What is a Wall Hugger Adjustable Bed?

While shopping for an adjustable bed, you might hear the phrase “wall hugging.” You may wonder, what is a wall hugger adjustable bed? There are many styles of adjustable bed frames out there, and each of them has its own set of pros and cons.

In this article, we want to explain all the details you’ll need to know regarding wall hugging adjustable beds. After reading this article, you should know if this is the type of bed frame for you or your loved one.

History of the Wall Hugger Adjustable Bed

The original developer of wall hugging adjustable beds was Leggett & Platt with the s-cape and s-cape 2.0. They first developed this technology with personal space and convenience in mind. Many people don’t go right to sleep the second they lay down in their bed.

There are many other things that people do while in bed, including watching TV, having a snack or drink, or reading a book. With that said, there are many reasons why you would want an adjustable bed that raises you and lowers you down.

Sometimes it’s hard to get comfortable in a regular mattress because you have to pile pillows up behind your back to prop yourself up. You then need to reach for things from your nightstand, and each time you do, you have to reset the pillows and try to get comfortable again.

It’s a mess.

Leggett and Platt understood this issue, and that’s why they developed the wall hugging adjustable bed technology. So, what is a wall hugger adjustable bed?

What is a Wall Hugger Adjustable Bed?

A wall hugging adjustable bed functions a lot like a traditional bed base. They’re controlled by a remote that allows you to raise and lower individual sections of the mattress using joints below.

You don’t need to have a particular bed to use this technology, but you do need to have a special frame with the joints built-in.

The function of a wall hugger adjustable bed is to try and keep you in the same place as you raise and lower the mattress.

For example, with a traditional adjustable bed base, it will raise your back up, but when it does, it moves your entire body forward. As your body moves forward, you creep further and further from your nightstand or whatever is next to your bed.

Now you face the challenge of needing to reach further back to get whatever it is you’re trying to do in your bed. If you’re reading a book or having a snack, you’ll have to twist your back and reach behind you to access the nightstand.

Where this comes into play is when we talk about accessibility. Many seniors use adjustable beds to make it easier for them to grab things next to their bed and get in and out quickly. While raising your body is useful to prevent many health issues, it’s not when you can’t reach your nightstand.

Also, many adjustable beds come with wireless remote controls. If you set the remote down on your nightstand and get into the bed, you may not be able to grab it once you’re in position. This issue means you now have to get back out of bed to grab the remote and get back in again.

While this might not be a problem for some of us, those with mobility concerns may not be capable of doing this on their own.

The ideal purpose of a wall hugging adjustable bed is to keep you as close as possible to your things while you raise and lower the mattress.

When you raise the back of your base, the whole mattress will slide backward, so you remain in the same position even though you’re raising your upper body. When you lower the mattress, your whole body will stay in the same place as well.

Ideal Features of a Wall Hugger Adjustable Bed

So you’ve decided that a wall hugger adjustable bed is the right choice for you, but what features should you look for in the frame? Let’s take a look at some of the essential features.

Smooth Mobility

You want an adjustable bed that moves smoothly up and down. Some adjustable frames are quite noisy, and they move in burst-like motions, which isn’t desirable for most people. The best wall hugging adjustable beds will move smoothly in one continuous motion, and have a quiet motor.

This factor is ideal if you have a split king size, as well. If you have someone sleeping on the other side of you and you need to raise the mattress in the middle of the night, you don’t want to shake the other side of the bed or make too much noise.

The best adjustable bed will allow you to raise your body up without interrupting the sleep of your partner on the other end.

Reliability/Functionality

No one wants an adjustable bed that doesn’t function properly, so make sure the one you choose offers plenty of reliability features and a warranty if possible. The best adjustable beds will offer at least a ten-year warranty, if not much longer.

You should read plenty of customer reviews about the bed so you can see what other people are experiencing. When talking about a wall hugger adjustable bed, you’ll want to make sure that it functions as it should.

The wall hugging technology should work well, and it shouldn’t make you feel cramped when it slides back and forth. Some wall hugging beds have a habit of making you feel like you’re getting pinched between the two sections, you want to avoid that.

Read the reviews and educate yourself so you can get a high-quality bed.

Easy to Operate

Another essential feature of a wall hugging adjustable bed is ease of use. If you can’t figure out how to use all the features and settings, you may not reap all the benefits of purchasing the bed. Make sure there are clear instructions on how to set everything up and use the remote control.

