A fabric storage bed is the right choice if the room is used every night and you need somewhere to keep bedding, clothes or seasonal items. A fabric day bed is the right choice if the room has to work as a sitting space by day and a sleeping space only occasionally, such as a study, snug or guest room. In short: storage beds solve a storage problem, day beds solve a multipurpose room problem.
Both styles can be found within our range of modern fabric beds UK sale, alongside the storage and side pieces in our modern bedroom furniture UK collection. Understanding how each one works in a real home makes the choice much clearer. Here we compare them side by side, looking at space, comfort, flexibility and how they suit different UK properties.
A storage bed is a conventional bed with built in space to keep belongings. In fabric designs, the headboard and frame are upholstered, and the storage usually takes one of two forms:
Ottoman bases offer the most volume and are good for bulky items such as duvets, suitcases and winter coats. Drawers are better for things you reach for often, like jumpers or spare sheets, but need clear floor space beside the bed to open.
A day bed is a single sized bed designed to look and function like a sofa during the day. It usually has a back and two sides, so it can be dressed with cushions and used for sitting. At night, the cushions come off and it becomes a bed. Some day beds include a pull out trundle underneath, which provides a second sleeping surface for visitors.
Fabric day beds feel softer and more inviting than metal or wooden designs, and they blend more naturally with living room style furnishings.
A storage bed has the same footprint as a standard bed of the same size. It uses space that would otherwise be empty beneath the mattress, which makes it efficient for a dedicated bedroom. In a small double or double, it can effectively replace a chest of drawers.
A day bed has a single mattress footprint, usually 90cm by 190cm, plus its frame. It sits against a wall like a sofa, leaving the rest of the room free. In a box room or study, that makes a big difference compared with a double bed positioned in the centre of the floor.
For nightly sleep, a storage bed is the stronger option. It takes standard mattresses in a full range of sizes, and its headboard gives proper support for sitting up. Ottoman bases tend to have a solid or slatted platform that supports the mattress well.
A day bed is comfortable for single sleepers, particularly guests staying a few nights. Its sides and back create a cosy, enclosed feeling that many people like. If a trundle is included, the lower mattress is usually thinner, so it suits children or short stays better than long visits.
Here the day bed leads. With cushions arranged along the back, it becomes a deep, relaxed seat for reading or watching television. Because the seat depth is the width of a single mattress, it is deeper than most sofas, so many people tuck their legs up or add several large cushions for support.
A storage bed is not designed as a seat, although a well padded headboard makes it pleasant to sit up in. If you need a separate sitting area in a bedroom, an occasional chair works alongside it.
Storage beds suit homes where wardrobe and cupboard space is tight, which describes many UK flats, new builds and terraced houses. An ottoman base can absorb a surprising amount: spare duvets, pillows, out of season clothing and luggage that would otherwise fill a wardrobe floor.
Day beds with trundles offer limited storage, if any. If you need to hide guest bedding when the bed is not in use, a separate storage piece will help. Our range of ottomans UK sale includes compact designs that hold throws and pillows while doubling as a footrest or extra seat.
A storage bed is almost always the better fit. It gives you full size sleeping comfort and keeps clutter out of sight, which helps the room feel calm.
A day bed works well here. By day the room feels like a study with a comfortable seat; by night it is ready for visitors. A trundle adds flexibility for couples or families staying over.
Both styles can work. A storage bed keeps toys and clothes tidy, while a day bed with a trundle makes sleepovers easy. Choose a durable, darker fabric in either case.
In a single room home, a day bed can help separate the living and sleeping functions visually, because it reads as a sofa. If you prefer a proper double for nightly sleep, a storage bed frees space elsewhere by holding belongings underneath.
If you need a room to work as a living space and a guest bedroom, a sofa bed is another option. It seats more people than a day bed and folds out to a double. Our range of modern sofa beds UK is worth comparing if you regularly host couples rather than single guests.
A storage bed is styled like any bed: layered bedding, matching bedside tables and a calm wall behind the headboard. Because the base is enclosed, it looks neat and solid, which suits contemporary and minimal rooms.
A day bed should be dressed like a sofa during the day. Use a fitted cover or a smart throw over the mattress, then add three or four large cushions along the back and smaller ones at the ends. This transforms it from a bed into a seat. At night, the cushions can go into a basket or storage box nearby.
Whichever you choose, it should sit comfortably with the rest of the room, sharing at least one tone or material with the storage and side pieces around it.
If your main reason for considering either bed is hosting visitors, think about how often and who comes to stay. Regular adult guests will appreciate a full sized bed, so a storage double in the spare room is kind to them. Occasional single guests or grandchildren will be well served by a day bed. Our ideas for guest bedroom wardrobes in UK homes can help you complete a spare room so visitors have somewhere to hang clothes too.
For an ottoman storage bed, check the lifting direction. Most lift from the foot end, which needs clear space in front of the bed; some lift from the side, which suits rooms where the bed is pushed against a wall. Make sure the gas struts are rated for the weight of your mattress, and note that the storage area is easier to use if you keep items in labelled boxes or vacuum bags.
For a drawer storage bed, measure the floor space needed for the drawers to open fully. In narrow rooms, drawers at the foot end are often easier to use than drawers along the sides.
For a day bed, measure the depth as well as the length. Because a day bed is as deep as a single mattress, it projects further into the room than a typical sofa. If it includes a trundle, check there is enough clear floor in front to pull the lower bed out completely.
For both, consider the fabric. A storage bed in a main bedroom can take a softer velvet or bouclé, while a day bed that doubles as a seat benefits from a hard wearing weave in a forgiving colour.
Ask yourself one question: is this room mainly for sleeping, or mainly for something else? If it is mainly for sleeping and you need space for belongings, choose a storage bed. If it is mainly a study, snug or playroom that sometimes hosts a guest, choose a day bed. You can explore both styles, along with coordinating bedroom pieces, at Furniture in Fashion.
Most use gas struts that take much of the weight, so they lift smoothly. Heavier mattresses may need a little more effort, so check the mechanism suits your mattress weight.
Yes, for a single sleeper with a good quality mattress. Many people use day beds nightly in small rooms. Couples will need a larger bed.
No. Standard mattresses of the correct size fit. With ottoman beds, a lighter mattress makes lifting easier.
A day bed suits single guests and offers a comfortable seat by day. A sofa bed suits couples, as it usually opens to a double.
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