Adjustable Bed Buying Guide
The best adjustable beds don’t just help alleviate your back pain, or manage other medical conditions – they can significantly improve your quality of sleep. So what should you look for in an adjustable bed?
What type of adjustable bed should I buy?
Before you start to think about the added features you might like with your adjustable bed, you need to consider which type is best suited to your needs. Generally, adjustable beds can be divided into two categories: lifestyle and profiling.
Lifestyle Beds
Lifestyle beds usually just have a moveable function at the head end, making things such as watching television or reading more comfortable.
This type of bed is best suited to people who want an adjustable bed for comfort and luxury, rather than to help with health conditions.
However, they are unlikely to offer different sleeping positions or adjustable height options.
Profiling Beds
Profiling – or ‘variable posture’ – beds offer greater flexibility and increased postural support, with a variety of positions and features available.
Although some can be adjusted manually, typically adjustable beds for the home are adjusted electronically via a handset – so you can make adjustments even while in the bed. For example, we offer profiling beds with Cyclo-Therapy® massage technology built-in to help with circulation.
This type of bed is best suited to people who want an adjustable bed for to help with health conditions as well as exceptional comfort.
What size adjustable bed should I buy?
Bed size is an important, but often overlooked, aspect of choosing the right bed for you. One of the first things to consider is how big you want your adjustable bed to be. Larger beds, for example, give you more space and offer better, less-disrupted sleep for couples – but you need to check that your room is large enough to accommodate it. Bed sizes are not standardised for adjustable beds, however, so the size can vary between suppliers.
The height of your adjustable bed is just as important as width and length
Width and length are obvious measurements to take for any piece of furniture, but it’s also vital that you think about the how tall your adjustable bed needs to be. Making sure it’s at the right level for you to get in and out of bed with ease can make a huge difference to your lifestyle. Many adjustable beds can change their height too, making your mornings more comfortable and stress-free.
Pay attention to weight limits
Many adjustable beds can be built to support and lift heavier weights. Our beds can lift up to 28 stone as standard.
What added features are you looking for?
Once you’ve decided on the size and specification of your adjustable bed, it’s well worth looking into what optional features are available. This will enable you to get the most value from your bed by tailoring it to your needs.
Easy Reach
As the bed adjusts and moves higher, the mattress glides back (towards the wall) so the head of the bed always stays in convenient reach of your bedside table. Also known as ‘wall hugging’ because the frame of the bed can sit right against the bedroom wall even as the bed adjusts.
Massage and heat pad technology
Adjustable beds can now be packed full of innovative technology for a relaxing and invigorating night’s sleep. They can even provide medical benefits, such as to aid pain relief and reduce swelling through massage and heat pad technology. Some of these adjustable beds may even classify as Class IIa medical devices, such as those including our Cyclo-Therapy® massage technology. (Exludes Northern Ireland)
Battery back-up system
Most electric adjustable beds rely on mains power to power their adjustable functionality. Operated via a handset, this makes them highly convenient and stops you having to get out of bed to make any adjustments – providing you don’t suffer a power cut. A battery back-up system provides you with many hours of functionality in the event of a power cut, saving you hassle and stress.
Handrails
Most electric adjustable beds rely on mains power to power their adjustable functionality. Operated via a handset, this makes them highly convenient and stops you having to get out of bed to make any adjustments – providing you don’t suffer a power cut. A battery back-up system provides you with many hours of functionality in the event of a power cut, saving you hassle and stress.
Does an adjustable bed need a special mattress?
The nature of an adjustable frame means you will need a special mattress for an adjustable bed. This is because most mattresses have different zonal structures that correspond with the bed’s adjusting zones to enable free movement and prevent damage to the mattress. There is a lot of variety, however, including foam, pocket sprung, firm, medium and soft.
Where can I buy a mattress for an adjustable bed?
Usually sold separately to the frame, the best mattress for an adjustable bed is usually one from the same retailer as the bed. The manufacturer will recommend the most appropriate mattress for your purchase. Our mattresses are purpose-built for use with our adjustable beds, which means they’re designed to deliver the best quality sleep we have to offer. We recommend pairing our adjustable beds with one of our AirFlow® Orthopaedic Mattresses or SleepID® Mattress for adjustable beds to maximise your comfort.
What styles and designs are available?
While the functionality of your bed may come first, it’s also important to consider the look and feel of your adjustable bed. Once you’re happy that it meets your needs, what headboard and fabric options are available? Will the provider provide swatches to help you decide?