Many wireless remotes will come with backlights, so you don’t lose the remote, and you can see it in the dark. Some of them have a wide assortment of settings and positions, so check carefully to know whether or not you’ll be able to use and understand it.

It’s important that installation doesn’t become a thorn in your side, either. Many companies offer a white-glove service, meaning they will come and assemble the bed for you. They’ll even explain how to use it and let you try it out before they leave.

If you’re concerned about learning and understanding it, we would recommend giving that service a consideration.

Why Choose a Wall Hugger Adjustable Bed

At this point, we’ve answered the question, “what is a wall hugger adjustable bed?” Now you might be wondering why you would want something like this. Is it essential in your life? Do you think it’s worth the investment? Let’s talk about it for a little here.

If you’ve ever used a standard adjustable bed before, you’ll understand some of the problems associated with it. It’s difficult to reach your items that we’re once entirely within arms reach. We set up our bedrooms to make everything easily accessible when we want it, but we don’t account for changes like this.

You could move your nightstand further away from the wall, but then that would make it difficult to grab things if you were lying flat on your back. It would also be unsightly because you’d have a nightstand sitting two feet away from your wall.

What if you don’t have an adjustable bed and are considering one for the first time? It’s worth it to go with the wallhugger technology.

The added cost is minimal in comparison to a traditional adjustable bed, and it’s well worth it in the long run. If you’re the kind of person who likes to spend time in bed besides sleeping, you’ll want convenient access to your bedside items.

Who is a Wall Hugger Adjustable Bed For?

What kind of person could benefit from a wall hugger adjustable bed?

Someone who spends a lot of time in bed would find this useful. Some people use their bed as their breakfast table, home office, living room, and who knows what else. If that sounds like you, a traditional adjustable bed frame won’t cut it. You’ll keep getting lifted too far away from your things, which will cause frustration and regret in your purchase.

We also recommend wall hugging adjustable beds for the elderly or those who have mobility concerns. If you’re a caregiver of someone with limited mobility, the last thing you want to worry about is them falling out of bed, trying to reach something on their nightstand. They need to be within arms reach of their belongings at all times.

Wall hugging adjustable beds have seniors in mind, and we recommend them to those with limited mobility. It will make your life a lot easier if you don’t have to struggle to reach your nightstand.

Comparing Wall Hugging vs. Non-Wall Hugging Beds

Let’s take a second to compare wall hugging adjustable beds to those that do not hug the wall. Your wall hugging bed will slide back towards the wall when you raise the upper body portion of it. This concern means you’re staying in the same position at all times. So, when you go to reach your nightstand, you’ll be in the same spot whether you’re up or down.

With traditional adjustable beds, the back portion of the bed raises up, but that pushes you forward. When you get pushed forward, you might now be one or two feet in front of where you were when you were lying flat. As a result, you need to twist your entire body, turn around, and grab the things that were on the nightstand.

As we said, for those who may have difficulty getting in and out of bed, this is not an option.

Another great bonus of wall hugging adjustable beds is that they don’t take up any extra space compared to the traditional. The first thought that a lot of people have when they think of the mattress sliding forward and back is that it will take up more space. This issue is not correct.

The reason it’s false is because the mattress slides back into the position where it used to lay flat. As a result, you don’t need any extra room in your bedroom to put the adjustable bed. It doesn’t need to be kept a few feet away from the wall or anything. So while you’re making your nightstand more accessible, you’re also saving a bit of space.

Sleeping Positions and Adjustable Beds

The type of mattress you choose will impact how you sleep. Depending on what type of position you sleep in, you’ll want to choose the best mattress to go with your adjustable base. Ideally, most people lean towards memory foam mattresses to pair with their wall hugging adjustable base.

Many people choose memory foam because it contours to the shape of your base the best. Innerspring mattresses have a habit of floating above the base and getting stuck in a certain position. Memory foam works by fitting the shape of the base and your body without you having to worry about it wearing out from frequently bending.

One of the best features of adjustable beds is that they work well with a variety of sleeping positions because you can raise or lower it accordingly to your favorite positions. Many offer a one-touch flat button as well.

For example, if you prefer to sleep on your back, you might want to raise your head slightly, so it is above the rest of your body. If you sleep on your side, you may want to keep the mattress flat or raise your legs to help prevent inflammation.

Health Benefits of Wall Hugging Adjustable Beds

A primary reason why many people turn to adjustable beds is because of the many health benefits associated with them. Adjustable beds help with issues like sleep apnea, snoring, acid reflux, back pain, and inflammation.

