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If you’ve got an adjustable bed, you know very well that it just won’t work with traditional bed frames. Most mattress brands offer adjustable bed bases to go with their mattresses. But how exactly does it work, just how much assembly is needed and how exactly do you put it together? In this article, we cover all the bases (see what we did there?) on how to set up an adjustable base.
How to set up an adjustable bed
Before doing anything else, you need to make sure that your existing bed frame can accommodate an adjustable bed base. Typically, adjustable bed frames are thicker than a regular bed frame. This is also the reason why many adjustable beds look a little bit clunky and hospital bed-like but we shall get to fixing the aesthetics further down below.
Once you are certain that you current bed frame can support an adjustable bed, you need to ensure that the adjustable bed base lies on a flat position on the sleeping surface but with enough wiggle room so the joints of the adjustable base can move easily.
Depending on whether your chosen adjustable base comes with legs or not (some may be removable), you can lay your adjustable base directly on your bed frame’s support rails, atop the mattress foundation. But you need to ensure that your bed frame can accommodate the combined weight of both the adjustable base and the mattress.
Most mattress types work well with adjustable bed bases, except for the classic innerspring mattress. Innerspring mattresses are not able to bend accordingly when used with an adjustable bed base. All-foam mattresses are the best mattresses to use with adjustable bases – these include memory foam mattresses and latex mattresses. Almost all hybrid mattresses of today – which are a mix of foam and springs – can also work exceedingly well with an adjustable bed frame.
Regular bed frames
Adjustable bases can be used with a standard bed frame. This includes panel beds and platform beds. A panel bed frame are usually supported by slats, which come in either wood or metal. A panel frame also usually comes with side rails, a footboard and a headboard. More often than not though, a panel bed may need the additional support of box springs.
In the case of panel beds and an adjustable bed base however, you may need to remove the slats and place the adjustable base in its stead. This also means doing away with the box spring. Some types of panel beds with slats spaced very close together need not be taken apart if used with an adjustable bed base.
Platform beds
A platform bed comes with a solid platform as its mattress foundation. Platform beds do not come with slats. You can lay an adjustable base directly on top of the foundation of a platform bed. Again, make sure that your bed frame can accommodate the combined weight of the adjustable bed base and the mattress.
No frame (directly on the floor)
Some adjustable bases do not need a separate bed frame and can stand alone. These types of bases can come with removable legs. An adjustable bed’s legs are made to be able to accommodate the weight capacity of and adjustable bed and its corresponding mattress. One such example of a standalone adjustable bed is the GhostBed SmartBed 3D Matrix.
How split adjustable bases work
If you are one half of a couple and you both have different sleep preferences and still want an adjustable bed, a split adjustable bed is the answer. Usually coming in a Split King size which are essentially two Twin XL mattresses, a split adjustable bed can suit any sleeping position or any other sleep habits you or your partner might have to get a comfortable night’s sleep.
Split adjustable bases work independently of each other and can be customized to whatever preferences you and you partner might have. Most brands can address different issues such as sleep position, medical concerns like sleep apnea and more. This is controlled by different remote settings on either side of the adjustable bed.
Split adjustable beds can also come in different sizes like a Split Queen and a California King, as long as they can accommodate more than one person. Bear in mind that split adjustable beds need separate fitted sheets.
Bed frame alternatives
While there are no definite bed frame alternatives for adjustable bed frames, you can certainly soup up your bed to hide that clunky, unmistakable look of an adjustable bed.
- Use a bed skirt – Used primarily to keep dust away from the bed, bed skirts can also improve the overall look of your bed and bedroom. On the same vein, it can cover any imperfections or anything else you want to hide that’s underneath your bed – like an adjustable bed’s thick bottom, wires and whatnot.
- Add a headboard and/or a footboard – If your bed frame has headboard brackets and footboard brackets, you can add both to decorate your adjustable bed frame or existing bed frame. Even if your bed frame might not have these brackets, you can mimic the look of a headboard with either a standalone headboard or decals/paint.
- Add decorative features – Bedding makes all the difference when it comes to any bed, including an adjustable bed. Pillows, quilts and blankets like the Bearaby weighted blanket for example can make or break the overall aesthetic you are going for when it comes to your bed.
FAQs
You can definitely use a headboard and a footboard with an adjustable bed as long as your bed frame supports it. A standalone headboard can also be added to a wall where the head of the bed will be to create the illusion of one.
An adjustable bed base can fit into regular bed frames as long as they are the same size and are well-supported by the bed frame’s foundation. They will not however work with flimsier bed frames, or bed frames that require a box spring.
Some adjustable beds do not need a bed frame and can stand on their own. Some also come with their own support rails and legs.
You can make an adjustable bed look pretty by covering up anything you may want to cover up such as a thick base, wires and such with bed covers or bed skirts. You can also dress up a bed with bedding such as pillows, duvets and blankets. A headboard and/or a footboard can also make your adjustable bed look less like it belongs in a hospital.
You can certainly put a bed skirt on an adjustable bed.
If a bed’s foundation cannot support the weight of both an adjustable base and its corresponding mattress, then it is not compatible with an adjustable bed base.
Conclusion
Gone are the association of adjustable bases with hospital beds, today a good number of people pay good money for the numerous benefits of sleeping on an adjustable bed.
Setting up and putting together an adjustable base is pretty straightforward – all you need is a compatible bed frame. One that can support both the adjustable base and a mattress.
Some adjustable bed bases can even stand on their own without the need for a frame which makes setup, moving, and assembly even easier.
Some of an adjustable bed’s features include zero gravity, customizable firmness levels, temperature regulation and even an anti-snore option.
Next step: Now that you’ve learned different techniques for putting an adjustable bed base inside a bed frame, it’s time to take a look at some of your options. Read our guide to the best bed frames and find out which one is best for you.
Michelline loves nothing more than a cozy bed, with a stack of books at her side. She loves getting lost when she travels, can bake an entire British afternoon tea from scratch, is obsessed with all things analogue and does calligraphy on the side. She currently suffers from mild insomnia and is more than happy to be your guinea pig, so you won’t have to go through all the trouble of finding out what works best for you.
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