Hospital beds are now one of the newest and hottest products in the U.S. furniture industry.
Various furniture companies, including Minneapolis-based Select Comfort and Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Ergomotion, offer hospital-like beds for consumers, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Bed makers have seen an increased interest in adjustable beds. Consumers are seeking beds without guard rails and with features such as remote controls and the ability to raise or lower the head and foot of the bed.
The International Sleep Products Association, a U.S. trade group, estimated shipments of adjustable bases sold via mattress companies in the United States rose 36 percent last year, compared to a 2 percent growth for the overall residential furniture market.
David Van Elslander, president of Michigan-based furniture company Art Van PureSleep, said approximately 30 percent of mattresses the store sells are sold with an adjustable base, up from less than 10 percent a few years ago.
Select Comfort also reported an increase in annual revenue per mattress sold, largely due to increased interest in flexible bases. The company's mattress revenue rose from $2,424 in 2010 to $3,671 in 2014.
Despite the potential glitches in adjustable beds, some companies such as Select Comfort claim the adjustable features can help relieve snoring or mild sleep apnea.