Getting your slatted bed base or frame set up correctly is an important, but all too often overlooked task. An improper set-up means that the funds spent on a high-quality mattress are all for naught. If you often find yourself waking up with back or neck pain or just don't feel refreshed after a night’s sleep, you might not only consider looking for a new mattress, but also take a look at your slatted bed base.
In this guide, we’ll tell you what function the slatted bed base performs and how to set it up and adjust it properly to optimally support your body during sleep. It goes without saying that you should adjust your slatted bed base to your individual needs so that you can sleep easily through the night. This should help you wake up the next day without feeling any pain or discomfort.
What is the purpose of a slatted bed base?
A slatted bed base is important for various reasons and is an indispensable part of the bed, along with the mattress and the bed frame.
Ventilation
One of the many tasks that the slatted bed base performs is allowing the proper ventilation of the mattress. The space between the individual slats allows the air to circulate under the bed, thereby reducing the accumulation of moisture in the mattress.
With moisture is allowed to accumulate in the mattress, dust mites and bacteria have an easier time reproducing. Bacteria love the humid and warm environment; dust mites actually need these conditions to reproduce. In the summer, up to 10 million mites can colonize your mattress, causing skin irritation and breathing problems for people with an allergy to house dust. When buying a slatted bed base, allergy sufferers should definitely make sure that the mattress gets enough air from below the bed. In addition, you can also consider purchasing mite bedding, which helps reduce allergic reactions.
Better air circulation not only reduces the accumulation of mites, but also prevents mold from forming in the mattress. Another added benefit is this counteracts the development of unpleasant odors. The distance between the slats of the slatted bed base should ideally be 3 cm to 5 cm.
Ergonomics
Of course, your slatted bed also serves an ergonomic function. A good slatted bed base should be able to support the spine and relieve pressure from the shoulder girdle. This is the precise reason that your slatted bed bases should be adapted to your individual sleeping habits, as your preferred sleeping position determines which part of your body needs to be stabilized.
How is a slatted bed base made?
To understand the function of your slatted bed base, we should first take a look at how they’re built. The frame of a slatted bed base is responsible for the base’s stability and all slats are attached to it by brackets. The frame is typically made of metal, plastic or wood.
The slats of the slatted bed base are arranged parallel to each other and are likewise made of either wood or plastic. Particularly thin slats are sometimes called strips. Typical slatted bed bases today have slats made of multi-glued laminated wood. Some slatted bed bases even have double-laid slats that allow them to carry extra weight. As for the material of the slats, you can choose between softwood (such as birch, pine, spruce) or hardwood (such as beech). Hardwoods are of higher quality and are more durable.
Slats are attached by fabric straps or flexible pockets called loose or floating bearings. These are made of an elastic material such as plastic, rubber or caoutchouc. The slats can be either rigidly or flexibly attached to the frame. Flexibly applied slats allow you to increase the springiness of the slatted bed base, which some find more comfortable when lying down.
Adjustable slatted bed bases
In addition to more rigid frames, slatted bed bases that allow you to adjust the head and leg sections independently are also available. These models can be operated either manually or electrically. This type of slatted bed base is well suited to those who need more support for health reasons or those who simply prefer a firmer bed for comfort reasons.
The adjustability in the frame’s head section should start at your neck area. The adjustable segment for the back should be at about one-third of the entire length of the slatted base (from the head end). The leg section, on the other hand, should start at a distance of two-thirds of the total length (from the foot end).
Two different slatted bed frame systems
In a high-quality slatted bed frame, as with a mattress, the slats are divided into zones and can be moved individually. With these models, you can choose between slatted bed frames with so-called O-sliders or T-sliders.
A slatted bed frame with O-sliders has the double slats close together and the upper slat is directly connected to the frame. The lower slat is clamped to the upper one by a so-called adjustment slider. If the adjustment slider is moved outward, the slats stiffen and become harder or firmer. If you move it inwards, the slats become softer and have a bit more spring.
In the case of T-slides, the adjustment slides are not located directly on the slats, but between them. In this case, the set up or adjustment procedure is exactly the opposite, because the more centrally the adjustment slides are placed, the harder the slats become. The further outwards the adjustment sides are placed, the softer and more flexible the slats become.
Adjust your slatted bed frame to your preferred sleeping position
To find out which position is the best sleeping position for you, ask yourself in which position you prefer to fall asleep in, then ask yourself whether this is the same position in which you wake up. You should then adjust your slatted bed frame according to your preferred sleeping position.
How to adjust your slatted bed frame if you’re a back sleeper
The so-called V formation is best for back sleepers. Here, the O-adjustment sliders are arranged so that they form a V-shape towards the foot end of the bed. For optimal support, your body’s pelvis should lie on the tip of the V. With T-sliders, the V runs in exactly the opposite direction.
How to adjust your slatted bed frame if you’re a side sleeper
In the side sleeper position, the shoulders should lie on as soft an area as possible, but the spine must still be supported. In this case, we can also start by using a V-shaped formation. However, the upper tips of the V are shifted slightly more inward, so that the area on which the shoulders lie is softer. It’s all the more important for side sleepers to buy the right pillow for this sleeping position, as you otherwise run the risk of sleeping with your neck in an unhealthy position.
If your slatted frame has T-slats, the upper tips of the V are pushed further apart. Thus, the slatted bed frame becomes more flexible at this point.
How to adjust your slatted bed frame if you’re a belly sleeper
Those who like to sleep on their stomach need more stability. This will prevent your spine from sagging, leaving you with a sore back the next morning. In this case, the O-sliders should be pushed far out and T-sliders as far in as possible.
Zizzz products for a good night’s sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is the first step to getting your day off to a good start. To help you get a deep, restorative sleep you need, we make high-quality bedding products from breathable, locally-sourced natural materials. That's why we offer bedsheets, duvet covers and pillow cases made from GOTS-certified organic cotton. Organic cotton percale is breathable and feels incredibly soft on the skin.
We also offer fabulous wool and down duvets. Our wool duvets are filled with pure virgin sheep’s wool from sheep raised right here in the Swiss Alps. Our down duvets are filled with European goose or duck down of the highest quality. All of our products are made in Switzerland or the EU.