Ottoman Beds Buying Guide: What to Look for Before You Order

Before ordering an ottoman bed, check five things: the clear space you need to open it, the mattress weight and depth it is built for, the finished height of the sleeping surface, the quality of the base and storage well, and the route the bed must take to reach your bedroom. Style matters too, but these practical details decide whether the bed is a pleasure or a chore to live with.

An ottoman bed lifts its mattress platform to reveal storage across the whole base. Our modern ottoman beds UK sale range covers a variety of sizes, fabrics and opening styles, and the questions below will help you narrow it down with confidence.

Where will the bed go, and how will it open?

Start with the room rather than the bed. Decide which wall the headboard will sit against and note what surrounds the other three sides: a door, a radiator, a window, a wardrobe. The opening style needs to suit that arrangement, and it helps to plan the bed alongside the rest of your modern bedroom furniture UK so that nothing blocks the platform as it rises.

Foot end opening is the most common. The platform hinges near the headboard and rises at the foot, so you need open floor at the end of the bed. Side opening hinges along one long edge, which suits a bed pushed against a wall. Before choosing, check the height of the opened platform against anything above it, such as a sloping ceiling, a low window or wall shelves.

A useful test is to mark the outline of the bed on the floor with masking tape, then stand where you would stand to lift it. If you can lean in comfortably and reach the back of the storage area, the layout works.

What size do you really need?

UK mattress sizes are standard: single 90 x 190 cm, small double 120 x 190 cm, double 135 x 190 cm, king 150 x 200 cm and super king 180 x 200 cm. The external footprint of an ottoman is always larger, because the base, upholstery and headboard add width and length. Work from the overall dimensions shown on the product page.

Many designers suggest leaving roughly 60 cm of walking space around the accessible sides of a bed. In a smaller room you may accept less, but remember that an ottoman also needs space to open. Size also changes how much the platform weighs, so a super king lid asks more of the pistons than a single.

Is the mechanism matched to your mattress?

Most ottomans use gas pistons that take the weight of the platform and mattress as you lift. Pistons are designed for a particular load, so check the product details for any guidance on mattress weight and depth. A mattress far heavier than the guidance can make the bed hard to open. One much lighter can make it rise too quickly.

If you already own a mattress you plan to keep, look up its weight and depth before you choose the bed. If you are buying both, compare the two specifications side by side.

How high will the bed be once it is made up?

Because the storage sits beneath the mattress, ottoman beds tend to place the sleeping surface a little higher than a frame on legs. Add the platform height to your mattress depth to find the finished height. If that figure is noticeably higher than your current bed, consider a slimmer mattress or a design with a lower base.

Height also affects your bedside tables. A table that looked right beside your old bed may sit too low beside an ottoman. Ideally the top of the bedside table sits close to the top of the mattress.

How is the base built?

The base is where quality shows. Lift the platform in the product photographs and look at what is inside. A well made ottoman has a full floor to the storage well, firm sides and corners, and some form of lining or finished interior. A central rail on larger sizes adds rigidity.

• Platform: sprung or flat slats allow air to circulate through the mattress. A solid board is acceptable, but the mattress will benefit from airing.
• Storage floor: a full floor keeps dust out and protects carpets and stored items.
• Handle: a strap or handle at the opening edge lets you lift without gripping the mattress.
• Catch: a locking strap or catch keeps the platform closed, which is worth having in a family home.

Full ottoman or ottoman with drawers?

A full ottoman gives you the largest single storage volume, which suits bulky items such as duvets, pillows and suitcases. A drawer base gives you easier access to smaller items without lifting the mattress, but drawers need clear floor in front of them to open. In rooms where both sides of the bed are tight, a lift up base is often the more practical choice.

How is the headboard attached?

Some ottoman beds have a headboard that bolts to the base, while others have a freestanding or wall mounted headboard. A bolted headboard moves with the bed and keeps everything aligned. A separate headboard can make the bed easier to carry upstairs and lets you change the look later. Tall headboards make a strong statement but need checking against windows, sockets and sloping ceilings.

Which fabric suits your household?

Ottomans are upholstered on every visible side, so fabric choice has a large effect on the room. Woven fabrics are durable and forgiving. Velvet looks rich but shows pressure marks and pet hair more readily. Faux leather wipes clean easily. For a guest room or a calm adult bedroom, almost any finish works. For a busy family room, a mid tone woven fabric is the easiest to keep looking fresh.

If you prefer a particular size first, browsing our modern king size fabric beds UK range gives a clear view of how different fabrics look on a larger frame.

Will it fit through your home?

This is the check people most often forget. An ottoman base can arrive as a single large section or in several parts, depending on the design. Measure the narrowest point on the route to the bedroom: the front door, any tight stair turn, the landing and the bedroom door. Compare those measurements with the packaged dimensions where they are given. Terraced houses with steep, narrow stairs and flats with small lifts deserve particular care.

Planning the space around the bed

An ottoman removes the need for a lot of separate storage, so you may find you can do without a chest of drawers or a blanket box. Bedside pieces still matter, though. The modern bedside cabinets UK range offers designs at different heights to sit comfortably beside a taller ottoman. If you are choosing a larger size, our guide to UK king size bed dimensions for frame, mattress and room walks through walkways and clearances in more detail.

What will you actually store?

It is worth deciding this before you order, because it affects which design suits you. Bulky, soft items such as duvets, pillows and winter coats suit a deep, open well. Smaller things such as shoes, chargers and paperwork are easier to manage in boxes or baskets placed inside. Suitcases fit best in a well without a central rail.

Think about how often you need each item. Things you reach for weekly belong near the opening edge. Seasonal clothes and spare bedding can go to the back. If you need something daily, a bedside cabinet or a drawer is quicker than lifting a mattress every morning.

Ottomans in guest rooms and children’s rooms

In a guest room, an ottoman earns its place by holding everything the room does not need most of the year: spare bedding, gift wrap, holiday luggage. A neutral fabric and a modest headboard keep the room welcoming for visitors without making it feel like a storeroom.

In a child’s room, a single or small double ottoman with a side opening is often the most practical arrangement. Look for a catch or strap that keeps the platform closed, show older children how to open it safely, and keep heavier items out of the base so the lid is never asked to carry more than the mattress.

Living with it once it arrives

Store heavier items towards the hinge end, where they are least in the way. Use soft storage bags or lidded boxes to keep the well organised and to protect items from dust. Air the mattress occasionally by leaving the platform raised while you change the bedding, and check the bolts after the first few weeks as the frame settles.

When you are ready to compare designs, Furniture in Fashion lists full dimensions for every ottoman bed, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently asked questions

How much space do I need to open an ottoman bed?

You need enough clear floor at the opening edge to stand and lean in, plus clear space above the platform as it rises. Check for low shelves, windowsills and sloping ceilings near the opening side.

Can I put a heavy mattress on an ottoman bed?

Check the guidance on mattress weight in the product details. Pistons are designed for a particular load, and a mattress well outside that range can make the bed difficult to open or close.

Are ottoman beds hard to assemble?

Most assemble with basic tools. Take extra care when fitting the pistons, which are under tension, and keep the platform supported until the mechanism is secure.

Is an ottoman bed a good choice for a small bedroom?

Often, yes. It replaces separate storage pieces and keeps the floor clear. Choose a side opening design if the bed must sit against a wall.