Ottoman storage makes a bed more practical by turning the empty volume under the mattress into a single deep compartment you can actually reach. A gas lift mechanism raises the whole sleeping platform in one movement, so instead of shallow drawers that only open as far as the surrounding furniture allows, you get uninterrupted access to the full footprint of the bed. In a typical UK bedroom that is somewhere between one and two cubic metres of usable space that would otherwise sit empty.
For anyone living in a Victorian terrace, a new build flat or a family home where the loft is already full, that matters. Bedrooms are where storage pressure shows up most clearly: bedding, seasonal clothing, suitcases and everything that has no other logical home. An ottoman base absorbs a large share of it without adding a single extra piece of furniture to the floor plan.
The mechanism is straightforward. Two gas struts sit either side of the base and take the weight of the frame and mattress as it pivots upward from the foot end or, on side lifting models, from one long edge. You lift the mattress using a strap or handle near the foot of the bed, the struts do most of the work, and the base stays open at a fixed angle while you load or unload. Lowering it is a controlled movement rather than a drop.
Inside, you usually find a fully lined or boarded cavity with a solid base. Some designs divide the space with a central rail for stability, which is worth checking if you plan to store long items such as a folded travel cot or a rolled rug. The struts are rated to the combined weight of the frame and mattress, which is why manufacturers specify a maximum mattress weight. A very heavy pocket sprung mattress on struts intended for a lighter foam model will make the lift stiff and the close abrupt.
Drawer divans are the usual alternative, and they suit some rooms better. Drawers give you quick access without moving the duvet or pillows, which is useful for items you reach for daily. What they cannot do is store anything taller or longer than the drawer box, and they need clear floor space on the side they open. In a narrow room where the bed sits close to a wall or a wardrobe, half the drawers become unusable.
An ottoman base has no such restriction because it opens upward. You can store a large suitcase, winter duvets, spare pillows and boxed items that would never fit in a drawer. The trade off is that access takes a few seconds and you need to clear the bed first, so it suits things you reach for weekly or seasonally rather than every morning.
Many of our upholstered designs in the modern fabric beds UK range are built with this lift mechanism as standard, so you are not choosing between a soft, well finished frame and a practical one.
The visual benefit is often underrated. Storage boxes stacked in a corner, a suitcase wedged beside the wardrobe and a blanket basket by the door all add clutter at eye level. Moving that volume below the mattress line leaves clean floor and clean walls, which makes a small room read as larger than it is.
Ottoman frames also tend to have a solid, grounded silhouette because the base is enclosed rather than raised on legs. That reads as calm and deliberate in a minimal scheme and gives an upholstered headboard something substantial to sit above. If you prefer a lighter look, choose a pale fabric or a slim headboard so the mass of the base does not dominate the room.
End lifting bases are the most common and usually the most sensible. The bed opens toward the foot, so you need clear space at that end rather than along the sides. This works well in rooms where the bed sits between two walls or in an alcove.
Side lifting bases open along one long edge and are generally used for single and small double sizes, or in rooms where the foot of the bed is tight against a radiator, a chimney breast or a window. They need clear floor on the opening side, so plan the layout before ordering. On larger sizes a side lift asks more of the struts because the mattress is wider and the leverage is different, which is why most king and super king frames use an end lift.
Mattress choice affects how the bed behaves day to day. Pocket sprung and hybrid mattresses in king or super king sizes can be genuinely heavy, and once the weight sits near the top of the rated range the lift feels laboured. Foam, latex and lighter hybrids are easier to work with. Check the maximum mattress weight in the product specification and compare it against the mattress you intend to use, particularly if you already own one.
Depth matters too. A very deep mattress raises the overall height of the bed, which can make the lift strap harder to reach and pushes the sleeping surface higher than some people find comfortable. Around 20 to 25 centimetres suits most ottoman frames. If you are replacing the mattress at the same time, our mattresses UK sale selection lists weights and depths alongside comfort ratings so you can match the two properly.
