Pros and Cons of Adjustable Beds: My Honest Review

Recently, we took the plunge and invested in an adjustable bed. We were eager to experience the lifestyle benefits, health benefits, and versatility that modern adjustable beds offer. We recently purchased a Nectar adjustable bed frame, mattress, and headboard, and I can honestly say it's been a bigger adjustment than I expected. In my opinion, buying a bed online is not without its pitfalls. You don’t have the opportunity to compare mattresses and see what you’re buying before you make the purchase. And yes, there is a generous return policy, but who wants the hassle of returning a bed? Even so, we took a chance and bought the bed sight unseen.

In the last few weeks, I've had the opportunity to experience switching from a regular bed to the Nectar adjustable frame and explore its advanced features and various positions along with a new mattress. In this blog post, I'll share my honest perspective on the pros and cons of adjustable beds, highlighting the benefits and potential drawbacks that I've encountered so far with our new bed. If you're thinking of getting an adjustable bed, maybe this article will help you make a more informed decision.

What are Adjustable Bed Frames?

In a nutshell, an electric adjustable bed allows you to change your sleep position with the touch of a remote control. Think hospital beds, but more luxurious. With extra features like massage options, USB ports, and programmable memory settings, adjustable bed frames offer a luxurious and personalized way to rest and rejuvenate. Constructed from durable materials such as steel or wood, the adjustable bed base provides sturdy support while seamlessly integrating into any bedroom decor. With dual controls, the split king bed type can be a great choice for couples, as each person can choose their preferred position for a more restful night's sleep. Designed with zero gravity positioning, the adjustable base lets you elevate your head, shoulders, and legs in different positions with ease to help you achieve your most comfortable sleeping position. 

What Health Issues Can an Adjustable Bed Help With?

An adjustable base bed offers a range of positions that cater to specific needs, such as chronic back pain, acid reflux, sleep apnea, poor circulation, mobility issues, pain relief, lower back pain, and other health conditions. In addition, an adjustable bed may provide better sleep for older people and those with medical conditions or chronic pain. 

Do Adjustable Beds Help With Snoring?

In my experience, the short answer is no. While we were hoping it would help improve my husband's snoring, I can say there has been no change at all. However, this doesn't outweigh the potential overall health benefits and quality of sleep from our new adjustable bed.

Pros of Adjustable Beds

Adjustable beds offer a myriad of benefits that cater to both comfort and health. Here are some of the numerous pros of adjustable beds and why they're worth considering for anyone looking to improve their sleep quality and overall well-being:

Customized Comfort

One of the most significant benefits of adjustable beds is their ability to customize comfort levels to suit individual preferences. With adjustable incline settings, I can effortlessly elevate my head, shoulders, and legs to find the perfect position for reading, watching TV, or simply relaxing in bed. We have found that the split king bed has been a good choice for us because my husband is a back sleeper and prefers his upper body to be in a more elevated position. As a side sleeper, I prefer my part of the bed to be in a flat position. It's great that we can each get a better night's sleep in the ideal position without disrupting each other.  

Alleviate Aches and Pains

Since using my adjustable bed, I've noticed a significant reduction in the aches and pains that often accompany traditional flat beds. By elevating specific areas of the body, adjustable beds can help alleviate pressure points, improve circulation, and promote better spinal alignment, leading to a more restful and rejuvenating sleep experience. However, the Nectar Premier mattress is pretty firm. Much more than we expected because we purchased the most plush they had to offer. While the gel memory foam is supposed to conform to the natural curvature of the spine, it still feels a little too firm for our preference. We were waking up a little sore from the firmness of the Nectar mattress, and both of us found ourselves missing our previous pillow top mattress, so we decided to purchase this mattress topper. It has helped give the bed more of a plush feel while still maintaining the support from the new Nectar mattress. It’s bamboo, so it doesn’t get too hot, and it adds just the right amount of cushion. It has definitely made a big difference and made us much happier with the new mattress. The good news is that Nectar has a 365 night trial period. If we still don't feel like it's the perfect mattress for us, we can always get a full refund. 

