Everyone knows the role an orthopedic mattress plays in arranging a sleeping place for healthy rest. But the importance of purchasing a suitable support is often questioned. In fact, a mattress with atomic properties, laid on a regular flat bottom, will not fully demonstrate its qualities. The desired effect can only be achieved with an orthopedic bed base.
Design of an orthopedic bed base
A standard mattress base may consist of solid or prefabricated sheets of plywood or wooden slats secured with metal or other fasteners. The orthopedic base consists of a frame, holders and lamellas.
- The basis of the design is the frame. It is made of metal or wood. It is placed inside the outer decorative frame of the bed. Models with legs are placed directly on the floor, bars without legs are placed on the sides of the bed frame.
- The slats serve as shock absorbers. The quality of anatomical support for the body depends on their quantity. The optimal number is 26–30 pcs. in a row. The distance between the slats does not exceed their width. The width ranges from 30–40 mm to 50–70 mm. The thickness of the standard lamella is 0.8 cm.
- Lat holders hold the lamellas, ensuring their independent deflection. They can be rubber, polypropylene and plastic. The first two types are preferable: they do not creak.
The stronger the bend of the lamella, the higher the springy and anatomical effect obtained from it.
Basic Workflows
Assembling a bed of any kind consists of important processes, each of which is described in detail in the instructions.
Assembling a double bed begins with installing the base. The base border consists of three frames and a headboard. First of all, you need to connect these drawers together. In different models, there are suitable components for this in the form of corners, brackets, corner ties, connected to each other with screws and bolts. Next, we attach the legs; they can be screwed separately onto the frames or come as a set to the component parts.
The next stage is to attach the corners and shelves that come with the kit to the top of the drawer. We align everything perpendicular to the surface and only then secure it completely with screws. If the bed has a lifting mechanism, then we attach it at the headboard on the side frames, making the play minimal. After all these preparations, we assemble the base into a single whole and attach the central back to the frames.
The main element in the bed is its frame, which is a metal frame equipped with special slats that will prevent the mattress from sagging in the future, thereby providing the sleeper with spinal support and a comfortable sleep.
Standard model
The standard double bed model includes a base, frame, and headboard. Many people are concerned about the question of how to assemble a double bed - it must be assembled according to the instructions. This is not difficult if you have the necessary components and tools and adhere to a certain installation technology:
- first of all, using corners, we strengthen the side frames at a height of no more than 0.2 meters;
- install the footrests at the same height;
- Let's assemble the ribs - we attach them five centimeters above our side frames;
- fix the central frame. It is very important to take all accurate measurements and secure it in the center using special corners.
At this stage, the assembly of the base is considered complete. Another beam is placed on the frame in the center for the mattress pad. Then we tighten the assembled structure completely with self-tapping screws, maintaining a certain distance of 10 cm. This will allow us to achieve optimal rigidity of the product. Wooden parts can be varnished as a protective coating and after two days you can sleep on the bed comfortably.
With orthopedic base
One of the common types of double bed bases is orthopedic, the main advantage of which is the uniform distribution of the weight of the person sleeping on it, which does not put additional stress on the spine. An orthopedic base is a special-purpose structure that consists of a frame and lamellas. It is designed to provide the orthopedic function of the mattress. The base can be attached directly to the bed or be a separate component.
Why does an orthopedic mattress need a special base?
The main function of the orthopedic structure is to distribute pressure over different zones of rigidity. The higher the load, the greater the deflection. The spine remains in the correct position.
Other advantages of using an orthopedic base:
- The mattress does not wrinkle or sag in areas of high load; there is no “hammock effect”.
- Improves anatomical support.
- The spaces between the lamellas promote good air exchange, and the moisture released by the body evaporates freely. The mattress is ventilated, and dust mites are less likely to appear in it.
- The service life of the mattress increases by 1–3 years.
- The load is evenly distributed throughout the structure.
- The base with legs can be used without a bed.
USEFUL INFORMATION: Orthopedic bed for bedridden patients: types of lifting mechanisms
Dimensions
Obviously, for 2 people you need to take double models, and for 1 person single or one-and-a-half-bed models. But that’s not all you need to know about the dimensions before buying a structure for yourself.
