A storage bed is worth buying when your bedroom has more belongings than cupboard space, and the smartest choice comes down to three things: how the storage opens, how much clear floor space you have around the frame, and how the base is built underneath the fabric or timber. Get those three right and a storage bed quietly absorbs bedding, suitcases and out of season clothing without adding a single extra piece of furniture to the room.
Most British bedrooms are smaller than the furniture shown in catalogues, so the storage bed has become one of the most practical purchases in the home. Below we explain the main types, what to check before ordering, and how to work out whether the space you have will actually allow the bed to open properly.
Storage beds fall into a few clear groups, and each suits a different kind of room.
Ottoman beds lift the entire sleeping platform on gas pistons to reveal one large cavity underneath. They offer the deepest capacity of any storage bed and nothing is lost to drawer runners or dividers. Our range of modern ottoman beds UK sale covers side opening and end opening designs in several sizes.
Drawer beds keep storage in two or four pull out drawers set into the base. Capacity is smaller than an ottoman, but access is instant. You can pull out one drawer for socks without disturbing the mattress.
Divan bases combine a sprung or firm platform with drawers on either side. They sit low, feel solid underfoot and suit rooms where a tall frame would dominate.
Hydraulic bunk and cabin frames bring storage into children’s rooms and box rooms, using stair drawers or a full width chest built into the structure.
This single choice causes more disappointment than any other. An end opening ottoman lifts from the foot of the bed, so it needs clear floor space at the end. A side opening ottoman lifts from one long edge and needs clear space along that side instead.
Measure before you choose. Stand at the foot of the bed and leave roughly the length of the mattress in free floor space for an end opening model. For side opening, allow a similar clearance on the opening side. In a loft room with sloping eaves, side opening is usually the only workable option because the ceiling height at the foot of the bed is often generous while the side is tight, or the reverse. In a narrow box room where the bed sits between two walls, end opening is normally the only choice available to you.
Radiators, low windowsills and swinging doors all reduce usable clearance, so measure to the nearest obstruction rather than to the wall.
Storage beds carry more weight and take more daily strain than a standard frame, so build quality matters more than it does elsewhere.
Look at the gas pistons first. A properly specified ottoman lifts smoothly with one hand, holds position when raised and lowers under control rather than dropping. Weak pistons are the most common failure point, and they usually reveal themselves within weeks.
Check the base of the storage cavity. A lined or boarded base keeps clothing clean and stops items sliding under the frame. An unlined cavity leaves your belongings sitting on the carpet or floorboards.
Inspect the slats. Sprung timber slats flex slightly under weight and extend mattress life. Solid platform bases suit heavier mattresses and memory foam. Either works, but the slats should be close together and held in fitted caps rather than stapled in place.
Finally, consider the frame material. Upholstered frames soften a room and hide joins well, while timber frames give a firmer visual line. Both hold up in daily use when the internal structure is sound.
The temptation is always to buy the largest bed the room will physically take. Resist it slightly. A king size storage bed in a small double room leaves no space to open the storage, which defeats the purpose.
As a working rule, leave at least half a metre of walking space along any side you use daily, and enough clearance at the foot to open a door or pass comfortably. In a small double bedroom, a small double frame with side drawers usually delivers more everyday usefulness than a double ottoman wedged into the corner.
If you are furnishing a guest room or a single bedroom, a single frame with two drawers handles spare bedding neatly and leaves the room feeling open. Our modern fabric beds UK collection includes compact sizes designed for exactly these rooms.
It helps to plan the contents before the bed arrives. A full ottoman cavity in a double size comfortably holds a spare duvet, two pillows, a set of winter bedding, a folded travel cot and a medium suitcase. Drawer beds hold roughly half that, spread across two or four compartments.
Store soft items in breathable cotton bags rather than sealed plastic, which traps moisture. Keep heavy items near the hinge side of an ottoman so the lifting mechanism works with the weight rather than against it. Anything you need weekly belongs in a drawer or a modern bedside cabinets UK sale option instead, because lifting a mattress every few days quickly loses its appeal.
