Choose a high gloss ottoman bed if you want the largest single storage space and you are happy to lift the mattress to reach it. Choose a high gloss storage bed with drawers if you need everyday access to the things you store and have enough floor space beside the bed for drawers to open. That is the short answer, and for most people it settles the question within a minute of measuring the room.
The longer answer depends on what you plan to store, how often you need it, and the shape of your bedroom. Both styles sit within our range of modern high gloss beds UK, and both use the same reflective finish that helps a bedroom feel brighter alongside the rest of our modern bedroom furniture UK sale. Where they differ is in how they give you access to the space beneath the mattress.
An ottoman bed has a mattress platform that lifts on gas struts, usually hinged at the head end. Underneath is one open well that runs almost the full length and width of the bed. You lift, reach in, and lower.
A drawer storage bed keeps the mattress fixed. Storage is built into the base as a set of drawers, typically two or four, which pull out from the sides or the foot end. Some designs combine both: drawers at the foot and a smaller lifting section.
Because an ottoman uses almost the entire footprint of the bed, it typically holds considerably more than a drawer bed of the same size. Drawers need runners, side panels and gaps, all of which eat into usable volume. If you are storing bulky items such as spare duvets, winter coats, suitcases or seasonal clothing, an ottoman will swallow far more.
Drawers win on organisation. Each drawer becomes its own compartment, so socks, gym kit and spare bedding stay separate without boxes or bags. In an ottoman, items can migrate to the middle and become hard to reach unless you use storage bags or dividers.
This is the question that matters most. Lifting a mattress is easy with a good gas strut system, but it is still a two step process: remove pillows if they are in the way, then lift. Most people do this weekly or monthly, not daily.
Drawers are quicker. You can open one while the bed is made, which makes them better for things you reach for every morning. If the bed is going to replace a chest of drawers in a small room, drawers are usually the more natural choice.
Think about who will use it. For anyone with limited strength or mobility, a well balanced ottoman is still manageable, but drawers on smooth runners are generally easier.
Drawers need space to open. A side opening drawer on a typical base needs somewhere around 40cm to 50cm of clear floor beside the bed, plus room for you to stand while using it. In a box room or a narrow UK terrace bedroom where one side of the bed is pushed against the wall, drawers on that side become useless.
Ottomans need vertical clearance rather than floor space. Check that the lifting mattress will not hit a window sill, a low shelf or a sloping ceiling. In loft conversions with eaves, a foot end lift or a side lift ottoman can solve this, as the mattress rises away from the low ceiling.
If your bed sits under a window or between built in units, sketch the room and mark where drawers would open. Many people discover that only a foot end drawer or an ottoman truly fits.
Gloss is a practical finish for storage beds because it wipes clean and reflects light into rooms that might otherwise feel enclosed. There are some differences in how it wears, though.
On a drawer bed, the drawer fronts are handled every day. Handleless designs with push to open mechanisms keep fingerprints to a minimum and preserve the clean line of the gloss. Bar handles are easier to grip but add a visual break.
On an ottoman, the gloss panels are touched less often, so they tend to stay pristine. The point of contact is usually a fabric pull strap or a small recessed grip at the foot end.
An ottoman lifts the mattress along with the slatted platform, so the gas struts need to be rated for the weight of your mattress. A heavy pocket sprung mattress on a lighter strut system will feel stiff to raise and may not stay open. Check the recommended mattress weight and depth before choosing.
Drawer beds have a fixed platform, so mattress weight is less of a concern. However, the drawers reduce the number of central supports, so look for a solid base or a well supported slat system above the drawers. Larger frames need this most, as the span between supports is greater.
Mattresses need to breathe. Ottoman beds with a slatted lifting platform allow air to move between the mattress and the storage well. Solid platforms can trap moisture, particularly in older homes with cooler bedrooms. If you choose a solid ottoman base, lift it now and then to air the space.
Drawer beds generally have more air movement around the base because of the gaps around the drawers. In either case, avoid packing the storage so tightly that air cannot circulate, and use breathable cotton bags rather than sealed plastic for textiles.
Usually an ottoman. It gives you the most storage without needing any extra floor space, and the bed can sit against a wall without wasting capacity.
Either works. Drawers suit people who want to replace a chest; ottomans suit those who need to store bulky items. A king size ottoman can hold a remarkable amount.
An ottoman is often better, as you are storing spare bedding and seasonal items rather than daily essentials, and guests do not need access.
Drawer beds or side lift ottomans, depending on where the slope falls.
It is worth thinking beyond the first year. Ottoman beds have more moving parts: hinges, gas struts and a lifting frame. Good quality struts last many years, but they are a component that can eventually lose some pressure. Most are standard fittings and can be replaced without changing the bed, so check that the ones on your chosen frame are not unusual or proprietary.
Drawer beds rely on runners. Metal runners with ball bearings glide more smoothly and cope better with heavy loads than plastic channels. Soft close runners stop drawers slamming, which protects the gloss fronts from knocks over time.
If you move house often, consider how each design dismantles. Ottomans usually separate into a base, a lifting platform and a headboard. Drawer beds come apart into side rails, drawers and slats. Both travel well when packed carefully, but gloss panels should always be wrapped in soft blankets rather than placed directly against each other, as hard grit trapped between panels can scratch the surface.
Assembly time is broadly similar for both. An ottoman is easier to build with two people, because the lifting platform is awkward to hold in place while the struts are fitted. Drawer beds involve more small parts, so lay everything out and check the fittings before you begin.
Even a large storage bed rarely does the whole job alone. A high gloss chest of drawers UK sale in a matching finish keeps daily clothing within easy reach and lets the bed hold the bulkier things. At the foot of the bed, one of our modern blanket boxes UK adds extra storage and a useful place to sit while dressing.
If you are still weighing up the role a chest should play, our guide to which chest of drawers design suits your UK lifestyle explains the options clearly. And if you are sizing up to a larger frame for extra capacity, our article on UK king size bed dimensions for frame, mattress and room covers the measurements that matter.
Write a list of what you plan to store. If most of it is bulky and seasonal, an ottoman is the stronger choice. If most of it is clothing you wear each week, drawers will serve you better. Then check the floor and ceiling clearances in your room. Between those two steps, the right answer usually becomes obvious.
Whichever you choose, the full range of gloss beds and bedroom storage is available to browse at Furniture in Fashion.
A good ottoman with correctly rated gas struts lifts smoothly with one hand. Problems usually arise when the mattress is heavier than the struts are designed for, so check the recommended weight.
Yes. Many drawer beds offer drawers on one side or at the foot end only, which suits rooms where the bed sits against a wall.
Often slightly, because the base needs depth for storage. Factor this in when choosing bedside cabinets so their tops sit at a comfortable height.
No. Wipe the panels with a soft, slightly damp microfibre cloth and dry them afterwards. Avoid abrasive cleaners, which can dull the finish.
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