- The length must be chosen to be 20 centimeters greater than the height of the tallest person who will sleep on the bed;
- The minimum width is 80 centimeters;
- The recommended length of the legs is 24-25 centimeters, which directly affects the height of the base;
- The number of legs varies from 4 to 8 pieces per frame;
- The total height is 27-28 centimeters for comfortable getting in and out of bed.
When choosing the correct dimensions, do not forget to take into account the expected load. It is thanks to the lattice, which is formed by the slats used, that it is possible to rationally distribute the weight of a person and increase the service life of the mattress itself.
Wooden and metal
Which is better, a wooden or metal base?
- The wooden frame is in most cases folding or collapsible. Metal is usually solid.
- Wooden bases are easier to transport and install than metal ones.
- The metal body lasts a long time and is more wear-resistant.
- Sofa beds often have a metal base.
- Anatomical wood gratings are usually slightly more expensive than steel ones.
- The wooden base, which is installed without the bed, matches well with the bedroom furniture.
Made of wood
Made of metal
How convenient is a collapsible base?
An orthopedic lattice made of lamellas can have either a collapsible format or an all-welded one. Solid mainly applies to all-metal species. Although there are also non-separable models made of wood. Their system is no different from solid products, however, the ability to dismantle and self-assemble provides a number of additional advantages:
- Dismantling the product makes it possible to transport a collapsible orthopedic base for a 160x200 bed (and other sizes) when traveling to the country, for example. Thus, a double bed can easily fit into the trunk of a car;
- When transporting, the main cost factor for a non-collapsible model will be volume, and for a collapsible model - weight. For lattice bases it is not very large;
- When moving, the bed can be easily disassembled and assembled in another place. There will be no difficulties when climbing to the top floor.
- Collapsible bed bases can be easily integrated into the bed frame, thereby ensuring maximum comfort when you sleep.
So, collapsible bases are no worse in quality than full-size bases, and their advantages:
- self-assembly.
Collapsible bed bases are a very simple design, so it is not necessary to have any special skills to dismantle and assemble a bed. Assembly of the base is easy and takes little time. All accessories, as well as clear assembly instructions, are included.
— convenient transportation.
The collapsible base can fit into almost any passenger car, which is quite convenient, for example, when traveling to the country (no need to pay for expensive delivery).
— convenient movement by hand.
For example, if your house does not have an elevator, then you can safely carry the collapsible base yourself. In addition, such a base for a child’s/adult’s bed can even be carried to places where full-size bases cannot fit due to their large size – the 2nd floor in a country house or cottage.
— comfortable packaging , which will allow you to transport the collapsible base repeatedly, and without any damage.
— and the most important thing is that such a collapsible system is of very high quality, durable and reliable. The bed will definitely delight you with comfort and practicality.
As a result, it becomes clear that collapsible orthopedic bases for beds (from which manufacturer does not matter) are not only very comfortable, but also good for health.
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With lifting mechanism
A bed or sofa with an orthopedic lattice and a lifting mechanism serves not only as a place to sleep, but also as a space for storing bed linen or other things. The lifting mechanism can be:
- Manual. Lasts a long time, but is the least convenient.
- Spring-loaded. The base is fixed in a raised position.
- With gas shock absorbers. With them, even a heavy grate rises quietly and smoothly.
- Electrically driven. The lift can be controlled via the remote control.
The assembly of the lifting mechanism with gas lifts is presented in the video.
Step-by-step furniture assembly
Having become familiar with the design features of the transforming bed, you can begin the step-by-step assembly of the structure with a lifting mechanism in the following sequence:
As you can understand, the process of installing furniture with a lifting mechanism is not so complicated if home craftsmen follow the instructions and advice during the work. And video instructions on the Internet resource, conducted by real professionals in their field, will help you solve any difficulty.