Ottoman beds lift the mattress every time you open them, so mattress weight matters. A very heavy pocket sprung mattress in a super king size will make the lift feel stiff even with well specified pistons. Foam and hybrid mattresses are lighter and pair more easily with lifting mechanisms.
Drawer beds have no such constraint, since the mattress never moves. If you already own a mattress you love and it is on the heavier side, a drawer base is the more comfortable long term match. Browse our mattresses UK sale range if you are replacing both at once, as buying the pair together avoids depth and fit surprises.
Storage beds arrive in large, heavy boxes. Before ordering, check the route from your front door to the bedroom: stairwell turns, loft hatches and narrow landings are the usual difficulties. Most ottoman frames assemble in sections, which helps, but the base panels remain bulky.
Allow a clear afternoon for assembly and keep two people available for the mechanism stage. Gas pistons are fitted last and need the base held steady while they are attached.
We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days, which gives you time to confirm the bed suits the room once it is standing in place.
Storage beds reward patience. Measure the room twice, decide the opening direction based on the obstacles you actually have, and choose the mechanism that matches how often you need access. A bed that opens easily gets used. A bed that needs furniture moved before it opens becomes an ordinary bed with a heavy lid.
If you are furnishing the whole room rather than replacing one piece, it is worth looking at the wider modern bedroom furniture UK sale selection so finishes and proportions sit together. At Furniture in Fashion we stock storage beds across fabric, leather, wooden and high gloss finishes, so the practical choice does not have to compromise the look of the room.
The habit that keeps a storage bed useful is separating what you need often from what you need rarely. Treat the cavity as a seasonal store rather than a wardrobe. Winter bedding in summer, summer bedding in winter, spare pillows, luggage and anything used only when visitors stay.
Everything you reach for weekly should live somewhere that opens without moving the mattress. That usually means a drawer, a wardrobe shelf or a chest. Households that ignore this end up lifting the bed several times a week, which wears the mechanism faster and quickly becomes tiresome.
Distribute weight sensibly. Concentrating heavy items at one end of an ottoman cavity puts the lift out of balance and makes the bed harder to close. Spread heavier boxes across the base and keep light bedding on top.
Ventilation deserves a thought too. A sealed storage cavity holds still air, and bedding stored damp will smell musty by the time you need it. Make sure textiles are fully dry before they go in, and open the bed occasionally through the year to let air move through. A cedar block or a moisture absorber in the corner helps in older properties with cooler bedrooms.
Finally, check the fittings twice a year. Tighten the bolts where the side rails meet the head and foot panels, and look at the piston mounting points. Storage beds move far more than static frames, so small amounts of play develop sooner. Five minutes with a spanner extends the life of the bed considerably.
Are storage beds bad for mattresses?
No. A storage base with close set slats or a solid platform supports a mattress properly. Foam mattresses benefit from a little airflow, so slatted bases suit them slightly better than fully sealed platforms.
Do ottoman beds get stuck or fail over time?
Gas pistons have a finite life, but a well made set lasts for years of regular use. Avoid overloading the cavity with very heavy items and open the bed fully rather than partially, which reduces strain on the mechanism.
How much space do I need around an ottoman bed?
Allow clearance equal to roughly the length of the mattress at the opening end, or a similar clear strip along the opening side. Check for radiators and door swings within that zone.
Is a drawer bed or an ottoman bed better for a small room?
Drawer beds usually win in tight rooms because they need less clear space to operate, although one drawer may be blocked if the bed sits against a wall. Ottomans hold more but need room to lift.
Can I use my existing mattress on a storage bed?
Usually yes, provided the size matches exactly and the mattress is not unusually heavy. Check the depth too, since very deep mattresses can sit high above a low storage frame and alter the proportions of the bed.
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