This may be hard to believe, but the average individual spends 26 years of their life sleeping. With that much time in bed, it is imperative to invest in mattresses and bed frames that provide comfort and strong back support.
In this article, we dive into best practices for upgrading your bed, including the headboard, bed frame, and mattress—all without breaking the bank!
Upgrading the Headboard and Bed Frame
The bed frame and headboard are essential for holding your mattress in place and providing extra support. When looking to upgrade your bed’s headboard and bed frame, think about the following:
1. Consider the Size
When selecting a new bed, it’s important to determine how much room you have to work with. Do you have a queen bed currently but are interested in upgrading to a king? To keep the room from feeling cramped, it is ideal to have two to three feet of space around the bed. Bed frames typically add a few extra inches to the bed, so be sure to factor that in when determining space.
2. Pick the Height
If your bed feels a bit low to the ground, upgrading your bed can provide a great opportunity to invest in something that’s a comfortable height. This is particularly applicable to those with mobility issues, as a bed that is too high or too low to the ground can be challenging. If you have small children, a bed that is too high may be challenging for them to climb onto (which can be a positive!), but also poses a risk of them falling off. If you don’t have children, a benefit of a higher bed means additional storage underneath.
Taller bed frames can sometimes be custom ordered to your preferred height. A boxspring or mattress topper can add additional height as well. If you prefer a bed that’s lower to the ground, check out this spindle platform bed from Overstock, this bed from All Modern, or this platform bed from Wayfair.
3. Do a Little DIY
Feeling handy? Creating a headboard isn’t as much work as it may seem. Designing something on your own also offers the opportunity to customize it to your space. This video offers easy step-by-step instructions on how to create a headboard, which involves adhering foam and batting to a piece of plywood, affixing your desired fabric to the headboard, and attaching the frame around the headboard. If you don’t want to build a headboard from scratch, the process in the video will also help you redesign your current piece. Alternatively, you can create a platform bed with storage using the instructions found here.
If you like your current bed frame but want an upgrade, try simply changing out the legs on the bed using this guide. If you don’t want to build a headboard from scratch and don’t have a current headboard that you want to upgrade, visit your local furniture thrift store and look for pieces that could be reupholstered with a little DIY.
Tips for Upgrading Your Mattress
A good mattress is essentially for cradling and supporting your body as you sleep. If you’re in the market for a new mattress, consider the following:
1. The Problem Could Be the Pillow
Waking up with aches and pains every day but not sure why? It may be your mattress. However, before splurging on an expensive new mattress, consider where the pain is coming from. If you’re only experiencing neck pain, your pillow may be the problem. And if you like your mattress but it’s a bit too firm, a mattress topper such as this one from TEMPUR-PEDIC may be a great solution— plus, it is a lot cheaper than a new mattress!
2. Narrow Down the Mattress Type
If you’re ready to invest in a new mattress, there are a wide range of mattresses to choose from, including:
- Foam Mattresses
A foam mattress can be made with layers of memory foam, polyfoam, latex foam, or a combination of these. Each foam type has different density levels, providing various types of support and cushioning. If you’re prone to back pain, a foam mattress is probably for you, as foam molds to your body and keeps your spine in alignment while you sleep. Foam mattresses also isolate movement, making it less likely you’ll be woken up by a partner who moves around in bed. Great options include this Novaform mattress or this TEMPUR-PEDIC mattress. - Innerspring Mattresses
An innerspring mattress uses coils to support your body while you sleep. The top layer of padding often provides the same feeling as memory foam but doesn’t have the sinking sensation that foam mattresses are prone to. Innerspring mattresses are often cooler and more breathable and come in a wider range of firmness levels than their foam counterparts. Great innerspring options include this mattress from Saatva and this mattress from IKEA. - Hybrid Mattresses
Hybrid mattresses are made up of both foam and coils, offering pressure support from the coils and cushioning from the foam without you completely sinking into the mattress. If you’re having trouble deciding between a foam or spring mattress, a hybrid is a great compromise. Great options include this hybrid mattress from Leesa and this mattress from Winkbed.
2. Be Sure to Check the Return Policy
It may take a month or two for your body to adjust to a new mattress. Before purchasing a mattress, read their return policy carefully to ensure they have a solid grace period. Many mattress companies have a 30- or 60-day return policy, so you can test it out before fully committing.
3. Understand Mattress Sizes
Mattress sizing can be a bit confusing, so it’s important to know the exact dimensions of the mattress before purchasing it. For example, an Olympic queen mattress is 6 inches wider than a regular queen, an XL twin is 5 inches longer than a standard twin, and a California king is 4 inches longer (but also 4 inches narrower) than a standard king-sized mattress.
Things to Consider
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Mattress sizing can be a bit confusing, so it’s important to know the exact dimensions of the mattress before purchasing it. For example, an Olympic queen mattress is 6 inches wider than a regular queen, an XL twin is 5 inches longer than a standard twin, and a California king is 4 inches longer (but also 4 inches narrower) than a standard king-sized mattress.
