There is no front. There are four sides to a bed

Head Foot Monster side Safe side

My spouse unwisely chose monster side early in our relationship and so I’ve been safe side ever since.

I don't think I've ever heard anybody refer to a front on a bed. There's the head of the bed, the foot of the bed, the side of the bed, the top of the bed....

The front of the bed is the legitimate business the bed uses to cover up its illegal activities.

Slightly more seriously, I would say that if there is a front it would be the same as the foot, but I don't think the term really applies.

the side furthest from the wall

The reason you can't agree is because it doesn't make sense to describe any part of a bed/mattress as having a front.

So just stop using "front" entirely.

You have the top and bottom, head and foot, and both sides. There's no need for a front or back.

There is a top and bottom, we know that much for sure. I say the 4 sides are equivalent so the “head” and “foot” depend on how one sleeps. No need to use front and back terminology which is better suited for something you can’t see over or around.

Reminds me of dorsal/ventral, anterior/posterior and rostral/caudal from anatomy. Maybe we need to define an anatomical position for mattresses.

Edit: When standing a mattress up, like during moving, the top and bottom may temporarily be re-designated front and back. Pivot!

whichever side is facing the door.

Well, there is such thing as a backboard, so the front must be the foot end?

Well the bit where the pillows go is the backboard, so the front would logically follow to be where your feet go. Now I'm curious what languages other than English have to say on the subject.

Probably the side facing the door.

there is no "front" and left and right is determined from standing at the foot of the bed

I think there's two definitions, in priority order:

1. the most accessible side that you're most likely to get in on, the side that's facing you, or
2. if there's no walls and the bed is in the middle of a ballroom or floating in space, the head of the bed.

Wouldn't the front be the widest accessible side of the bed? With the head being the headboard and pillows?

the side you put sheets on

Depends on which way it’s traveling.

Where I rest my head.

If only one side of the bed is touching a wall, then that side is the back. The opposite side would be the front. The remaining two sides would be the sides.

If your bed is in a corner with two sides touching a wall, then I would say both open sides would be considered the front.

If your bed is in a nook with three sides touching a wall, then the one open side would be the front.

If your bed is in the middle of the room and not touching any walls, then there is no front.

I'd say the front would be the end where your feet go, so the foot of the bed. But I have never heard anyone talk about the front of the bed before...