To dismantle an ottoman bed, empty the storage compartment, remove the mattress, then release or secure the gas struts before undoing any bolts. Once the struts are dealt with, unbolt the lifting platform from the side rails, separate the side and end panels, and finally take off the headboard. Working in that order keeps the frame stable and stops the platform swinging while you are underneath it.
Allow about forty minutes and treat the gas struts as the part to respect. They hold considerable stored energy, and releasing them while the platform is unsupported is the one thing that can go wrong in an otherwise simple job.
You will need an allen key set, a spanner or socket to match the frame bolts, a screwdriver, and a couple of freezer bags plus a marker pen for the fixings. A soft blanket protects panels while they lean against a wall, and a second pair of hands makes the platform stage far easier.
Clear the room before you start. You need space on at least two sides of the bed and somewhere to stack panels flat or upright without leaning them against a radiator. Take photographs of each joint before you undo it, since reassembly is much quicker when you can see how the brackets were oriented.
Take everything out of the storage compartment first. An ottoman lifts on struts calibrated for the weight of a mattress, and loading the compartment changes how the platform behaves. Emptying it also means you are not lifting more than necessary.
Then remove the mattress. With the platform in the raised position, slide the mattress off to the side rather than trying to lift it clear from the foot, which puts strain on the struts. On a king or super king ottoman, this is a two person job. Lower the empty platform gently once the mattress is off.
This is the stage that matters. With the platform lowered and empty, the struts are compressed and under load. Do not simply unbolt one end and let go.
Most ottoman struts are attached with a single bolt at each end, sometimes with a clip or a ball joint fitting. Support the platform with a block or have a second person hold it steady at roughly half open, which reduces the load on the strut. Then undo the bolt at the platform end first, keeping a firm grip on the strut body as it comes free, and let it extend slowly rather than releasing it suddenly. Repeat on the other side, then remove the base end bolts.
If your bed uses ball joint struts, look for a small metal clip on the socket. Prise it back with a flat screwdriver and the socket pops off the ball. Keep the clips, as they are small and easy to lose. Bag both struts together and label the bag, noting which end faced the platform, because struts are directional and should be refitted the same way up.
With the struts off, the platform is loose and can be lifted clear. It is usually a single large piece with slats or a solid board on top, so carry it with someone at each end and stand it against a wall on a blanket.
Next, unbolt the side rails from the end panels. Most ottoman frames use cam locks or bolts into threaded inserts at the corners, often with a bracket at the foot end. Loosen everything a couple of turns before removing anything fully, then take the bolts out in stages so the frame comes apart evenly instead of twisting on one corner.
Bag the fixings by location: corner bolts in one bag, platform bolts in another, headboard bolts in a third. Label each bag. This single habit is the difference between a straightforward rebuild and an hour spent sorting hardware on the floor.
The headboard usually comes off last, held either by bolts through the head panel or by struts similar to a divan headboard. Support the weight before the final bolts come out, since upholstered headboards for larger beds are heavier than they look and can tear if dropped.
Loosen the bolts on both sides, then remove them one side at a time while holding the panel. Store the headboard upright with a sheet over it. Laying an upholstered panel flat under other parts crushes the padding and leaves marks that are slow to recover.
Stack panels upright rather than flat, separated by blankets or cardboard so the finishes do not rub. Keep the fixing bags taped to the inside of one of the side rails so they travel with the frame. If the bed is going into storage for a while, choose a dry space, since chipboard and MDF panels swell if they take on moisture at the cut edges.
Measure the largest panel before moving day and compare it against the narrowest point on the route out. A one piece platform is often the widest item and needs turning at the top of the stairs. Struts should be stored with the rod pointing downwards, which keeps the seal lubricated.
If a panel is damaged or a strut has lost its lift, it may be more sensible to replace the bed than rebuild it. Our range of modern ottoman beds UK sale covers every standard size, and the wider modern beds UK sale collection includes drawer divans if you would rather avoid struts next time. Returns are available up to 30 days on our beds.
Build in reverse: headboard last, frame first. Assemble the side and end panels loosely, check the frame is square by measuring both diagonals, then tighten fully. A frame tightened out of square puts the strut brackets at an angle and causes the platform to catch.
Fit the struts with the frame complete and the platform in place, attaching the base end first and the platform end second while someone holds the platform at half open. Test the lift empty, then with the mattress on, before loading the storage compartment. If the platform will not stay up with the mattress fitted, the mattress is likely heavier than the struts are rated for, and a lighter mattress or higher rated struts is the fix.
Once the bed is back together, the room comes together around it. Slim pieces from our modern bedside cabinets UK range leave the clearance an ottoman needs at the foot, and you can see the full bedroom collection at Furniture in Fashion.
Ottoman beds open in one of two directions, and it changes how you dismantle them. End lift models hinge at the head of the bed and the platform rises towards the foot, with the struts mounted along the sides. Side lift models hinge along one side rail, so the struts sit at the head and foot ends instead.
On a side lift bed, the platform is heavier on one edge and will try to swing sideways once the first strut is released, so support it from below rather than holding the outer edge. On an end lift bed, the weight travels towards the foot and the safer position to stand is beside the frame rather than at the end. Either way, the principle holds: support the platform before the strut comes off, not after.
Check whether your frame has two struts or four. Larger super king ottomans sometimes use four, and releasing them out of sequence puts an uneven load on the remaining pair. Work diagonally, releasing one strut then the one furthest from it, so the platform stays balanced.
Wear gloves if the struts have been in place for years, since the mounting brackets can develop sharp edges. Keep children and pets out of the room while the platform is loose, because a partly supported platform can drop without warning if a bolt shears.
Never cut or puncture a gas strut. They are pressurised, and damaging the body is genuinely hazardous. If a strut has failed and will no longer hold the platform, replace it with a matching item rather than attempting a repair, and dispose of the old one through a scrap metal or recycling facility that accepts pressurised components.
Finally, do not stand on the platform to reach anything while the struts are partly removed. It is tempting when a light fitting is overhead, and it is the fastest way to bend a bracket beyond repair.
Empty the storage, remove the mattress, release the gas struts, lift off the platform, separate the side and end panels, then remove the headboard.
They hold stored energy, so support the platform at roughly half open, keep a firm grip on the strut as the bolt comes out and let it extend slowly. Do not release a strut with the platform unsupported.
It is possible on a single or small double, but the platform on a king or super king is large and awkward. A second person makes the strut and platform stages much safer.
Around forty minutes for most frames, including bagging the fixings and stacking the panels safely.
Either the struts were fitted the wrong way round, the frame is out of square, or the mattress is heavier than the struts are rated to lift.
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