If you have sleep apnea, you’ll likely benefit from raising the upper body portion of the bed to keep your head slightly elevated. The same goes for acid reflux. People with acid reflux have a hard time lying on their back because stomach acid and bile works it’s way up the throat and out of the mouth. Sleeping with your body elevated helps prevent this from happening.

Choosing Additional Features

There are many features to choose from, and plenty of technology that goes into making an adjustable bed. During your search, you’ll want to look for some of these features that go a bit beyond the traditional. Here are some extra features to consider:

• USB Ports – Many adjustable beds come with dual USB ports to make charging your devices more comfortable. You’ll want to make sure that these are highly accessible and easy to reach from both sides of the bed. Much of the time, the USB ports will come near the headrest of the mattress.
• Bluetooth Compatibility – In some situations, you can sync your smartphone with your adjustable mattress and control everything directly from your phone. If you dropped or lost the remote control and have a hard time getting out of bed. You can use your phone to raise the mattress and ensure you get out.
• Backlit Remotes – Many remotes come with backlights to make it easier for you to see the remote at night and in case you lost it. This feature is also helpful for people who may have a hard time seeing the remote. The lights will enhance the visibility of each setting so you can see it easier.

Some other features include:

• Massage Feature (Dual massage)
• Bed lighting
• Adjustable legs
• Zero-gravity position
• Anti-snore positioning
• Programmable positions

Common Questions

What Does Wall Hugger Mean?

Wall hugger refers to the way the adjustable bed functions when it goes up and down. The phrase “wall hugger” defines the specific type of adjustable bed base that slides the mattress back when it rises and when it goes down. The goal of this adjustable bed base style is to ensure that the person in bed stays in the same position so they can access things next to their bed.

Do Adjustable Bed Frames Ruin Mattresses?

No, adjustable frames do not ruin mattresses, but not every bed is compatible with an adjustable frame. You wouldn’t want to use an innerspring mattress with an adjustable frame because it will not have the flexibility to move up and down with the joints. Most people turn to memory foam mattresses for adjustable frames because they offer the most versatility, and the material doesn’t get frozen in a specific position if it’s left there for too long.

What is Pillow Tilt on an Adjustable Bed?

Pillow tilt is a unique setting only available on some adjustable beds. Almost all adjustable frames flex at your lower back to raise your upper body, and they also flex around the thighs to lift your lower body.

Some have a unique feature that flexes at the neck as well to support your head. This setting is lovely for people who only want to raise their head a little, and it also helps when you want to watch TV.

What is Zero-Gravity on an Adjustable Bed?

Zero-gravity refers to a very specific set of positions that mimic the feeling of weightlessness. Many adjustable bed frames come with this setting built-in, but it essentially goes something like this. Your legs and upper body get raised slightly above the heart. The zero-gravity position is ideal for anxiety and depression because it is said to improve your mood and make it easier to experience long periods of deep sleep.

How Much Weight can an Adjustable Bed Hold?

It depends on the specific adjustable bed, but most have a total weight capacity of around 500-600 pounds. While it might seem easy to reach that weight limit when you have two people sleeping in the bed, it’s essential to follow the weight restrictions, or you may void any limited warranty you have on the bed base.

Can I Use My Existing Bed Frame with an Adjustable Wall Hugging Frame?

In most situations, you’ll have to replace the bed frame when you purchase an adjustable bed. Adjustable frames don’t require a box spring, so the base itself will act as the bed frame, and you’ll put your mattress on top of it. Wall hugging adjustable beds are the same, and they require a special frame to function properly.

Do Wall Hugging Adjustable Beds Take Up More Space?

You’ll be surprised to find out that wall hugging adjustable beds don’t require more space than standard ones. When you raise your upper body, the mattress slides back into the place where you once rested your head. As a result, the bed doesn’t require any extra space in the front or back and you can use a headboard.

So, What is a Wall Hugger Adjustable Bed?

By now, you should understand that a wall hugger adjustable bed is a unique adjustable bed frame that makes it easier to access items on your nightstand. The goal of this bed is to help you remain in place, so you don’t have to struggle to reach things on the side of your bed.

All in all, we recommend wall hugging adjustable beds to people of limited mobility and those who spend a lot of time doing activities in bed such as reading, watching TV, or eating. You’ll benefit from this style of mattress, and it will make your life much easier.