What is an Adjustable Bed?

According to the CDC, adults need at least seven hours of quality sleep every night. Whether you’re having difficulty falling asleep, or it’s time to invest in a better sleep setup, an adjustable bed can be part of the solution you’ve been looking for.

An adjustable bed is a bed on a frame that can move in multiple directions, changing your sleeping angle entirely. This can be helpful for those suffering from certain medical conditions, or who are picky about their orientation in bed. For instance, if you're suffering from acid reflux, moving the head of the bed up may help mitigate that irritating burn that can result from laying flat on your back or stomach.

Purple’s adjustable bed frame is designed to help improve your sleep quality and comfort by providing premium customizable support.

The Parts of an Adjustable Bed

An adjustable bed has multiple components that work together. The power of the adjustable bed is in the base, and this is what actually changes the angle of the bed as a whole. The base is full of moving joints that alter the angle of the mattress, which rests on top of it.

Not all parts have to move at the same time to achieve an orientation adjustment. For example, you can elevate your feet to help with circulation issues without also needing to elevate your head.

The Purple Adjustable Bed

The Purple adjustable bed is a versatile mattress base with a number of distinct features. Chief among these is the preset function, which includes an anti-snore adjustment and a zero-gravity setting.

These presets allow the sleeper to take advantage of the marriage of scientific research and advanced engineering. The zero-gravity position angles your head and feet just so, equalizing your weight to optimize breathing and minimize back pain. Meanwhile, the anti-snore preset is based on research that shows elevating your trunk reduces snoring.

Here are some other key features of the Purple Ascent Adjustable Base:

• All presets are customizable except the zero-gravity setting;
• Allows you to elevate your upper body and feet, or lie flat with the push of a remote control button;
• Includes USB charging ports;
• Fits within most bed frames.

Additionally, if you’re worried you’ll need to get a new box spring with your adjustable bed, the good news is you won’t.

Adjustable Beds vs. Traditional Box Springs

An adjustable bed and a traditional box spring bed are pretty varied in terms of flexibility. A traditional box spring frame doesn’t move at all; there’s no adjustable feature involved. This is different from adjustable beds that can move in multiple directions and at different angles. Both types of beds come with their own sets of potential pros and cons.

Pros of Adjustable Beds

The advantages of adjustable beds are plentiful, considering that it rises and falls to meet your needs. The benefits of adjustable beds might include that they’re:

• Perfect for side sleepers due to the ability to control the sleeping angle
• Easily controlled by a remote
• Sturdy and difficult to accidentally move out of position
• Great for people who have sleep apnea
• Helpful for those who have difficulty sitting up in bed unassisted
• Accommodating to injuries
• Ideal for couples with different sleep styles (if purchasing a split king-size bed with dual controls)
• Potentially able to provide relief for chronic back pain

Take time to look over how you sleep, who is also sleeping in the bed with you, and any other features that you’d like to have before making any final decisions.

Cons of Adjustable Beds

Every purchase has its set of pros and cons. Here are a few cons of adjustable bed frames to consider:

• An adjustable bed costs more than a traditional box spring/platform bed;
• Adjustable beds can take longer to set up than their traditional counterparts;
• Adjustable beds are heavier than their alternatives.

While these drawbacks are characteristic of all adjustable bed frames, it doesn’t mean that this purchase isn’t a smart idea for you. Again, you have to look at both advantages and disadvantages to see what you need to prioritize.

For example, while adjustable bases are heavier, you may not need to move your bed very often. This means the weight might not be as big of a factor during your considerations.

What Type of Mattress Is Best for Adjustable Beds?

It is important to remember that adjustable beds are simply sold as bases; you will still need to add on a mattress or use one that you already own. Not every mattress is compatible with adjustable bed frames. If you aren't sure if your current mattress is suited to an adjustable bed, you can check out the mattress manufacturer’s site. keep in mind that buying your adjustable bed and mattress from the same company can ensure they are compatible.

It is safe to say that many existing mattresses aren’t compatible, especially if it’s been several years since you purchased a mattress. Bed technology is changing constantly, and it’s essential to get a mattress that you can count on to work seamlessly with your new adjustable frame.

Purple Mattresses

Here at Purple we understand adjustable beds are important for some. That’s why all Purple mattresses are compatible with our adjustable bed frame. Together providing premium, customizable support to help you sleep just right all night.

If you are in the market for a new mattress, checkout our award winning mattresses.

Mattress Material

The material you select for your mattress will play a huge role in whether it’s compatible with the adjustable system. It needs to be a material that can play well with being bent back and forth by the mechanized system. The best materials for this purpose would be GelFlex Grid, latex, memory foam, or even a hybrid combo that handles your comfort and accessibility needs at the same time.

Memory Foam

Memory foam mattresses can work well with adjustable beds to do their flexible nature.

Hybrid Mattresses

The other top choice would have to be a hybrid mattress, which is a multi layer bed that combines a variety of materials which might include foam, lates or gel along with innersprings. This gives you a bed that runs cooler and still gives you the added support. People suffering from stiff joints might enjoy this combination because of the added comfort and support they receive.

Sheets and Pillows

If you’re going to invest in a new mattress, you should consider upgrading the entire sleep system, especially if you’re changing the size of your mattress.

New pillows can give you extra support for your neck (critical these days with so many people sitting at a computer for long periods of time) and fresh sheets provide comfort and style. A solid bed foundation raises the height of your mattress, but if you’re upgrading to an adjustable base, you don’t need a separate foundation.

Choosing an Adjustable Bed

Going with an adjustable bed is an investment, and there are a few points to consider while you’re planning your purchase. Below are a few tips to keep in mind as you comparison shop and look at your options.

• Give it a test run: Decide if you need to try out an adjustable bed in-store or if you’re okay with the online experience.
• Look for support and warranties: While chances are good that your adjustable bed will last for quite a few years, you still want to know that you have support in the event something breaks.
• Check component compatibility: Consider whether you’ll use a decorative bed frame along with the adjustable bed. This would mean checking the measurements of the adjustable bed against the measurements of the decorative bed frame.
• Check for documentation and tutorials: If you’re shopping only online, make sure to read all set-up documentation for the adjustable base of your choice, along with any videos offered by the manufacturer. Sometimes it helps to be able to watch things instead of reading a lot of text.

Keep these points in mind as you’re looking around; don’t rush the process of looking for the right adjustable bed. This is a bed base that you’ll own for a long time, replacing your mattress every few years as mattress materials and technologies improve. A quality adjustable bed should keep you comfortable and can help improve your sleep for many years to come.