Beds With Ottoman Storage: Why They’re Worth Considering

An ottoman bed is worth considering because it turns the single largest piece of furniture in the bedroom into the single largest storage space, without using any additional floor. A standard double ottoman holds somewhere in the region of a thousand litres, which is comparable to a substantial wardrobe, and all of it sits in space that would otherwise be empty.

The trade is access. Reaching what is inside means lifting the mattress on gas struts, so an ottoman suits items you need occasionally rather than daily. Understanding that distinction is what separates people who love these beds from people who find them frustrating.

How the Mechanism Works

The mattress platform is hinged, either at the head of the bed or along one side, and supported by gas struts that take most of the weight. A good mechanism lifts with one hand and holds firmly at the top of its travel. A poor one needs both hands and drifts downwards while you are reaching inside.

End lifting is the more common arrangement and gives the largest single compartment. Side lifting is useful where the bed sits with one long side against a wall, since the base can still open from the accessible side. Check which you are buying, because the two suit very different room layouts.

Strut quality is the part worth paying attention to. Struts are rated to the weight they support, and the rating needs to suit your mattress. A heavy pocket sprung mattress on struts sized for a light foam one will feel stiff and the mechanism will wear early.

What Actually Fits Inside

The space is large but shallow relative to its footprint, which makes it better for soft and flat items than for tall ones. Spare duvets, winter bedding, pillows, suitcases, seasonal clothing, spare curtains and packed away children’s things all store well.

What works less well is anything you need in a hurry, anything heavy enough to make lifting awkward or anything that needs to stand upright. Keep the contents light and organised in bags or fabric boxes, so you can remove one thing without unpacking the whole base.

In homes without a loft or a garage, this capacity solves a genuine problem. A flat or a terraced house with limited built in storage often has nowhere else to put seasonal items, and the space beneath the bed is the obvious answer. Our range of modern ottomans UK sale includes frames in several sizes and finishes.

Comparing Ottoman Beds With Drawer Beds

Drawer beds offer daily access and no lifting, which makes them better for clothing you use regularly. They hold considerably less, usually around a third of what an ottoman holds, and they need clear floor beside the bed for the drawers to open fully. In a narrow room that clearance often does not exist.

Ottoman bases need no side clearance at all, only headroom above. They hold far more. But every retrieval is a small operation, and stripping the bed first is sometimes necessary if the bedding is loose.

The honest answer is that they serve different purposes. Drawers are for the everyday. Ottomans are for the seasonal. If you have room for one piece only and mostly need to store bulky items you rarely touch, the ottoman is the stronger choice.

Room Requirements to Check

Headroom is the main constraint. An end lifting base swings upwards through a considerable arc, so a sloping ceiling, a low window, a shelf or a wall mounted headboard can all obstruct it. Measure the height above the bed at the point the base will reach and compare it with the lift height given in the specification.

Floor level matters too. An ottoman base needs to sit on a flat surface, since an uneven floor can twist the frame slightly and make the mechanism stiff. Thick carpet can also reduce how fully the base closes.

Finally, think about who will use it. The lift is assisted and not heavy, but it does require a degree of reach and grip. Anyone with shoulder or back limitations should test a mechanism before committing.

Mattress Choice for an Ottoman Base

The mattress rides up with the base, so weight is a direct factor in how the bed feels to open. Very heavy mattresses, particularly deep natural fibre pocket sprung models, make the lift noticeably harder even with correctly rated struts.

Medium weight pocket sprung and foam mattresses are the practical partners for an ottoman frame. Check the maximum mattress weight the struts are designed for, which is normally listed in the product details. Our modern mattresses UK sale lists depth and construction so you can match one sensibly to the base.

A non slip mattress or a base with retaining straps helps keep everything aligned during lifting, particularly on side opening designs.

Ottoman Beds in Real British Homes

These frames earn their place in Victorian terraces with no loft hatch, in modern flats with one small cupboard and in guest rooms that double as storage rooms. In a guest bedroom in particular, an ottoman lets the room look clear and hotel like while holding everything that would otherwise sit in view.

They also work well in children’s rooms as children grow, since toys and outgrown clothing can go under the bed rather than into another chest. For a room where the wardrobe is already full, pairing an ottoman frame with a well planned clothes storage UK solution usually removes the need for additional freestanding furniture altogether.

What to Look for When Buying

Check the strut rating and the stated lift height. Look at how the base is finished inside, since a lined or boarded interior keeps stored items cleaner than an open slatted one. Confirm the external frame dimensions, which on upholstered ottomans can be noticeably wider than the mattress.

Consider the upholstery in the same way you would any fabric frame: texture hides marks, tight weaves last well and pale colours need a little more care. Look at the corner seams where the fabric turns, since neat corners are a good indicator of general build quality.

Assembly is more involved than a standard frame because of the mechanism, so allow extra time and read the instructions before starting. We list full specifications on every frame at Furniture in Fashion, and there is a wide selection across our bedroom furniture UK sale if you are furnishing a room from scratch.

Living With One Day to Day

Keep the contents in labelled bags. Nothing makes an ottoman frustrating faster than holding a heavy base open while searching loose items. Group by season and put the things you need most often nearest the opening edge.

Open the base occasionally even if you do not need anything, since stored textiles benefit from air circulation. Avoid storing anything damp, and consider a few moisture absorbing sachets in a room prone to condensation.

Check the struts once a year. If the base no longer holds itself open or feels notably heavier, the struts can usually be replaced without changing the frame.

Is the Extra Cost Justified

An ottoman frame generally costs more than an equivalent standard bed because of the mechanism, the reinforced base and the additional materials. Whether that premium is worth paying depends on what the alternative would be.

If the alternative is buying another wardrobe or a chest, the ottoman is usually the better value, since it adds capacity without adding a piece of furniture to the room. In a small bedroom that difference is not only financial: floor space has its own value and an ottoman preserves it.

If the room already has generous built in storage and an empty loft above, the premium buys less. In that situation a simpler frame with a good mattress may be the more sensible allocation.

Styling an Ottoman Bed

Because the base is solid, an ottoman frame reads as heavier than a bed raised on legs. Keep the upper half of the room lighter to balance it: pale walls, a mirror or artwork above the headboard, and slim bedside furniture rather than bulky cabinets.

Choose bedding that tucks neatly rather than hanging loosely over the edges, since a long overhang gets caught when the base lifts. A fitted valance is unnecessary here, as the base is fully upholstered to the floor by design.

Keep the area immediately around the bed clear so the base can open without moving a rug or a stool each time. Small habits like this decide whether the storage is used regularly or quietly forgotten.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can an ottoman bed hold?
A double typically offers around a thousand litres, with larger sizes holding more. It is comparable to a substantial wardrobe and suits bulky, lightweight items best.

Is an ottoman bed hard to open?
Not when the gas struts are correctly rated for the mattress. Problems usually arise when a very heavy mattress is paired with struts designed for a lighter one.

Can I use an ottoman bed under a sloping ceiling?
Only if the ceiling clears the full arc of the lift. Measure the height above the bed and compare it with the lift height in the specification before ordering.

Ottoman or drawer bed, which is better?
Drawers suit daily access and narrow contents. Ottomans suit seasonal storage and hold far more. Choose based on what you need to store rather than capacity alone.

Do ottoman beds damage mattresses?
No, provided the mattress suits the base weight rating and is rotated regularly. Retaining straps or a non slip base help keep the mattress in position during lifting.