Bed with lifting mechanism Amelie. Supplied from the manufacturer in three packs. The accessories are inside the box. The assembly diagram is written for installing the bed frame, slatted base, which is also disassembled, and installing the bed lifting mechanism. It is quite difficult to understand the instructions for connecting the lift to the gas cartridge; the drawing is vague. When this bed was assembled for the first time, it took a lot of time to recognize the technical details. You should pay attention to the bed frames; there are markings there for installing an iron bracket that needs to be drilled. The base is assembled using eccentric ties, self-tapping screws and confirmations. The corners are bolted into the mortise sleeve of the panel. Initially, the frame is assembled - the drawers are connected to the headboard and footboard. The lifting mechanism is attached and the grille is applied. An economy class bed, if you use the product correctly and without maximum permissible loads, the bed will last quite a long time.
How to assemble a bed? Installing a bed with a lifting mechanism
Products with adjustment
Special cursors in the area of the highest load make it possible to select the rigidity of the lamellas, adjusting the base to the personal needs of the user.
- By sliding the sliders in and out, you can set an enhanced level of body support.
- Cursors that regulate rigidity are most often installed in the lumbar region, but can also be located on all lamellas.
- Installation of an additional block with double or triple slats in the active zone improves the orthopedic characteristics of the mattress.
USEFUL INFORMATION: Orthopedic folding bed with mattress
In transformable bases, you can change the angle of inclination in the head, legs and lumbar area. Adjustment can be mechanical or using an electric drive.
Build process
Usually even a person without experience can handle the process - the instructions for assembling the bed contain a detailed sequence of steps with illustrations. It is advisable to read it first, and only then move through the stages. This will allow you to roughly understand the scope of work, correctly arrange the elements, and check the meanings of unclear terms.
There are several main difficulties that may arise:
- Requires drilling (some models have blind holes for screws).
- If the bed is lifting, you will have to additionally assemble the mechanism, and this is not an easy task.
- Lack of markings.
Because of the last point, distortions may appear, so a level and a tape measure will come in handy. For tightening furniture euroscrews, use a hex screwdriver. Confirmats can be dealt with with a screwdriver or an ordinary screwdriver.
It’s easier to assemble a bed with your own hands with an assistant so that he can hold the side elements and help with heavy parts.
They begin to work on the base when the box (frame) is ready. Slats are fixed along its perimeter - from 15 for a bed for one and from 30 for two. The longitudinal bars are attached to the walls of the headboard with screws or self-tapping screws. Next, the transverse parts are installed.
The slats provide orthopedic properties and undergo additional strength testing. Their curved shape allows them to take the weight of the mattress along with the person lying on it without creaking or cracking. In the standard base, instead of them there is a continuous flat surface.
Thanks to their curved shape, the slats provide orthopedic properties of the bed
Some bed models have a solid base
The assembly of the box on which the mattress is located occurs first. These are usually laminated particle boards, which will require screws for fastening. However, if you have the opportunity to choose a model made of wood, it is better to do so - in addition to lower strength, chipboard has another serious drawback: the boards crumble, so it will not be possible to re-fasten the elements.
To strengthen the frame, you can fasten sheets of chipboard or MDF panels at the bottom.
If it is possible to choose a model made of wood, then it is better to give preference to it than beds made of chipboard
Behind the base with slats comes the headboard with drawers (that’s what the side walls are called). In some bed assembly schemes, it is recommended to assemble this element first, since the base takes up a lot of space, and the backrest can be placed against the wall. Usually the mounting points are marked with holes; if not, you will have to drill them yourself.
The drawers and the headboard are connected at right angles, fixed with euroscrews or other fasteners. In rare cases, wooden pins are used, coated with PVA at the fastening points (this is more reliable). Remains of glue must be immediately removed with a dry cloth, then proceed to further work. Now you can connect the drawers and the back.
The drawers are connected at right angles, fixed with euroscrews or other fasteners
Lifting mechanism
Assembling a bed with a lifting mechanism begins with the headboard. Then a central beam is installed to support the base, legs are attached (if any), and slats are laid. Only after all these stages comes the turn of the lifting mechanism.
