A high-quality bed frame, box spring, or foundation is crucial to ensure a good night’s sleep (and even protect your mattress’s warranty).
However, constantly replacing a faulty or broken bed frame isn’t good for the environment (or your wallet!).
Luckily, there are ways that eco-friendly consumers like you can learn how to support a bed frame without sacrificing style or sustainability.
In this article, I’ll call upon my years of sleep research experience to bring you simple and effective tips to keep your eco-friendly bed frame looking and functioning like new for as long as possible.
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One of the simplest ways to ensure a bed frame’s stability is by regularly tightening all screws and bolts on the structure.
This should be done at least once every six months and more often if you notice any wobbliness or instability.
If the bed frame screws or bolts keep coming loose regularly, you might want to consider fixing them in place with some wood glue or super glue.
If your bed frame isn’t level, it can cause your mattress to slip and slide around. Not only is this not ideal for a restful night’s sleep, but it can also damage your mattress.
Using a leveler tool (such as a carpenter’s level) is an easy way to check if your bed frame is balanced.
If the bubble in the tool isn’t centered, then adjust the feet of the bed frame until it is.
If your bed frame doesn’t have adjustable feet, you can place things under the feet (such as thin pieces of wood or folded cardboard) to adjust accordingly.
If your existing bed slats don’t offer adequate support, you might want to consider reinforcing them or replacing them with stronger ones.
My article Are Wooden Slats Better than Metal will help you decide if wood or metal is best for your needs.
If your bed frame is still wobbling after tightening all screws and bolts, try using a supportive center beam.
Center beams are especially effective when used on bed frames with slats.
Center beams don’t need to be limited to the center of the bed frames either. You can place them wherever you feel the structure needs extra support.
Simply cut 2” x 2” timber to the desired length and secure it with wood glue or screws.
You can also buy easy-to-fit supportive center beam legs from Amazon.
If you’re dealing with a sagging frame, try using plywood reinforcement.
Simply measure and cut a piece of plywood slightly bigger than your mattress’s size and place it on top of your inner bed frame.
This will help to distribute the weight of the mattress more evenly.
If you have a bed frame with small slats, then consider using slat spacers.
These small plastic or metal blocks help to reduce the space between each slat so that the mattress can’t slip through.
If you can’t find any to buy, you can easily make your own by cutting some sturdy wooden planks down to size.
Wall anchor kits are designed to secure bed frames against walls, thus reducing lateral movement and instability.
Installation is relatively easy and can be done without the help of a professional.
Platform bed frames are designed with support beams that run the length and width of your mattress, eliminating the need for a box spring or other support system.
This increases not only comfort but also stability.
There are different types of platform bed frames, including:
Don’t have the budget for a new platform bed frame? Not to worry…grab your tools and check out my How to Turn a Regular Bed Frame into a Platform Bed article.
With regular use, bed frames are naturally susceptible to wear and tear.
If any part of your bed frame is damaged (broken slats or posts, for example), you should replace or repair them immediately to avoid further damage and instability.
If parts of a wooden bed frame are split, you can often repair them by filling the split with wood glue and then clamping it together until fully dry.
As covered in my What Type of Wood is Best for a Bed Frame? (Top 12 Compared) article, birch and pine are good solid choices for bed slats.
Bed frame joints are the weakest points in any structure and should be paid close attention to.
Check for cracks or missing screws and bolts and replace them as soon as you notice anything amiss.
If your bed frame joints are screwless and coming loose, they might benefit from being gently knocked back into place with a hammer.
Buying new products unnecessarily is not a sustainable habit (we love the old mantra of ’make do and mend’ at TheRoundup.org).
However, if you spotted the damage too late or your bed frame is simply beyond repair, then it’s time to get a new one.
The first key decision to make is metal or wood.
Then there are a whole host of other things to consider, such as:
I cover all this in greater detail in my eco-friendly bed frame article.
Yes. Many of the tips in this article apply to all bed frames. However, just be careful when tightening adjustable bed frames to ensure you don’t mess with the adjustable mechanism (if you over-tighten it, the frame might not move/adjust as it’s supposed to).
If you need to support more weight, the best option is to use a platform bed frame or center support beams. You can also try adding plywood underneath your mattress and box spring for additional reinforcement.
It’s not advisable to use a mattress on a bed frame without something underneath it for support (a box spring, slats or boards, etc.). Doing so can cause instability and uncomfortable sagging.
Most modern bed frames with a slatted foundation provide sufficient support for up to 600 lbs. However, some are designed to hold no more than 300 lbs. If in doubt, consult the manufacturer’s weight recommendations/guidelines.
Most traditional Western mattresses are designed to be used on bed frames. If you like the idea of sleeping close to the floor, you might want to try out an organic cotton futon mattress on top of a Japanese floor mat.
Supporting a bed frame can be done with ease. There are lots of ways to increase stability and reduce sagging.
Just make sure to pay close attention to any damaged parts and replace or repair them immediately. This will go a long way in preserving the integrity of your bed frame.
And, if your bed frame isn’t up to the job anymore, there are plenty of eco-friendly options for you to choose from.
Finally, if you’re looking to save a few bucks (and boost your sustainability credentials), why not try and turn a regular bed frame into a platform bed? It’s cheaper and more sustainable and works wonders to increase comfort levels.
Happy sleeping!
Does your current bed frame need extra support? Have you ever had to reinforce your bed frame or strengthen bed slats?
Have you ever tried metal slats? Or a wooden bed slats your material of choice? Drop me a line and let me know.
