Are Ottoman Beds Good?

The Honest Verdict

Ottoman beds are a strong choice if you need storage and have limited floor space, because they turn the entire volume under the mattress into a single accessible compartment without adding anything to the bed’s footprint. For flats, box rooms, loft conversions and Victorian terraces with no built in cupboards, they solve a real problem. They are less compelling if you already have generous wardrobe space, if you need to reach items daily, or if the room cannot accommodate the lifting arc of the base.

That is the balanced answer. The rest of this article explains where each of those points applies, so you can judge whether an ottoman suits your home rather than relying on a general recommendation.

How an Ottoman Bed Works

An ottoman bed has a hollow base and a top platform that carries the mattress. Gas assisted struts take the weight, so a light pull on a strap at the foot of the bed raises the mattress and reveals the storage cavity beneath. Lower it and the struts control the descent.

There are two common configurations. Side lifting bases hinge along one long edge, so the mattress rises to one side. End lifting bases hinge at the head, so the mattress rises towards the headboard. End lifting suits rooms where one long side of the bed sits against a wall, which is the situation in most narrow British bedrooms. Side lifting suits beds with access from both sides and can be slightly easier to load because the opening is longer.

The cavity is usually lined and split by a central support member on larger sizes. Depths vary, but expect somewhere in the region of 25cm to 35cm of usable height depending on the design.

The Genuine Advantages

The storage volume is the headline. A double ottoman offers roughly the capacity of a large chest of drawers, and a king or super king considerably more. Crucially, it is one open space rather than several small drawers, so bulky items that defeat conventional storage fit easily: spare duvets, winter coats, suitcases, seasonal bedding, spare pillows.

The second advantage is footprint. Drawer bases need clear floor in front of them to open, which is exactly what a small bedroom does not have. An ottoman lifts upwards, so it works even when the bed is wedged between a wall and a wardrobe. In a box room where the bed touches three walls, an ottoman is often the only storage that functions at all.

Third, the contents stay clean and dust free. Anything stored in boxes under a conventional bed collects dust and has to be dragged out. An enclosed ottoman base keeps textiles in noticeably better condition, which matters for spare bedding and out of season clothing.

Our modern ottoman beds UK sale range covers both lifting styles across every British size, so it is worth comparing the two before deciding.

The Real Drawbacks

Access is the main compromise. To open the base you must clear the bed completely: duvet, pillows, throws, anything on top. That makes an ottoman excellent for things you need seasonally and poor for things you need on a Tuesday morning. If you intend to keep everyday clothes in there, you will find it frustrating within a fortnight.

Ceiling and headboard clearance is the second issue, and it catches people out. An end lifting base swings the mattress up towards the headboard, and in a loft room with a sloping ceiling there may simply not be room for it to travel. Measure the height available above the head of the bed before ordering, and remember that a thick mattress makes the arc taller.

Weight is the third. Lifting a base with a heavy mattress on it is manageable thanks to the gas struts, but it is not effortless, particularly with a deep pocket sprung king size mattress. Anyone with back problems or reduced strength should try the mechanism in person if possible, or choose a lighter mattress.

Finally, ottoman bases cost more than plain frames because of the engineering involved. The struts must be rated correctly, and the base needs reinforcement to carry the load. That premium is reasonable, but it is real.

Ottoman Versus Drawer and Divan Storage

Drawer divans give you two or four drawers in the base. They are cheaper, they open without disturbing the bedding, and they are better for frequently used items. Their weakness is that they need floor clearance in front, they hold less overall, and the drawers cannot take bulky items.

Standard divan bases with no storage remain the most economical route and the easiest to move, since they split in two. If you have a wardrobe and a chest of drawers already, a plain base plus a good mattress is often the better use of money. Our modern beds UK sale range includes all of these formats side by side.

The rule of thumb is straightforward. Choose an ottoman for maximum volume and minimum floor space. Choose drawers for convenient daily access. Choose neither if your storage is already adequate and put the money into the mattress instead.

What to Check Before You Buy

Measure the height above the head of the bed if you are considering an end lifting base, and the clear width to the side if you are considering a side lifting one. Then measure your mattress depth, because a deeper mattress increases the swing.

Check the strut rating and whether the manufacturer states a maximum mattress weight. Mismatched struts either fight you on the way up or drop the base on the way down, and neither is acceptable.

Look at the base lining. A properly lined cavity with a solid or well covered floor keeps stored items clean. An unlined base with exposed board will mark fabrics over time.

Consider the fabric or finish alongside the rest of the room. Upholstered ottomans in our modern fabric beds UK range work well in softer schemes, while high gloss and wood effect finishes suit more contemporary rooms. If the bedroom is being furnished from scratch, matching the bed to storage from the same range keeps the finishes consistent, and our modern wardrobes UK sale selection includes coordinating options.

Living With an Ottoman Bed

A few habits make ottoman storage work properly. Use fabric storage bags or shallow boxes so items can be lifted out as units rather than rummaged through with one hand holding the base. Keep a mental map of what is where, because you cannot see into the far corners easily.

Do not overfill it. A base packed to the brim makes the lid harder to close and puts strain on the struts. Leave a few centimetres of clearance at the top.

Open it occasionally even if you need nothing, particularly in older homes. Airing the cavity every few months prevents any musty smell developing in stored bedding.

Across the full bedroom range at Furniture in Fashion you can compare ottoman, drawer and plain bases in the same finish, which makes the decision considerably easier than judging in isolation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much storage does an ottoman bed give?

Roughly the capacity of a large chest of drawers in a double size, and more again in king and super king. Because it is one open cavity, it takes bulky items that drawers cannot.

Are ottoman beds difficult to open?

Gas struts do most of the work, so lifting is manageable, though a deep king size mattress makes it heavier. You do need to clear the bedding off the bed first each time.

Do ottoman beds need extra room around them?

Not to the sides, which is their advantage, but end lifting bases need clear height above the headboard for the mattress to swing up. Check this carefully in loft rooms with sloping ceilings.

Can you use any mattress on an ottoman bed?

Most mattresses work, but check the manufacturer’s stated weight limit. A mattress that is too heavy makes the struts struggle, while a very light one can make the base rise too eagerly.

Is an ottoman bed better than a drawer divan?

For volume and for tight rooms, yes. For everyday access, a drawer divan is more practical because you can open it without stripping the bed.