Enhanced Relaxation

Another benefit of adjustable beds is the enhanced relaxation they offer. Whether we're reading before going to sleep or watching TV, the ability to adjust the bed's position effortlessly adds an element of luxury and comfort to my daily routine. So far, our favorite thing is the massage feature of our bed. It's so nice to help wind down after a long day.

Cons of Adjustable Beds

While adjustable beds offer a multitude of benefits, it's essential to consider the potential drawbacks before making a purchase. Here are a few factors to consider when deciding if an adjustable bed is the right choice for you:

Initial Adjustment Period

Like any new sleep system, there is an initial adjustment period when transitioning to an adjustable bed. As a new owner, I found it took some time to familiarize myself with the various features and functions of the bed and to determine the optimal settings for my comfort preferences. This is also the first time I've slept on a memory foam mattress, so that has also been an adjustment. Before making the switch, I did not understand that breaking in a new memory foam mattress is a process, and it may initially feel firmer than expected due to the dense composition. During the break-in period, the mattress gradually adjusts to the contours of your body, softening and conforming to your unique sleep preferences. To facilitate this process, it's recommended to rotate and flip the mattress regularly during the first few weeks of use. It's also recommended to allow the mattress to air out and expand fully in a well-ventilated room, which can help dissipate any lingering odors from the manufacturing process. Our mattress does not have any odors, but I did read some negative reviews from other manufacturers complaining about an unpleasant odor right out of the box. Fortunately, we have not had that problem.

Higher Cost

While adjustable beds offer a range of benefits, they can also come with a higher price tag compared to traditional beds. As a budget-conscious consumer, I carefully weighed the investment in light of the potential benefits and long-term value of owning an adjustable bed and ultimately decided it was the right choice for us.

Specialized Bedding

Depending on the design and dimensions of the adjustable bed frame, it may be necessary to purchase specialized bedding or accessories to ensure a proper fit. It's important to take this additional expense and inconvenience into account when considering an adjustable bed. The split king bed is actually two twin xl mattresses. You could buy either a split king sheet set or two twin XL fitted sheets. But remember, not all split king sets or twin fitted sheets are equal! You want to make sure the fitted sheet has extra straps that go under the mattress so that it does not come off when you move the bed in different positions. If you use just any fitted sheet, it will inevitably move every time you adjust the bed, which would be super annoying and uncomfortable. (I’ve also found that it’s kind of cumbersome when making the split king mattress because it’s awkward to work the fitted sheet down between the two mattresses.) I would recommend getting a split king sheet set made especially for adjustable beds. I bought this Sleep Number split king sheet set at my local Sleep Number store, and I'm very happy with the quality. They're very soft and stay put!! (Costco also offers this split king sheet set that is more affordable, which I plan on purchasing to use as a backup.)

Keep in mind that a split king bed is not the same size as a California King. It’s two extra-long twin mattresses placed together, and it’s the same size as a Standard King. It is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long, vs. 72 inches wide and 84 inches long.

Conclusion

Overall, my experience as a new owner of an adjustable bed has been positive thus far, with the benefits of an adjustable bed outweighing the potential negatives. From customizable comfort and enhanced relaxation to improved sleep quality and well-being, our adjustable bed offers a range of advantages that have transformed my nightly routine for the better. While there may be some initial adjustments and cost considerations to navigate, I feel the long-term benefits of owning an adjustable bed will make it a worthwhile investment. Is it the perfect solution for everyone? I would say the short answer is no. From initial adjustment periods to cost considerations, there are several factors to weigh when deciding if an adjustable bed is the right choice for you. To find the best adjustable bed for you, make sure to read reviews and test out different versions available in stores when possible.

Whether it's a Sleep Number, Tempurpedic, Nectar, or Dream Cloud, there are many sleep systems, bed frames, and mattresses available at varying price points. There's also a multitude of memory foam mattresses to choose from so you'll want to get as much information as possible to find the right bed for you. If you're considering an adjustable bed, I hope this helps. Cheers to a good night's sleep!