The best fabric beds with under bed drawers combine a solid, well supported base with drawers that open smoothly, sit on proper runners and leave enough clearance to pull them out fully beside the bed. Look for a frame with sprung or slatted support, drawers that are at least as deep as a folded duvet, and upholstery that wraps the drawer fronts so the bed still looks tailored when everything is closed.
For most UK bedrooms, a two drawer design that opens to the sides works better than a single drawer at the foot, because the floor space at the end of the bed is usually the tightest. Our range of modern fabric beds UK includes styles with drawers built into the base, and the guidance below explains how to choose between them and live with them day to day.
Storage boxes slid under a bed frame on legs are the familiar alternative, but they gather dust, scuff the floor and rarely use the full height available. Integrated drawers are enclosed on the top and sides, so bedding and clothing stay cleaner. They also run on a fixed track, which means they open in a straight line rather than catching on carpet.
Compared with an ottoman lift, drawers give you access without moving the mattress. That matters if you share the bed, if one person goes to sleep earlier, or if you want to reach a jumper in the morning without stripping back the duvet. The trade off is that drawers hold a little less overall, because the frame needs a central support rail and the drawer boxes have their own sides and backs.
Drawer layouts fall into a few common patterns, and the right one depends on how your room is arranged rather than on how much you would like to store.
This is the most flexible layout. One drawer opens on each side of the bed, usually towards the foot end so it clears the bedside table. It suits couples who want a drawer each, and it works well in rooms where the bed sits against a wall with space on both sides.
Four drawer beds place two on each side. They spread the load, so each drawer is lighter to pull, and they let you separate categories: spare bedding in one, seasonal clothes in another. They do need clear floor space along the full length of both sides.
A single wide drawer at the foot of the bed is useful when one long side of the bed is pushed against a wall. Check the distance to the wall or wardrobe opposite: a full drawer plus room to kneel in front of it typically needs around 70cm to 90cm of clear floor.
Some designs offer a choice of which side the drawers sit on. If your bed goes into a corner or alcove, this is often the most practical option, as you only lose access on the side you never use.
Two beds can look identical in a photograph and feel very different after a year of use. These are the points worth checking in the product description and dimensions before you order.
Drawers on metal runners or castors glide more easily than those that slide directly on the floor or on a wooden rail. Castors are common on bed drawers because they carry the weight to the floor rather than relying on the frame. A solid board base inside the drawer is preferable to a thin hardboard panel, which can bow under a heavy winter duvet.
The internal height decides what fits. A drawer of around 15cm to 20cm internal height will take folded jumpers, towels and a single duvet. If you want to store pillows or a double duvet, you will need more. The overall bed height gives a clue, but the internal drawer dimension is the figure to look for.
Because drawers take up the space beneath the mattress, the support above them needs to be robust. Sprung slats, a solid platform or a slatted base with a central rail are all common. A firm, well supported platform also helps the mattress wear evenly, which protects your investment in both pieces.
On the most refined designs, the fabric continues across the drawer fronts with neat seams, so the bed reads as one piece when closed. Recessed handles or finger pulls keep the outline clean. Exposed metal handles are easier to grip but can catch on bedding or ankles if the bed sits in a tight space.
Drawer beds change how you lay out a bedroom, so it helps to think about the whole room rather than the bed alone. Our wider collection of modern bedroom furniture UK sale pieces is designed to work together, but the space between them is what decides whether a drawer bed is comfortable to use.
Measure from the bed frame to anything beside it. A drawer needs its full depth plus a little room for your hand and body. If a bedside table sits where the drawer opens, the drawer will only open partway. Many people solve this by choosing a slimmer bedside piece or by positioning drawers towards the foot of the bed.
In many UK homes, the most obvious bed wall has a radiator under the window or a double socket at skirting height. Neither stops you having a drawer bed, but you should plan the drawer side so it does not open into a radiator. Mark the drawer positions on the floor with masking tape before delivery and walk around them.
Check that a bedroom door or a wardrobe door does not swing across the drawer path. Sliding wardrobe doors help in this situation, and so does a bed with drawers only on the side away from the wardrobe.
A drawer bed can take pressure off other furniture. Spare bedding, out of season clothing and bulky knitwear can move under the bed, leaving the wardrobe for everyday clothes. This can mean a smaller chest of drawers UK sale piece is enough, or that you skip one entirely in a box room.
It also changes what you need beside the bed. With general storage handled below, the bedside table only needs to hold a lamp, a book and a glass of water. That opens the door to compact modern bedside cabinets UK designs, which in turn free up space for the drawers to open.
If you are deciding whether a separate chest still makes sense in a compact room, our guide to fitting a chest of drawers into a small UK bedroom walks through the measurements involved.
Drawer beds come in the same sizes as standard beds, but the frame is often slightly wider and longer than the mattress because the upholstery wraps around the drawer boxes. Always check the external dimensions rather than assuming the bed matches the mattress size.
Single and small double drawer beds are a sensible choice for guest rooms and children’s rooms, where storage is often in short supply. Double and king size frames give more drawer capacity because the drawers can be longer. If you are weighing up a larger frame, our explainer on UK king size bed dimensions and room sizes sets out how much floor space to allow.
Drawer fronts are handled every day, so the fabric matters more than on a bed with a plain base.
Darker and mid tone colours tend to show less wear on lower panels, while pale fabrics look lighter in small rooms. Many people choose a mid grey, taupe or soft green as a balance between the two.
Drawer beds arrive in more pieces than a simple frame: side rails, a headboard, drawer boxes, runners and a slatted or solid base. Clear the room before delivery and allow time for assembly, as fitting drawers so they run square takes patience. Keep the instructions, because drawer runners occasionally need adjusting once the bed has settled under the weight of a mattress.
Check stair and doorway widths as well. Headboards on upholstered beds can be tall and wide, and it is worth confirming the largest single piece will make it round a tight landing.
A little regular care keeps a drawer bed looking new. Vacuum the fabric with a soft brush attachment every few weeks, paying attention to the seams around drawer fronts. Wipe drawer interiors occasionally, and avoid overfilling, as an overloaded drawer strains runners and pushes against the upholstery from inside.
Lavender bags or cedar blocks help keep stored textiles fresh. If you store bedding long term, wash and fully dry it first, since damp textiles in an enclosed drawer can develop a musty smell.
The best fabric bed with drawers is the one that fits your room plan, opens without obstruction and holds the things you actually need to put away. Start with the floor plan, choose the drawer layout second, and pick the fabric and colour last. At Furniture in Fashion, we offer upholstered beds with integrated drawers across a range of sizes and finishes, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
No. Comfort comes from the mattress and the support beneath it. A drawer bed with a sturdy slatted or solid platform supports a mattress just as well as a frame without storage.
Allow the full drawer depth plus around 20cm to 30cm for your hand and body. In practice, that usually means 60cm to 80cm of clear floor beside the bed.
Yes. Drawers on castors or runners work on carpet, though deep pile can add some resistance. A low pile carpet or a hard floor gives the smoothest movement.
An ottoman lift usually holds more in total, while drawers give quicker access without lifting the mattress. If you reach for stored items often, drawers tend to be more convenient.
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