For a high mattress, the device needs to be lowered slightly, for a low one - vice versa. The lower bar is connected to the drawers with self-tapping screws or euroscrews. Next, guide holes are drilled and the lifts are fixed. Now you can return to installing the base and attach the upper part of the mechanism to the longitudinal parts of the mattress pad.
The process is determined by the type of device:
- mechanical;
- spring;
- on gas cylinders.
In the case of a gas mechanism, the bolts are tightened so that the stock can smoothly lower and fold without tension. For spring mechanisms, the springs are also adjustable so that it is convenient to lift the bed. The last step is to stretch the fabric over the grid and place the mattress.
Gas
Additional equipment
Sometimes the bed has additional elements - shelves at the head or drawers for bedding. There are other options - for example, instead of legs, you can install wheels to move the structure to the side for cleaning. Plus, it looks more airy this way. In cribs you can often find an adjustable frame that allows you to fit mattresses of different sizes. And cradles usually have a pendulum for swinging.
It is better to install drawers only when it is clear that the bed is assembled smoothly. Otherwise, a distortion will form.
It is better to install drawers after the bed has been assembled and installed
Types of slats
Wooden planks are made from bent-glued plywood, formed from several layers of veneer. Strength and flexibility depend on the type of wood. The slats can be wide or narrow. The width of the lamellas is selected for the mattress:
- Wide battens (5.3–9 cm) are suitable for springless models, Bonnell springs, as well as products with a low spring density and hard filler. They are cheaper, but over time they can begin to creak. A mattress with such a lattice wears out faster.
- Narrow strips (3–5.2 cm) are chosen for models with independent springs or with increased spring density. Suitable for all types of mattresses, excellent springiness, but more expensive.
Wide slats
Narrow slats
If the weight of a sleeping person does not exceed 90 kg, then it is better to take a design with narrow armor.
Lat holders for attaching lamellas have different degrees of mobility. There are:
- mortise - the lamellas are located inside the frame body, there is a tendency to creak;
- plastic overhead – mounted on top of the frame;
- overhead rubber - fixed at the top, have a platform to reduce the load on the armor, the most durable.
Mortise
Plastic overlays
Made from rubber
Name | Vertical deflection | Rotate 200 | Vertical compression |
Two-stage | Yes | Yes | No |
Three-stage | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Why do you need a collapsible base?
The main advantage of an orthopedic mattress is its uniform weight distribution: it can support the heaviest parts of the body and bend under the lighter ones, so that the sleeping person’s spine ultimately maintains its natural curves. But by itself it is not a solid foundation in mechanical terms.
Placing an orthopedic mattress on a box spring is not a good idea. Without a strong support, for example, a collapsible orthopedic bed base, it will turn into a geometric plane and will react together with the mesh to pressure. Then you can forget about its orthopedic advantages. A plywood base is better: a hard, flat surface can serve as a good support. But here another problem arises - a mattress, especially a spring one, must be well ventilated, and a solid base will complicate this process. If the mattress is low and only slightly rises above the sides of the bed, then it has almost no access to air.
Typically, the materials of the product do not mold and retain their porosity for a long time, but the lack of air does not allow the structure to be fully restored, and contributes to the accumulation of moisture and odor retention. As a result, an expensive orthopedic mattress lasts less than expected, and only because it is laid on an inappropriate base. In addition, very often, simply resting on a good and high-quality mattress, using appropriate orthopedic bases, is a mandatory requirement for the successful treatment and prevention of back diseases.
Therefore, in order to prevent all this, it is recommended to immediately buy an orthopedic collapsible bed base along with a comfortable orthopedic mattress. You may ask: what is so special about it? There is nothing unusual in its design: the bed consists of the same parts as a traditional one, but the base is made in the form of a frame with a lattice consisting of slats. These lamellas do not have a flat shape, but a convex one, and are attached with the convex side up. As a result, the orthopedic effect increases: the sleeping person is in the highest position, and his limbs are slightly lower. The torso receives maximum support, and the arms and legs receive less support. And the ability to disassemble/assemble the base gives many other privileges:
How to choose a suitable orthopedic base
The orthopedic effect base can be used with or without a bed frame. Functionality depends on the correct choice.
