blood flow back to your heart, cutting down on swelling and leg pain. In short, adjustable beds help people improve sleep quality by matching the bed to their body’s needs. Many users find that customizing the incline relieves chronic pain. Slight leg lifts can take pressure off the lower back, and raising the head can ease neck tension, while the “zero-gravity” preset (head and legs lifted)...

Kevin Spencer - Jul 22, 2025

Jet Lag Recovery: Can Your Mattress Help You Adjust Faster?

Jet lag is essentially a circadian rhythm sleep disorder. Normally, your body clock is tuned to the 24-hour day–night cycle: daylight keeps you awake, and darkness tells your brain it’s time for sleep. But when you zoom across several time zones in a matter of hours, your internal clock can’t instantly catch up. For example, if you fly from New York to London and arrive at 11 PM local time, your body might still feel like its 6 PM back in New York, making it hard to fall asleep. Your body then goes through a “recouping” phase – sometimes linked to the growing pains of adjusting to a new schedule. The adjustment takes time. In practice, your circadian clock shifts by roughly 1–1.5 hours per day as you reset to the new zone. This means if you cross, say, 6 time zones, it could take around 4–6 days to adapt...

Kevin Spencer - Jul 16, 2025