Is an Adjustable Bed Frame Right for You?
A motorized frame can give you, and your mattress, a lift
No longer relegated to hospital rooms, adjustable beds, also known as power beds and power bases, have migrated to residential bedrooms.
Several mattress companies—from mattress-in-a-box brands such as Casper to well-established manufacturers like Sealy—sell flexible frames, with prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Manufacturers tout adjustable bed frames as an improvement over traditional bed frames because a motorized frame lets you raise and lower the head and foot of the mattress to your heart’s content. (The frames are powered by a small electric motor.)
Some of the latest adjustable beds are even integrated with smart-home technology such as voice assistance, sleep monitoring, USB ports, programmable lighting, speakers, and more, making your bed the hub of your sleeping quarters.
“As more and more homes become smart homes, smart integrations are expected in almost every home appliance on the market,” says Lisa Tan, the chief marketing officer of Reverie, which makes mattresses and adjustable bed frames. “Power beds are no exception, offering technology integrations like underbed night-lights, app-controlled remotes, and voice-command control.”
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What’s Your Sleep Style?
Adjustable bed frames might prove to be a comfy choice if you like to sit in bed and watch TV before drifting off to sleep, or if you enjoy surfing the web on your laptop. It’s almost like having a couch in the bedroom.
But if you’re considering an adjustable bed for health reasons, be aware that while some manufacturers claim that an adjustable bed frame can help alleviate back pain, doctors say that’s debatable.
“Adjustable beds may have some benefit for patients with back, neck, and other spine problems but are certainly not necessary,” says Jay Khanna, a vice chair and professor of orthopedic surgery and biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University who specializes in back surgery.
“The vast majority of patients with conditions of the spine will do well and have optimal support from a typical flat mattress,” Khanna says. “They tend to prefer and benefit most from mattresses that are a bit more firm and supportive than average.”
If you do decide to switch to an adjustable bed, remember that our top-rated innerspring, foam, and adjustable air mattresses all work with adjustable bed frames, so you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for convenience.
Keep in mind that some manufacturers indicate that their mattresses work only with their proprietary bed frames, so it’s best to check for compatibility before you take the plunge.