- The size and design of the base are selected for a specific mattress model. The most expensive type of orthopedic product cannot improve the quality of a cheap product.
- For models based on an independent spring unit, grilles with an increased number of battens are suitable. This frame is compatible with any mattress.
- The base for a single bed can have four support points. Larger structures require the installation of 5 to 8 legs.
- A children's mattress and an orthopedic base for it must be at least 160 × 80 cm, since the length is chosen to be at least 20 cm greater than the child's height.
- Standard orthopedic bases have the following parameters:
USEFUL INFORMATION: Orthopedic pillows: how to choose the right one
Model type | Sleeping place, cm | Height | Characteristics |
Children's | 80×160 80×190 80×200 | Varies from 280 to 320 mm. Of these, the leg is 250 mm, and 30 mm is allocated to the profile | Designs vary in type of batten, lattice shape, frame and availability of adjustment options |
Single | 90×190 90×195 90×200 100×200 | ||
One-and-a-half-bed | 120×190 120×195 120×200 140×190 140×195 140×200 | Create a springy effect. Models with cursors for load adjustment increase the level of comfort | |
Double | 160×190 160×195 160×210 180×190 180×195 180×200 200×200 | They take the basic load of the body and can withstand weights of more than 150 kg. Required equipment with a crossbar |
The dimensions of the base are determined by the internal size of the bed, which corresponds to the size of the mattress.
Signs of a quality frame:
- rounded shape of the legs, as the large working area increases stability;
- profile – 30 × 30 mm with a wall thickness of 1.5 mm;
- the number of wide lamellas is at least 12–15 pcs., narrow ones – from 22 pcs. and more;
- reliable fastening of the lath holders.
Bed with orthopedic base
A standard bed includes a frame, base and headboard. There are different types of bed bases. One of them is orthopedic. There are also options for a plywood base, using laminated chipboards, and metal mesh. However, all these options do not lead to good sleep and can be harmful to health. In this case, you should resort to the first proposed solution, but how to assemble a bed with an orthopedic base according to the instructions?
To understand the installation principle, you need to understand the need for this option. The main advantages include maintaining the same weight of parts of the body at the same level. Some people try to place an orthopedic mattress on a spring block, but this should not be done. Otherwise, it risks turning into a flat surface and losing all its functionality.
It is also possible to place the mattress on a plywood base. Surface evenness is the main reason for this choice. However, for orthopedic mattresses, ventilation is important, and a solid base cannot provide it. It is for this reason that there is a need to purchase a special bed with an orthopedic base. Instructions for assembling an orthopedic bed will help you make useful furniture for your home.
Popular makes and models
The range of orthopedic bases allows you to choose the right model. The price depends on functionality, material, size and offers a line of budget products. The products are made from natural materials. There are models with and without legs. The metal base with a lifting mechanism is complemented by birch slats and has 25.5 cm legs with adjustable height.
The DreamLine “Active Best” collapsible bed base is designed for mattresses of any type. All-welded metal frame, overhead lath holders are designed to fit thin birch lamellas. Removable legs allow you to use the grill without installing them.
Benartti produces only models with a reliable metal base. Birch is used for the slats. Lat holders are overhead, which ensures a quiet rest without squeaking.
Video material
At this point, the process of assembling a bed with a lifting mechanism can be considered complete. Using the lifting mechanism, you can lift the entire bed with just one hand. The most important thing is to maintain consistency during installation. Please note that the finished structure should have a smooth lifting speed.
If there is a lot of furniture in the room, but you really want to install a large and comfortable bed, experts recommend choosing furniture with a lifting mechanism. This design has another name - “transformer”, and with the help of a lifting mechanism it is quite possible to save a lot of free space, which is always in short supply, especially in multi-storey buildings.
Buying new furniture is, as they say, only half of the planned event, because you still need to assemble the structure, and in such a design that it does not lose its functionality. Recommendations and tips regarding assembling a bed with a lifting mechanism will help you with this, which we will further analyze, and the video, available for viewing on the Internet resource both day and night, will further simplify the progress of the work.