The comfort and health benefits of an adjustable bed aren’t only available in traditional styles. At Adjustamatic, our adjustable beds are available in styles that will blend into any room’s décor – with a wide selection of luxury fabrics, woods, headboards and storage designs to suit your tastes.
Our headboard styles
How to buy an adjustable bed
When you’ve chosen the size, specification and features that you want, the next step vis to look at actually buying your adjustable bed. Keep in mind that an adjustable bed is as a long-term investment that will improve your comfort, and last you many years.
How do I know I’m getting quality?
The first thing to look for is a reputable supplier, to instil some confidence that the investment will last and perform as it should. This is easy to identify through a number of approval schemes, such as Trading Standards Approved (TSI), British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) and National Bed Federation (NBF). These ensure that companies comply with a code of practice and meet stringent standards.
Look out for these logos to identify reputable companies:
Bear in mind that higher quality materials and added features do often increase the cost. However, simple adjustable beds are still just as popular for their practicality and value.
Look for accreditations for ‘medically certified’ products
Make sure you look out for accreditation marks that indicate that these products have been fully tested for safety and quality.
These include Class IIa certification, regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA), and CE marks. (Excludes Northern Ireland)
Where to buy the best adjustable bed
There are a number of options worth investigating when it comes to deciding where to buy your adjustable bed. These include purchasing direct from the manufacturer, high street retailers or online. We recommend shopping around and exploring all the options available to the right bed to suit your needs and budget.
Specialist manufacturers
Specialist manufacturers that only deal in adjustable beds or similar mobility products will have an online presence and often a freephone telephone number to call. These specialist suppliers will offer bespoke beds tailor-made to your specific requirements — including your budget and bedroom space.
Most have their own factories and hand craft their made to order beds with strong attention to detail. At Adjustamatic, our beds are all handmade and built in our North Wales factory. Companies with British Approval Schemes often also provide free no-obligation home demonstrations and a consultation. This will allow you to make an informed decision before you buy without even having to leave your home!
Buying from a high street store
Buying from a high street store is an option you might be more familiar with. You’ll be able to see different brands and easily compare prices. It will also allow you to ‘try before you buy’. However, there is a limited choice of adjustable beds currently on the high street, and those available may not suit all your needs. Most high street stores will also not be able to offer built-in specialist technology like our Cyclo-Therapy® massage technology to help alleviate back pain or improve circulation.
Fortunately, we now have two stores for you to visit, in Southampton and at our factory in Denbigh, North Wales.
Shopping online
Online shopping will give you a lot of options and prices to consider which you can do in the comfort of your home. However, it can be difficult to assess the product quality and appearance solely from a photo. Look for the reputable brands you know, but if you haven’t heard of a company before, then there are some questions you can ask to get a feel for the company:
Key questions to ask include:
- Do they offer secure credit card transactions?
- Do they have a clear returns policy?
- What are their delivery prices?
If you have any questions for us, you can easily get in touch via our contact form. We’re also always happy to chat over the phone for free on 0800 689 9823 if you’d prefer a phone call.
Financial considerations
Buying an adjustable bed can be costly, but investing in good quality bed will mean your bed lasts longer and can meet all of your needs. Look for companies that offer finance options such as interest-free credit to make the purchase more manageable. For example, we offer a 0% finance option to enable you to pay for your purchase over time with 0% interest – spreading the cost to suit your budget.
Check if you are eligible for VAT exemption
Buying an adjustable bed for use at home? Then you could be eligible for VAT exemption. This could allow you to save 20% – meaning a bed worth £2,000 could cost you just £1,600! You can read more about VAT exemption in our FAQs.
Don’t just think about now – consider the future
If you’re stuck between a few equally good products, consider how the retailer’s aftersales service might sway your decision such as:
- How long will it take to deliver?
- Will they be able to take away my old bed?
- What guarantee or warranty do they offer? Make sure the electrical components are included
- Do they offer a free home annual inspection?
Got any other questions you need answering? Check out our helpful Frequently Asked Questions for more help, or get in touch.
Buying a bed shouldn’t be the end of the journey
At Adjustamatic we know that an adjustable bed is a big purchase, so we want to help you get the most out of it. That’s why we offer lifetime aftercare with every adjustable bed we sell. Every 2 years we check in to see how your bed is treating you, how you’re feeling, and arrange a visit to chat about it all face-to-face if and when it’s convenient. Because getting the right bed for your needs can make all the difference to your lifestyle.
Have any questions?
We all know how good we feel waking up after a great night’s sleep, which makes investing in a good quality bed an important decision. For any questions or advice on buying your adjustable bed, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 0800 689 9823, or drop us a message. Let’s help you find the adjustable bed you deserve!
