Ottoman Beds Explained: Which Design Suits Your Lifestyle?

The Quick Explanation

An ottoman bed is a frame whose entire base lifts on gas struts to reveal a full length storage compartment underneath. There are three main designs: end lifting, where the base opens from the foot; side lifting, where it opens from one long side; and half opening or split designs, which lift only part of the base. Which one suits you depends almost entirely on where the bed sits in the room and how much clear floor space you have in front of it.

The storage volume is substantial. A double ottoman holds roughly the equivalent of a large wardrobe base, which in most UK bedrooms is the difference between a tidy room and a cluttered one.

End Lifting Ottoman Beds

End lifting bases hinge at the head of the bed and rise from the foot. The whole mattress pivots upward and back.

This design suits bedrooms where the bed sits between two walls or in an alcove, because you do not need clearance at the sides. It also works well when both people using the bed want equal access to the storage, since you open it from the foot and can reach in from either side.

What it needs is floor space at the foot of the bed, usually around a metre, and ceiling clearance for the raised mattress. In a loft room with a sloping ceiling above the foot of the bed, end lifting is often the wrong choice.

Side Lifting Ottoman Beds

Side lifting bases hinge along one long side and open from the other. They are the answer when the foot of the bed faces a wall, a radiator or a doorway.

They suit narrow rooms where the bed runs lengthways along one wall, which is a very common UK bedroom layout. You do need clear space along the opening side, so the bed has to be positioned with that access in mind from the start.

One consideration: side lifting bases are handed. Check whether the model opens from the left or the right before ordering, as it determines which side of the bed must stay clear. You can compare both lifting directions across our modern ottoman beds UK sale range.

Half Opening and Split Designs

Half opening bases lift only a portion of the deck, usually from the foot to the midpoint. They need less clearance and are lighter to operate, which suits anyone who finds a full base heavy despite the struts.

The compromise is capacity. You lose roughly half the storage, and the fixed section is not accessible at all. These designs make sense in very tight rooms or where the storage is for occasional items rather than daily use.

How to Choose Based on Your Room

Work through three questions in order.

• Which sides of the bed are clear? If the foot is clear, end lifting. If only a long side is clear, side lifting.
• Is there anything overhead? Sloping ceilings, low beams and shelves above the bed all restrict how far the base can rise.
• How often will you open it? Daily access suits the side that faces your natural walking route. Seasonal access can be less convenient.

Measure the clearance rather than estimating. A base that cannot fully open is frustrating within a week.

How to Choose Based on What You Store

The contents change which design works best.

Bedding and duvets: bulky but light. Any design handles this well, and a half opening base is often enough.

Out of season clothing: needs to stay clean and accessible twice a year. Full opening designs make it much easier to reach items at the head end.

Suitcases: rigid and awkward. Measure your largest case against the internal depth, which is typically around 30cm to 40cm depending on the frame.

Anything you use weekly: put it in a chest of drawers instead. Lifting a bed base every few days is not a sensible routine, no matter how smooth the mechanism. If weekly storage is the real problem, the modern chest of drawers UK sale range solves it more comfortably.

What to Check on the Mechanism

The gas struts do the work, and they are the part that determines whether the bed is pleasant to use for years or becomes a two person job.

Look for struts rated to the weight of your mattress. A heavy pocket sprung or latex mattress needs stronger struts than a light foam one, and a base that opens easily with a light mattress may fight you with a heavy one.

The base should stay up on its own without being held, and it should lower slowly under control rather than dropping. A smooth, damped descent is a sign of a properly specified mechanism.

Also check that the deck slats are firmly fixed rather than loose in holders, since they move with the base every time it lifts.

Ottoman Beds and Mattress Choice

Mattress weight matters more here than on a standard frame. Very heavy mattresses make the base harder to lift and put more strain on the struts over time.

Medium weight pocket sprung and hybrid mattresses are the most practical pairing. If you prefer a very deep, heavy mattress, check the maximum mattress weight in the frame specification before ordering. Compare depths and constructions across the mattresses UK sale selection with that figure in mind.

How Ottoman Beds Compare With Other Storage

It helps to see the alternatives side by side before committing.

Drawer divans offer less volume but need no overhead clearance and can be opened in seconds. They suit rooms with sloping ceilings and anyone who accesses stored items often.

Underbed boxes on castors cost very little and work with any frame that has clearance beneath it. They collect dust and need floor space to pull out, but they are the cheapest route to extra capacity.

A blanket box at the foot of the bed adds seating as well as storage, and it is far easier to open than any bed base. Capacity is modest, but for bedding alone it is often enough. Our modern blanket boxes UK range covers sizes that suit double and king frames.

An additional wardrobe holds the most, but only if you have the wall space, which in most UK bedrooms is exactly what has run out.

Looking After the Mechanism

Ottoman beds need very little maintenance, but a few habits extend the life of the struts considerably.

Lift and lower from the centre of the base rather than one corner, which keeps the load even across both struts.

Do not overfill. Items pressing against the underside of the mattress make the base harder to close and put constant pressure on the mechanism.

Never sit or stand on a raised base, and keep children clear while it is open.

If the base becomes slow to rise after several years, the struts have lost gas pressure. Replacement struts are inexpensive and fit with basic tools, so this is a repair rather than a reason to replace the bed.

Ventilation and Storing Fabrics

An enclosed base needs airflow, which is why the deck is slatted rather than solid. Even so, a few habits keep stored items fresh.

Store textiles clean and completely dry. Use breathable cotton bags rather than sealed plastic, which traps moisture. Open the base occasionally in winter to let air move through, particularly in older properties or ground floor flats where humidity runs higher.

Avoid storing anything scented directly against bedding, as the smell transfers over months.

Who Ottoman Beds Suit Best

They suit flats and terraced houses with no loft, families who need seasonal storage, guest rooms that double as store rooms, and anyone who has run out of wardrobe space but has no wall left for another cupboard.

They suit less well: rooms with very low sloping ceilings, households where nobody can comfortably lift a base, and homes with abundant built in storage where the extra cost buys capacity that will sit empty.

If you are weighing up the options, it is worth comparing lifting directions, internal depths and strut specifications side by side at Furniture in Fashion, where delivery is free to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can an ottoman bed hold?

A double typically offers around 700 to 900 litres of storage depending on internal depth, which is comparable to a large wardrobe base. A king or super king offers proportionally more.

Are ottoman beds hard to lift?

Not when the gas struts are matched to the mattress weight. A correctly specified base lifts with one hand and holds itself open. Difficulty usually indicates a mattress heavier than the mechanism was rated for.

End lifting or side lifting: which is better?

Neither is better in general. End lifting suits beds in alcoves or between walls, side lifting suits beds running along a wall with the foot obstructed. Clearance decides it.

Can you store clothes in an ottoman bed long term?

Yes, provided items are clean, dry and stored in breathable bags. The slatted deck allows airflow, but sealed plastic containers trap moisture and should be avoided for textiles.

Do ottoman beds work with any mattress?

Most, but check the maximum mattress weight in the frame specification. Very heavy mattresses strain the struts and make the base harder to operate over time.