The best metal ottoman bed for a city flat is one whose opening direction suits the layout of your room, whose gas lift handles the weight of your mattress, and whose frame can be delivered through your building in sections. In most compact bedrooms, an end opening ottoman with a slim metal frame and a well ventilated base gives the most usable storage with the least disruption to the space around it.
Ottoman beds solve a problem that most flat dwellers recognise: nowhere to put the spare duvet, the winter coats or the suitcase between trips. Our range of modern metal beds UK includes slim frames that pair well with storage solutions. A metal construction keeps the bed visually light, which helps in rooms where a bulky upholstered base would dominate.
Flats rarely come with generous storage. Built in wardrobes may be shallow, loft space is usually absent and hallway cupboards often house the boiler or meter. An ottoman bed adds a large, enclosed storage area without taking up any extra floor space.
Unlike open storage under a raised bed, an ottoman keeps everything hidden and protected from dust. That makes a small bedroom feel calmer, because there is less visual clutter. It also means you can store items that you would not want on show, from spare bedding to paperwork.
The bed is only part of the picture, of course. A well planned bedroom balances the ottoman with the right bedside storage, a wardrobe that suits the room and a clear floor area. Our wider bedroom furniture UK sale collection includes compact pieces chosen with smaller rooms in mind.
Ottoman beds use gas struts, similar to those on a car boot, to help lift the mattress platform. The struts take most of the weight, so raising the base feels controlled rather than heavy. When you lower it, the struts slow the descent.
Struts are rated for a certain load. A heavy pocket sprung or hybrid mattress needs stronger struts than a lighter foam one. If the struts are underpowered, the base will be hard to lift. If they are too strong, it may spring up unexpectedly or refuse to stay closed. Check whether the bed specifies a recommended mattress weight, and choose accordingly.
Over many years, gas struts can gradually lose pressure. Good designs allow the struts to be replaced easily, which extends the life of the bed considerably.
This is the single most important decision for a compact room.
End opening ottomans lift from the foot of the bed, with the hinge at the headboard end. You need clear space at the foot to stand and reach in. In a typical narrow flat bedroom, where the bed sits against one wall and the foot faces the door or window, this usually works well.
Side opening ottomans lift from one side, hinged along the opposite edge. You need clear space along that side. They can suit rooms where the foot of the bed is close to a wall or wardrobe, but the side with the opening must be free of bedside tables when you lift it.
Before choosing, stand in the room and picture the base raised. Make sure nothing on the walls, such as radiators, shelves or light switches, will interfere with the lift or with you reaching inside.
Ottomans need space to open. As a guide, allow enough room at the opening side for the base to rise and for you to lean in comfortably, typically at least 60cm and ideally more. Consider the ceiling too: under a low sloping ceiling, a lifting base may touch the slope before it fully opens.
Plan where bedside tables sit, as they may need to move with a side opening model. A wall mounted shelf or slim floating bedside can avoid this problem altogether, and it keeps the floor clear for cleaning.
City flats bring their own delivery challenges: communal stairwells, fire doors, narrow corridors and lifts with limited depth. Ottoman beds tend to arrive in several boxes, with the base, side panels and lift platform packed separately. Measure the lift interior and the narrowest corridor before ordering.
Check whether your building has rules about delivery times or using the lift for large items. It is also worth confirming that the boxes can be carried up stairs if the lift is out of action on the day.
Modern flats are often well insulated and tightly sealed, which keeps heat in but can trap moisture. A mattress releases moisture overnight, and if the base beneath it is completely enclosed, that moisture has nowhere to go.
Look for ottoman platforms with slats or ventilation holes rather than a solid board. This lets air move around the mattress and helps prevent condensation and musty smells. Airing the bedroom each morning, using trickle vents on windows and occasionally leaving the ottoman open for an hour also help.
Avoid packing damp items into the storage space, and consider breathable storage bags rather than sealed plastic for textiles.
An ottoman is deep, so organisation makes it far more useful.
An ottoman changes small habits. Because the storage sits under the mattress, you will need to strip back the duvet, or at least fold it towards the headboard, before lifting the base. That is easy for items you reach for monthly, but it can become tiresome for things you need every week. Keep weekly items in a wardrobe or chest and reserve the ottoman for longer term storage.
The mattress also needs to stay in place as the platform rises. Many ottoman beds include a mattress retaining bar at the foot or side for exactly this reason. Check that one is included, especially with heavier mattresses.
Safety is worth a thought if children live in or visit the flat. Lower the base carefully and teach younger children not to climb inside. Some designs include a soft close or locking feature that keeps the platform from dropping suddenly.
Finally, consider the sound. A good gas lift opens and closes smoothly and quietly. If you live in a flat with neighbours below, a frame that sits firmly on the floor, with felt pads under the feet, helps keep any movement from travelling through the floor.
A small double (120 x 190cm) is often the most practical size for compact flat bedrooms, giving two people room while leaving space to walk round. A double (135 x 190cm) suits many second bedrooms and modest main bedrooms. Kings work in larger rooms but need clear space for both opening and walking.
If you are weighing up sizes, our small double metal beds UK sale range shows how much floor a narrower frame can free up. In a flat, that extra walking space is often worth more than the extra mattress width.
Because the ottoman base takes care of bulky storage, the rest of the room can be pared back. Choose a wardrobe with a slim profile, or a single tall unit, and keep surfaces clear.
A slim metal headboard keeps the bed feeling light. Pale bedding and a single coloured throw are enough. A mirror on the wall opposite the window bounces light around the room, while a pendant or wall lights free up bedside surfaces.
If you still need more storage, a tall chest works harder than a wide one in a narrow room. Our guide on whether a chest of drawers can fit a small UK room offers practical ideas for making it work, and our look at bedside cabinets in a small UK room covers sizes and placements that keep the opening side of an ottoman clear.
At Furniture in Fashion, we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days.
Not when the gas struts suit your mattress weight. The struts carry most of the load, so lifting the base should feel smooth and controlled.
End opening is usually easier in narrow rooms where the foot of the bed has clear space. Side opening suits rooms where the foot is close to a wall.
It can if the platform is solid and the room is poorly ventilated. Choose a slatted or ventilated platform and air the room regularly.
Most ottoman beds arrive in several parts. Measure the narrowest corridor and the lift before ordering to make sure each box will pass through.
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