You’ve seen them—those little wooden pegs tucked into holes along the side of an old bed frame.
Maybe you thought they were decorative.
Or part of the design.
Or just… leftover parts?
But here’s the truth:
👉 Those pegs aren’t just wood—they’re history.
They’re remnants of one of the oldest sleep technologies ever invented: the rope bed.
And not only do they have a fascinating purpose…
They’re also the reason we still say, “Sleep tight.”
Let’s unravel the story behind those mysterious pegs—and why your great-grandparents literally wound their way to a good night’s rest. ✨💛
🌿 The Rope Bed: The Original Mattress Support System
Before springs.
Before memory foam.
Even before box springs…
There was the rope bed.
For centuries—especially in Europe from the Middle Ages through the 1800s—most beds weren’t filled with foam or coils.
Instead, they relied on a crisscross network of hemp or jute ropes stretched tightly across a wooden frame.
On top of that? A stuffed mattress—filled with straw, feathers, or down.
It wasn’t fancy.
But it worked.
And it allowed for airflow, flexibility, and surprisingly good support.
🔧 So What Were the Pegs For?
