Bed Frame Too High? Here’s What to Do!

Your bed should be the most comfortable area in your home. However, if your bed frame is not the right height, it can actually affect your sleep. Not all bed frames are created equally, so you might find yourself with what you thought was a perfect bedroom setup, only to realize your bed frame is too high to be comfortable. 

Bed sets, as a whole, have gotten increasingly higher over the years. This is not ideal for everyone. You should not have to jump or strain to get into your bed every night. If your bed frame is too high, you have some options to remedy the situation. Read on to learn what to do if your bed frame is too high. 

How Do You Fix a Bed Frame That Is Too High?

If you feel that your bed frame is too high, you are not stuck with it. There are several routes you can take to find a more comfortable sleeping position. Some bed frames are adjustable, others require a bit of DIY, and some bed frames on the market are specifically for low-sleeping. If you find that none of the other options work, you can always replace your bed frame with one that sits lower. 

When you decide to lower your bed frame, the first step should be to determine what kind of bed frame you have. There are several different kinds available, and the type will determine how to lower it, or if lowering it is possible. Your bed frame may be one of the following types:

• Wooden
• Metal
• Upholstered

You can go even further and break down bed frames into their styles. Styles include platform, canopy, poster, futon, loft, and many more. If you have one of these special types of bed frames, the chances of lowering it yourself are slim. These bed frames are special and are not meant to be altered. However, many people have simple bed frames made of either metal or wood. Sometimes these can be lowered. 

Why Would You Need to Lower Your Bed Frame?

Bedding and bed frame styles are not immune to changing fashion trends. Modern beds are much higher than they used to be. The height of your bed affects the overall look and feel of your bedroom. If you have a large bedroom with high ceilings, a tall bed fits better in the space because it reaches toward the high ceiling. 

However, the high bed trend is not suitable for everyone. For shorter people, tall beds can be difficult to climb in and out of. Additionally, if you have injuries to your foot, legs, or knees, the small jump to get in and out of bed can exacerbate your pain. Your bed should be where you go to relax and sleep, so it should never cause you pain or put stress on your body. 

The perfect bed height is one that allows them to sit on the edge of the bed and have their feet on the floor with their knees at a right angle. This height will make getting in and out of bed the easiest. The average height for this perfect position is between 16 and 24 inches off the ground. That means the measurement from the floor all the way to the top of the highest mattress should fall within that range for most people.

Lowering your bed height also offers other advantages. If you sleep hot, sleeping at a lower height can actually make you cooler at night. Since heat rises, you will be cooler the lower you are to the ground. Sleeping low also creates a cozy feeling as if you are burrowing into your comfortable blankets at night. Additionally, lower bed frames can make a smaller room feel more spacious. 

Lower Your Bed Frame Glides

If you have a metal bed frame, you can check to see if your bed frame is adjustable. Often, simple metal frames are adjustable for this very reason—so that people can adjust the height of their bed frame slightly up or down. 

Many metal bed frames are called “universal” bed frames because they can be adjusted narrow or wide to accommodate different mattress sizes. These bed frames are usually also height adjustable. If you have a universal metal bed frame, you can adjust its height using glides that are equipped on each corner and edge of the bed. 

• Height glides act as your bed frame’s feet. 
• They are attached to the edges of your bed and can be lengthened or shortened. 
• Adjust bed height by screwing or unscrewing height glides. 

The height glides are basically screws that can be screwed tightly or loosely, depending on your desired bed frame height. 

To achieve a lower bed frame, screw the height glides tight so that less of the screw is visible. The more visible the glide screw, the higher the bed frame will sit. Usually, bed frame height glides can give or take a few inches of height. If your bed is too tall by about four inches or fewer, adjusting the height glides is an easy solution to achieve your ideal height.

Remove Caster Wheels to Lower Bed Frame

Your bed frame might have risers or wheels attached. Removing these can lower inches off of your bed’s height. Most of these items are meant for easy removal, so removing them should not be too difficult or strenuous. 

Many bed frames have wheels to increase mobility. If you are placing a new bed frame in a room, you can wheel it around to find the best spot. However, once your bed is in its ideal location, the wheels are no longer necessary. Caster wheels add a few inches of height to your bed frame, so getting rid of them can lower your bed frame.

• Remove all mattresses and bed dressings from the bed frame so that you have an empty bed frame to work with. 
• Raise your bed frame to locate the casters. Most caster wheels are attached to bed frames using a pin or screw. Locate this pin or screw and either pull it out or unscrew it. 
• Once the caster wheel is no longer attached via pin or screw, you should be able to yank the caster wheel off of the frame. Repeat this for all wheels on the bed frame. 

If you have yanked on the wheel and it will not come off easily, use a flathead screwdriver to pry the wheel caster away from the frame. You can also use a hammer or mallet to bang on the caster wheel until it comes loose.

Store the wheels somewhere convenient so you can find them again if you ever need to replace them. Otherwise, enjoy your newly lowered bed frame.

Cut Posts Off Wooden Bed Frame

If you have a knack for DIY and the proper tools at your disposal, you can make permanent fixes to a wooden bed frame yourself. If you have a wooden bed frame that includes tall posts or legs, cut those off to shorten your bed frame. 

This is not a temporary solution as you will be making real foundational changes to your bed frame. Before you start sawing off parts of your bed frame’s legs, be sure you have decided on the perfect bed frame height. As with any sawing job, always measure multiple times to be sure everything is correct before you begin cutting. 

As with all bed frame adjustments, you will need to start by removing all mattresses and bed dressings to reveal your bed frame underneath. 

