Can sleeping in the most expensive bed on the planet lead to boosted beauty, more energy and even a longer, healthier life? I traveled to Stockholm, Sweden to check out the origin story of Hästens — and put this very question to the test.
Even if you’ve never laid down on a Hästens bed, you’ve seen one somewhere, either IRL at a fancy friend’s house or luxury spa like aesthetician-to-the-stars Joanna Czech’s Soho studio, or on screen in, say, Emily in Paris. The telltale blue and white check pattern screams status. The luxurious mattress is more than just a bed. In fact, don’t call it a bed at all; according to the brand, it’s a “sleep system.” Let’s start at the beginning.
The History of Hästens
Now a fifth generation family business, Hästens’ trade started in the mid-1800s as a saddlery, crafting the most masterfully designed, bespoke saddles for royalty. The brand name literally translates to “the horse’s” in Swedish. Just four years after starting the business, founder Pehr Adolf Janson was named a Master Saddler by the King of Sweden, and with his devotion to horses and equine materials, the company also made harnesses, fine leather goods and horse-tail hair mattresses. But as automobiles replaced horses for transport after World War I, the family shifted the focus of Hästens from saddles to mattresses, still maintaining the same level of quality and excellence. Janson’s grandson, David Stefanus Janson travelled to far-flung destinations including Egypt to source the finest horse hair from Arabian steeds. His daughter, Solveig, and her husband, Jack Ryde, eventually took over the business and it was Ryde, a lover of art and design, who introduced the distinct blue check into the operation. The couples’ son, Jan Ryde, is now the head of the brand, and under his leadership, the journey of excellence continues, with 12 styles that range in price from just under $10K up to the Grand Vividus, which starts at $832,000 (yes, you read that right.)
At an invitation from the company to learn why Hästens beds, excuse me, sleep systems, cost so much, I hopped over to Stockholm for a deep dive. I’d never been to Scandinavia, and I was interested to see if the attention to craftsmanship and community lived up to the hype.
Just after landing and arriving at the Stallmästergården hotel perched next to the Royal Haga Park where Swedish princes once rode their horses, I had time to kill before meeting my hosts. I never, ever nap when I land in a new time zone, but I couldn’t resist tucking in to my Hästens for the next few nights, a Moranga model. As one who lives by my Oura ring, I’m quite familiar with the notion of sleep latency — the time it takes to fall asleep after laying down. I conked out in record time.
The Art of Bed-Making
The next day, a chariot (read: Hästens-mobile decked out in blue and white check) whisked me 45 minutes past rolling hills studded with birch trees to the town of Köping, where the Hästens office and factory still stand. Before my tour started, we indulged in Fika, the Swedish art of sharing thoughts — and treats including uniquely sweet and spicy cardamom buns, almond cake and fruits along with strongly brewed coffee and tea. The ritual was foreshadowing.
The office and workshop, while bustling, had the same depth of slow and steady, thoughtful attention to detail. First, we passed by the wall of fame. Beyoncé, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Drake and Wayne Gretzky (who stars in the brand’s latest campaign alongside his wife for the updated ultra-luxe Grand Vividus model) are all known to sleep on Hästens. Since the company doesn’t gift celebrities and stars buy their pieces, strict discretion is maintained beyond those A-listers whose beds have been peeped in home design profiles or raved about owning one. I’m not supposed to share who was on the wall, but let’s just say there are many A-list actors and musicians, action stars and at least one former governor.
Horsehair, springy from being freshly cleaned, plaited and steamed, was inspected for quality control before being hand-stuffed into cotton shells. The sleep system is comprised of layers of a box spring, a mattress and a topper, made from all natural materials that control temperature and last long — in fact, each system has a 25-year warranty. Each bed is handmade in real time, which means it takes about eight-to-ten weeks to complete one. And that’s just for the entry models. A Vividus or Grand Vividus, with every aspect from design to materials including size, fabric and wooden accents, hand-selected and customized, can take up to eight months! Think of the variety of styles as ready-to-wear vs. couture.
A Customized Bed Test
A quick skip from the factory in Köping is the Hästens showroom-slash-shop, where clients receive a bed test before purchasing, meant to help them find the bespoke style that suits their sleeping habits — including positions, like side or back and general desires, budget be damned. At the showroom, and after a quick Fika to keep energy levels up (bed testing is serious business,) I meet the head of customer support, Sonny, who guides me through my bed test. He also regaled me with anecdotes, because Hästens 25-year warranty means he has personally replaced the beds of celebrities, or simply visited to massage the topper, which clients are instructed to do to keep it, like one’s own body, in tip-top shape.
While I loved sinking in to the Superia and T2000 models, nothing prepared me for my turn on the Grand Vividus. I felt supported in a way that might’ve reminded me of being in the womb — and if my Oura ring is to be trusted, it went into nap mode, and I must’ve dozed off for 18 minutes.
Given the ease with which I nodded off, and the high-achieving stature of those who have the bed, I couldn’t help but wonder if investing in a bed to improve one’s sleep could actually boost productivity, beauty, longevity, you name it.
The Science of Sleep
“Sleep is the body’s most active regenerative state,” says Dr. Amanda Kahn, an internist and longevity specialist in New York City. “The glymphatic system clears metabolic waste, including beta-amyloid, which is closely linked to Alzheimer’s disease. This nightly cleaning cycle is essential for long-term cognitive resilience and neuroprotection,” she explains. “Sleep is also when we regulate key longevity hormones, including growth hormone for tissue repair, plus cortisol and insulin sensitivity resets.”
Dr. Chad Eldridge, a Washington DC-based chiropractor who specializes in wellness and sleep hygiene agrees. “Sleep plays a critical role in hormone regulation, including those that control appetite and satiety,” he says, noting that getting good zzz’s can also keep you healthier and promote brighter skin — and mood. “It’s closely tied to immune function and inflammation control, affecting susceptibility to infections and developing chronic diseases,” he explains. “Additionally, sleep directly influences mood regulation, stress management and overall mental health.”
So an ultra-luxury bed may not work for every wallet, but with a myriad of benefits, it just might be worth the splurge. And until then, Hästens also makes decidedly comfy slippers, pillows, bedding and more.
