How Does an Adjustable Bed Fit Into a Bed Frame

It used to be you didn’t have many adjustable bed options unless you were willing to put a bulky, unattractive hospital bed in your bedroom. However, now the market is full of amazing adjustable beds that give your body the elevation it needs and look great at the same time.

Depending on the setup and weight capacity of your existing bed frame, you may even be able to fit an adjustable bed base right in it. There are also plenty of stylish options for those who want an adjustable bed. Let’s take a look.

Setting Up an Adjustable Bed

Regardless of whether you put them in a bed frame or stand them on their own, all adjustable beds have two basic components: the joints and the sleeping surface. The joints are what move the bed up and down.

Meanwhile, the sleeping surface is the platform on which you lay your adjustable bed mattress. Sleeping surfaces may have slats just like a regular platform bed, or they could be one solid piece. Some may be upholstered in fabric.

Adjustable Bed Bases

These bases will be proportioned to fit inside the bed frame that corresponds to your mattress size. Since adjustable bases correspond to the measurements of standard mattress sizes, they’ll fit within almost any standard bed frame (bed frames are slightly wider to accommodate box springs and mattress foundations).

The only thing you’ll need to do is remove any slats or horizontal support rails your bed frame may have to make room for the adjustable bed base’s legs.

Some bases may come without legs (or have removable legs), making it possible to lay the adjustable base directly on your bed frame’s support rails. Just make sure you’re not exceeding your frame’s maximum weight capacity.

Adjustable Bed Frame

If you’d rather have an adjustable bed without a frame, there are plenty of adjustable bed frames that can stand on their own. These frames may have four or six legs, and they can come with extra features like headboards, footboards, side rails, and more.

Split Adjustable Bases

If you’re wanting to adjust your bed’s settings independently of your partner, you’ll need a split adjustable bed. The standard split bed is the split king. The split king takes two twin XL mattresses and places them side by side in the same bed frame. Of course, for an adjustable split king, you’ll have two separate twin XL adjustable bases as well.

You can also get a split queen or a split California king-size adjustable bed, but you’ll have to get two bases and two mattresses specifically made to be a split queen or Cal king. You can’t just run out and purchase any old two twin XL bases and mattresses.

SEE ALSO: Twin XL vs. Split King: What’s the Difference?

Alternatives to a Bed Frame

If you want your adjustable bed to look like a bed frame without the expense of one, there are a couple of tricks you can try. One is to attach a headboard to your adjustable bed, or placing a freestanding or wall-mounted headboard behind it to give the illusion of an attached headboard.

You can also complete the adjustable frame’s look by wrapping a bed skirt around its legs. Bed skirts have traditionally been used to catch dust and give the under-bed area a cleaner look, and using a bed skirt with an adjustable bed can conceal its more mechanical underside.

FAQs

How do I put sheets on my adjustable split king?

Most of the time, you’ll need separate fitted sheets underneath a single king-size flat sheet and comforter/duvet. If you and your partner have significantly different adjustment preferences, you may need to consider two separate twin XL bedding sets.

Regardless of whether you use two separate bedcovers and top sheets, you cannot use a single fitted sheet on a split king. Even if you don’t adjust the bed, if the mattresses move apart, the sheet could still be ripped.

Can I put an adjustable base on a platform bed?

Platform beds have slats and often no side rails. This means your adjustable base might be sliding around on a platform bed. You probably also won’t be able to remove the slats from your platform bed to stand the adjustable bed on its own legs.

Many platform beds may fall apart without their slats. Platform beds are also often manufactured to be flush with a mattress, meaning you can’t fit a standard platform bed around your adjustable base.

What kind of mattress should I use on my adjustable bed?

Really the only type of mattress you shouldn’t put on an adjustable base is an innerspring bed. Innerspring mattresses are not flexible or heavy enough to take the shape of the adjusted bed. This means they may “float” over the adjustable base rather than conforming to it. An innerspring mattress may also break on an adjustable bed.

Other mattress types, such as memory foam beds and hybrid mattresses, are flexible and heavy enough to bend with the adjustable bed. Memory foam and latex mattresses are especially good for adjustable bases because of their superior contouring power.

Do adjustable beds have headboards or other features?

Adjustable beds often come as a minimalistic platform with legs, but they can also have tons of features. Some adjustable beds come with an attached headboard and/or footboard, while others may have brackets so that you can attach your headboard to the wall.

You can also get adjustable storage beds that come with drawers, shelving, or other storage space underneath or around the sides of the bed. Some adjustable beds have wireless remotes, USB ports, or a massage feature.

How much should I pay for an adjustable bed?

Adjustable bed prices can range widely depending on the bed’s features, brand, construction, and more. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1000 to $3500 for an adjustable bed. Just be wary of bases that cost less than $1000, as they may be of lower quality construction and have less durability.

Bottom Line

Adjustable beds have tons of benefits, from helping reduce sleep apnea and acid reflux symptoms to relieving back pain, cushioning pressure points, and even improving circulation. If you play your cards right, you can get all these benefits of an adjustable bed without having to change the look of your bedroom at all!