• Remove bed posts from your bed frame. These are usually attached to the frame with screws, so you should be able to unscrew them from the frame and remove them. 
• Once the bed posts are off the bed frame, the bed frame is likely sitting on the floor. If you like your bed firmly on the floor with no room underneath, you can stop at this step and store your bed posts elsewhere.
• If you want shorter bed posts to keep your bed off the floor, take your bed posts outside to wherever your saw is set up. 
• Know how many inches you want to cut off, and cut the same length from each post. 
• Sand the new bottom so that you have a smooth surface that will not damage your floors. 
• Return your shortened bed posts to your bed frame and reattach. 

Once you assemble your bed again, you will notice that it is much shorter, depending on how many inches of bed post you cut off. Hopefully, you are happy with the new bed frame height, because you cannot exactly undo your alterations. 

Convert Your Bed Frame to a Platform

While you are in the DIY spirit, you can also change your bed frame from a conventional bed frame with legs to a platform bed. This is similar to the option above, but here you will be creating a platform bed from your current bed frame. Platform beds are great choices if you are someone who wants a low bed frame.

Platform beds allow you to get rid of your box spring altogether, which will save you several inches in total bed height. Most conventional bed frames require the use of a box spring, alternatively, you can use a low-profile box, a bunkie board, or with a little DIY magic you can turn your current bed frame into a platform bed frame. 

Materials you will need for this project include:

• Pine boards: Use 1 x 4 pine boards. The number of pine boards you need depends on your bed frame’s width. 
• Measuring tape
• Wood-cutting saw

To convert a regular metal bed frame to a platform bed, all you really need are appropriately-sized slats to take the place of your old box spring. These 1 x 4 pine boards will be your new slats. 

• Determine the number of pine boards you need by measuring your bed frame edge to edge. When you have that measurement, subtract ⅛ inch to account for the bed frame itself. This will be the required length of your pine boards. 
• Your pine boards are four inches wide, and they should be spaced out across the bed frame with gaps of about 1 and ½ inches in between. Using that knowledge, you can tell how many pine boards you need to stretch from one edge to the other with the gaps in between. 
• Once you have all of your needed pine boards, cut them down to the correct length you found with the measurement above. 

Place the pine boards on the bed frame to act as slats, and reassemble your bed without the box spring. You can dispose of your box spring how you see fit. All you will need now is your mattress and your newly-slatted bed frame. Standard box springs are about nine inches tall, so this method can lower your bed by a whopping nine inches. 

Use Steps Or Risers to Get in Bed

You can build or purchase steps or risers for your tall bed. This option does not exactly lower your bed frame, but it makes it easier to get in bed if your bed frame is too tall. This option prevents you from having to jump or strain yourself getting in bed each day. You can also use these to get out of bed more easily. 

You can use pretty much any kind of step stool to give yourself a leg up when climbing into a tall bed. A few good examples include:

• DMI Step Stool with Handle: This heavy-duty metal stool is great for those who have questionable balance. It features a handle and non-slip grip so climbing into bed is safe and easy.
• RORKEE Two-Step Wood Stool: This step stool is great for all around the home. Its wooden design is stylish and can match many different interior design aesthetics. Use this to step up into bed.
• LAKINGO Solid Wood Step Stool: This is another beautiful wooden option. Instead of two steps, this stool is made up of one solid step. It is six inches high.

You can also build your own step stool if you are handy with power tools. You can even add upholstery or cushioning for more comfortable steps. 

It is important to note, though, that a step stool is not the most ideal option for contending with a bed frame that is too high. It is possible to stub your toe on a step stool if you forget it is there. Also, if you get up in the middle of the night, you might trip and fall if you are particularly groggy. While step stools like those above can be convenient for reaching a high bed, they can also be a bit dangerous. 

Replace Your Mattresses

If you want to keep your bed frame but find your entire bed set is too high, you may be dealing with extra tall mattresses and box springs. Mattresses are getting increasingly thicker. If you have a bed frame that requires a box spring, both your mattress and box spring might be quite tall and thick. You can combat this inconvenient height by choosing mattresses and box springs that are not as tall. 

The average standard mattress is between nine and 12 inches high. However, many mattresses on the market today are higher than this. You might have purchased an extra-thick mattress and box spring set without realizing it. 

Your best bet in this situation is to replace your mattress with a slimmer one. There are thin mattresses on the market that are between six and nine inches tall. There are also mattress-box spring hybrids that save you from having to pile two tall components on top of one another. 

Replace Your Bed Frame

If you are trying to find ways to lower your bed frame, you are probably trying to avoid going out and buying a new bed frame. However, sometimes this is your best option for achieving the lower bed height you need.

If you are extra handy or have adjustable bed frames as mentioned above, you can usually lower your bed frame by a few inches on your own. However, some special bed frames cannot be adjusted or lowered. You would run the risk of destroying your bed frame if you tried tinkering with it too much. 

Keep an eye out for low-profile bed frames. These are options on the market specifically designed for people who do not want their bed to sit extra high. These are usually platform bed frames that do not require the use of a box spring. So, not only are you saving height between the ground and the top of the bed frame, but you are saving several inches by eliminating the box spring.

• Mellow Low Profile Metal Platform Bed Frame: This platform frame is available for all bed sizes and you can choose between a six-inch or 10-inch option.
• Amazon Brand Stone & Beam Rustic Solid Pine Platform Bed: This frame is 12 inches high from the floor to the top of the frame. It is designed like a conventional bed frame, so it will fit with many interior decor styles. 
• ZINUS Brock Metal and Wood Platform Bed Frame: This bed frame comes complete with a beautiful headboard. The frame lies directly on the floor, so you can rest assured that your bed will be low to the ground. 

Buying an entirely new frame is not ideal if you want to keep costs low and alter your current frame to be shorter. However, it might be the easiest route if your bed has become too tall for you. Platform beds are popular choices these days and you may find one that suits your needs better than your current bed frame can.