The cavity is dry, dark and enclosed, which suits textiles and luggage. Spare duvets, pillows, winter bedding, off season clothing, suitcases and holdalls are all sensible. Vacuum bags work well for bulk items, though do not overfill them to the point where the mattress no longer sits flat.
A few things are better stored elsewhere. Anything you need in a hurry, such as medication or documents, should not be under a mattress. Damp items should never go in, because airflow is limited and moisture has nowhere to escape. Fresh laundry that is not fully dry is the most common culprit. Food, candles and anything scented can transfer odour into bedding over time.
It also helps to keep the space organised rather than treating it as one large bin. Two or three fabric boxes or zipped bags keep categories separate and mean you are not unpacking the whole cavity to find one thing.
Measure the room before you commit, not just the bed. You need the footprint of the frame, plus clearance for the lift direction, plus a walking route of around 60 centimetres on at least one side. In a small double bedroom that usually means the bed against the longest wall with the foot facing into the room.
Ceiling height is rarely an issue, but low sloping ceilings in loft conversions can catch you out on an end lift, since the mattress swings upward before it settles. Stand at the foot of the bed and imagine the mattress rising to roughly a 70 degree angle. If a beam or sloping plaster sits in that arc, a side lift is the safer option.
Think about the rest of the room too. If the bed absorbs the bulk storage, your modern bedside cabinets UK can stay slim and your chest of drawers can be lower, which keeps sightlines open. A single well chosen storage bed often replaces two or three other pieces, and the room feels calmer for it. You can see how the pieces work together across our modern bedroom furniture UK sale collection.
The parts that fail on a poor ottoman bed are the struts and the base boards. Good struts feel smooth throughout the lift and hold position without creeping downward. Cheap ones either fight you on the way up or sag once they warm up. Struts are replaceable on most frames, which is worth knowing because they are a consumable part rather than a permanent one.
The base should be boarded rather than covered in loose fabric, so stored items sit on a firm surface. Slats above should be solid and well spaced, ideally sprung, to support the mattress properly. Corner joints and the hinge plate take real stress every time the bed opens, so metal fixings rather than staples are a good sign.
Upholstery choice comes down to the room. Velvet holds colour beautifully and reads as warm under lamplight. Woven fabrics in grey, oatmeal and charcoal are more forgiving in a family bedroom. Timber framed ottoman designs sit well in traditional homes, and you can compare finishes across our modern beds UK sale range.
For most UK homes, yes. The mechanism adds cost over a plain frame, but it replaces storage furniture you would otherwise buy and it uses space you have already paid for in floor area. The people who benefit least are those with generous built in wardrobes, a dry loft and a spare room. Everyone else tends to find the cavity full within a month.
At Furniture in Fashion we build our ottoman ranges around that everyday reality: strong struts, boarded bases and fabrics that hold up in a real bedroom. If you are weighing up options across the whole room, it is worth browsing sizes and finishes together rather than in isolation.
No, but the mattress must fall within the weight limit stated for the frame and should ideally be between 20 and 25 centimetres deep. Very heavy pocket sprung mattresses in larger sizes can make the gas lift feel stiff.
Yes. The gas struts carry most of the load, so the effort is closer to lifting a full shopping bag than a mattress. If it feels heavy, the mattress is probably above the rated weight or the struts are worn.
Only if it goes in damp. Store items fully dry, use breathable bags rather than sealed plastic for anything you leave in long term, and open the base occasionally to let air through.
It varies with size and depth, but a double frame typically offers around one cubic metre and a king size a little more. That is roughly two large suitcases plus spare bedding.
They can lose pressure after several years of daily use, which shows as a slower lift or a base that will not stay open. Replacement struts are inexpensive and usually fit with a few bolts.
Japandi brings together Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian warmth, and the bed is where the two…
A console table is the most useful piece you can add to a bedroom that…
A bed is kept for years, which makes it a poor impulse purchase and an…
Navy behaves like a neutral while carrying the presence of a dark shade, which is…
Contemporary bed design has settled around four clear ideas: wider and lower frames, upholstery that…
Panel beds define the hotel style bedroom, but the expensive made to measure versions are…
This website uses cookies.