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Air mattresses can be a versatile way to get a decent night’s sleep, which we all know by know is supremely important. You can take them camping, when visiting family or friends, or even use them in place of spring mattresses to customize your desired firmness. As convenient as they are, they’re not always the most comfortable long term option and sometimes have minor issues. Raising a mattress off the floor is one way to tackle both of these scenarios so we teach you how to raise an air mattress off the floor.
When you’re camping, those prickly thorns, errant sticks, or jutting rocks can puncture a mattress in the night. By raising the mattress in a tent, you’re protecting it from any damage underneath. If it’s not giving you the right support and leaving you achy or sore, raising your air mattress can effectively increase the comfort levels.
If you’re looking for other easy ways to make an air mattress more comfortable, we have this handy guide on how to do just that. Here, we’re going to talk through how to raise your air mattress, including what kinds of bases to use, things to think about when raising, and we’ll also take a look at some of our favorite air mattresses.
Before You Start Raising an Air Mattress
When you’re thinking of raising an air mattress off the ground, there are a few things to consider before you start:
- Where the mattress and base will be used
- How high you want the mattress to be
- What kind of frame to use
Once you know these three things, you are ready to get your air mattress off the floor. Many companies make bases specifically for air mattresses, but knowing how you’re going to use it will help you figure out what kind of base is best suited for your needs.
How to Raise an Air Mattress While Camping
Raising an air mattress outdoors is definitely possible, but requires a little extra thought. How you raise it will depend on what you are hoping to achieve, as well as what surface you are putting it on.
If you just want to protect the mattress from sticks, rocks, or an uneven floor, you can simply use a wooden board or sheet. This would provide protection to the mattress, however, it won’t add any height. Using a flat board would also work well for softer ground, such as grass or sand. It would add some firmness and resistance, giving you a more comfortable night’s sleep.
If you want to raise the air mattress higher, it will provide a few added benefits. A raised bed would be easier to get in and out of, especially for those with difficulty bending low or kneeling. Raising any mattress would allow for better airflow, which can keep you cooler at night. If you are raising your air mattress on soft ground, you will need to be careful about what kind of legs the frame has.
A small footprint might sink into sand or soil, so using a board underneath each foot, putting a thick carpet underneath, or getting a frame with wider legs could prevent this. There are many different air mattress frames specifically designed for camping. Portable or folding cots can also work for mattresses, providing they are a suitable height and design.
One thing to be careful of when raising an air mattress outdoors is not to raise it too high. Raising it over 12 inches off the ground would add too much instability, especially when dealing with different weather and ground conditions.
How to Raise an Air Mattress Off The Floor Indoors
There are a number of reasons why you’d want to raise an air mattress off the floor indoors. You might want a different look in your space, to make it easier to get in and out of bed, or you may wish to increase available storage space under the bed. Whatever the reason, there are several types of bed frames to choose from for your air mattress. Unfortunately, a standard bed frame with slats is not going to work for your air mattress unless you add plywood panels on top of the slats.
A simpler option would be to use a box spring or a platform frame, as they provide a solid, flat surface for the mattress to securely sit on.
How to Sleep Safely & Soundly on an Air Mattress
If you’re concerned about raising an air mattress off the ground, you aren’t alone. As an air mattress is different from a traditional spring or memory foam mattress, there are numerous things to bear in mind when using them.
Mattress Weight
An air mattress is filled with… well, air, which makes it much lighter than a traditional mattress. This is good if you want to move the mattress around a lot, but it can make it prone to moving when you sleep and fidget around throughout night. A way to combat this is making sure it fits securely in and on any frame you raise it upon. You can purchase straps or gripping pads to place under the mattress that help to hold it in place, too
Deflating
No air mattress is 100% air-tight. They will all lose some air over time, but waking up on a hard ground or bed base is always a concern. Raising an air mattress will decrease the chance of it being deflated by sticks or rocks outside, but punctures can still happen. If that’s the case, keeping duct tape with you can help fix the problem.
We put together this guide on how to repair your air mattress with duct tape, should you wake up on the hard ground.
Cleanliness
Just as you would clean a traditional bed and mattress, you need to make sure your air mattress is clean, too. Whether it acquired too much of the great outdoors in the form of mud or dirt, or has been used a lot and needs a freshening, we put together another guide on how to clean your air mattress. Cleaning any place that you sleep is essential for your own health and wellbeing, as well as the longevity of the mattress.
Should You Get a New Air Mattress?
Sometimes the best solution for a problematic mattress is to replace it altogether. If you’re looking for a new and reliable air mattress, we compiled this list of some of our favorites. Many mattresses these days come tall enough to not require a lot of height from a frame, but they can still benefit from being raised for air circulation or added storage underneath.
Conclusion
Placing your air mattress on a suitable and stable frame for the occasion and environment you’re using it in will definitely make a difference to your sleep. Just keep in mind that you will need a different type of frame depending on if you are using it outdoors for camping, or whether you want an indoor frame for aesthetics, storage, or convenience.