Adjustable Electric Beds

What to look at when buying an adjustable bed

Adjustable beds can provide maximum relaxation, improve your sleep quality and bring some health benefits as well. But do they make a real difference, are they worth it? In this article I help you decide if an adjustable electric bed is for you by bringing closer their basic and additional features. 

What are adjustable beds?

Adjustable beds have electric powered beds, where the head and foot areas can be raised. You can elevate the feet or the head or both together keeping the middle lower. 

They can be regulated with a remote control or a smartphone app, some have storage space underneath or other additional features. 

Who are electric beds for?

Electric adjustable beds can help those suffering from sleep apnea, reflux, snoring, breathing difficulties or other issues which require a specific sleeping position. Or they can simply provide more comfort for relaxation. 

As adjustable beds allow you to raise different parts of the mattress, you can set them in positions suitable for various activities such as watching TV, reading, working with a laptop or sleeping. 

The benefits of sleeping on an adjustable bed include:

• reflux reduction
• sleep apnea help
• improved blood circulation
• reduction of swelling 
• better breathing
• back pain relief 
• snoring relief  

Extra features of adjustable electric beds

Don’t miss out on the useful features which adjustable electric beds may have! Have a think if you would like to have any of these.

Adjustable beds with extra features can also be called smart beds as they may be rich in various technology add-ons. Some extra features you can get with adjustable beds include:

• massage
• anti-snore mode
• zero gravity feature
• head tilt feature
• USB charging ports
• smartphone app controls
• lights 

Mattress compatibility

What mattress is right for an adjustable bed?

Do you need a special mattress for an adjustable bed?

For an adjustable bed you will need a mattress which is flexible enough to conform to the shape of the bed. The best type of mattress for an electric bed is a foam mattress such as memory foam or latex. Spring mattresses may not be flexible enough while a mattress with a border wire won’t work with an adjustable bed.

What’s the right mattress thickness for an electric bed?

The right mattress thickness for an electric bed is between 15 and 30 cm. 

Do I need two mattresses for a double adjustable bed?

Yes. If you have a double adjustable bed with two parts moving separately, you will need two mattresses for each half of the adjustable bed. 

Best adjustable beds for side sleepers

What if you are a side sleeper? 

If you sleep on your side and raise the head of the bed, your spine will bend in a way that becomes heartful after a while. 

But there is a solution to that!

There are electric beds where you can tilt the entire bed without bending the mattress, so you can keep your spine straight. 

Best adjustable beds for stomach sleepers

What if you are a stomach sleeper? Will it bend you back?

The solution is the same as for side sleepers – go for an adjustable bed which allows tilting the whole thing without bending the sleeping surface. 

Did you know?

You may not need to replace your current bed frame if you want to add an adjustable bed.  Many adjustable bed bases can fit in your current bed frame. E.g. if you have a slatted bed frame, you can add an adjustable bed by removing some slats to make space for the legs. If you have a platform bed base with a solid board on top you can find an adjustable bed base without legs or where you can remove the legs. 

What to check before buying an adjustable bed?

Here is your adjustable bed checklist:

• Maximum weight limit
• Does it have a retainer bar at the foot? This is a critical feature to keep your mattress in place.
• Guarantee
• Service options
• Adjustability – what positions are available
• Does it require assembly or comes in one piece? 
• If your bed comes in one piece – measure the doorway and hallway to make sure you can get it inside your bedroom. 
• Your mattress size – the mattress needs to be longer than a mattress for other types of beds. It needs to be at least 15 cm longer than the tallest sleeper because adjustable beds push down the person sleeping, so you need more room.

Apart from the above, you may also want to look into the storage solutions for adjustable beds and whether you want it with or without a headboard. 

I hope this gives you an idea of what to expect from an adjustable bed and helps you decide if this is something for you!