How to Adjust a Standard Headboard After Changing to a Deeper Mattress

A deeper mattress can hide more of your headboard, leaving the padded section too low for comfortable sitting. If your headboard uses adjustable struts, you can usually improve its position by loosening the base fixings, raising both sides evenly and securing it again.

The important limit is the fitting itself. The headboard must remain securely attached throughout its permitted adjustment range. Here is how to find the right height, make the adjustment and recognise when different fittings or a replacement would be more suitable.

Check Whether Your Headboard Can Be Raised

Look behind the bed before loosening anything. A typical adjustable headboard has two supports, called struts, connecting the upholstered panel to the base. Long slots in these supports allow vertical movement around the fixing bolts.

Halo Beds explains that many strut-fixed designs offer height adjustment to accommodate mattress depth. However, “standard” does not mean every headboard has identical fittings or the same adjustment range. Check your model’s instructions before proceeding.

Identify which arrangement you have:

• Slotted struts: These may allow the existing headboard to slide upwards.

• Fixed holes or brackets: Adjustment depends on the alternative positions provided.

• An integrated frame headboard: Follow the bed frame’s assembly instructions.

• A floor-standing headboard: Do not assume it can be raised like a strutted model.

Measure the Height You Actually Need

Fit the new mattress correctly on the base before taking measurements. If it arrives compressed, allow it to expand for the period specified in its instructions. Include any topper you intend to keep using.

Measure from the floor to the top of the sleeping surface, then from the floor to the top of the headboard. The difference shows how much headboard remains visible.

If the base is unchanged, the increase in mattress depth provides a useful starting point. For example, replacing a 24 cm mattress with a 32 cm mattress raises the sleeping surface by approximately 8 cm. Raising the headboard by the same amount would restore its previous visible height, provided the fittings allow it.

Treat that calculation as a guide. Your preferred position should also suit your pillows and seated posture, without creating an unnecessary opening beneath the upholstered panel.

Prepare the Bed and Inspect the Fixings

Gather a tape measure, the correct screwdriver or Allen key, and a helper to support the headboard. A spirit level is useful if the top has a straight edge.

Move the bed away from the wall by handling the base, never by pulling the headboard. Remove pillows and bedding so you can see the mattress line clearly. Move the mattress temporarily if it blocks access, keeping its measured height available.

Before adjusting, inspect:

• Both struts for splits, bending or damaged slots.

• The connections between the struts and upholstered panel.

• Base bolts, washers and threaded fixing points.

Repair damaged components before attempting to secure the headboard higher.

Raise and Secure the Headboard Step by Step

1. Record the starting position

Measure the height at matching points on the left and right sides. This gives you a reference if the panel moves unexpectedly.

Check how much usable movement remains in each slot. Both sides need enough travel for the intended rise while retaining the secure engagement specified in the fitting instructions.

2. Support the panel and loosen the base bolts

Ask your helper to hold the headboard firmly before loosening anything.

For a typical slotted-strut arrangement, loosen the bolts connecting the struts to the bed base just enough to release their clamping pressure. Keep them engaged in the base unless the instructions require removal.

Usually, the fixings joining the struts to the upholstered panel can remain tight. Only adjust these if your particular design uses them for height positioning.

3. Lift both sides together

Raise the headboard slowly, keeping the struts parallel. Avoid lifting one side substantially ahead of the other, which can make the slots bind against the bolts.

Stop if the assembly catches. Check for trapped fabric, a tilted strut or insufficient clearance instead of forcing it upwards.

Never raise an open-ended slot so far that it disengages from its bolt.

4. Check the mattress-to-headboard relationship

With your helper still supporting the panel, compare its position with the new mattress height. Replace the mattress if you moved it.

Check the lower upholstered edge as well as the top. Follow the model’s intended positioning: avoid leaving a large opening where pillows can slip through, but do not force the panel into the mattress.

Check equal heights at matching points on both sides. For a curved or shaped headboard, use corresponding features rather than relying on the centre.

5. Tighten evenly

Keep the panel supported while tightening the base fixings progressively on both sides.

Position the original washers or retaining components as instructed. Tighten firmly enough to prevent slipping, without crushing wooden struts or damaging threads. Use the specified torque if your instructions provide one.

Once secured, your helper can release the panel gradually while you check that it stays in position.

Test Stability Before Moving the Bed Back

Apply gentle pressure to the headboard and watch the fixings. The panel should not slide down, twist or move independently at a loose connection.

If it slips, recheck the seating of both struts and the condition of the hardware. A bolt that turns without tightening, or reaches its stop without clamping the strut, needs investigation rather than extra force.

Return your pillows and check comfort while sitting normally. Then reposition the bed by its base. Ensure nearby sockets, shelves and window ledges remain clear, and test any drawers or ottoman movement. Halo Beds’ fitting guidance highlights storage clearance and avoiding strain on the fixings when moving the bed.

What If the Struts Cannot Rise Far Enough?

Do not lengthen slots, drill new mounting holes or add improvised extensions simply to recover the old appearance.

Ask whether approved replacement struts or compatible brackets are available for your exact headboard and base. Longer components are not automatically suitable: their attachment points and intended load must also match.

If replacement is necessary, compare the upholstered panel height and usable adjustment range in Halo Beds’ standard headboard collection. Confirm those measurements before ordering.

Alternatively, consider floor-standing headboards, which carry their weight through the floor. Choose sufficient overall height for the deeper mattress rather than expecting the same adjustment as a strutted design.

FAQs

How high should a headboard sit above a deeper mattress?

There is no single correct measurement. Aim for enough upholstered surface behind your pillows and seated upper body, within the manufacturer’s permitted fitting range.

Can I adjust the headboard without removing the mattress?

Yes, if you can safely reach both fixings. Keeping the mattress in place makes judging the finished height easier; remove it temporarily if access is restricted.

Will a mattress topper affect the adjustment?

Yes. Include the topper when measuring the sleeping surface, because it reduces the amount of headboard visible above the bed.

Do I need longer bolts after raising the headboard?

Usually, sliding existing struts upwards does not change the required bolt length. Different brackets or spacers may require different hardware, which should be confirmed before fitting.