Wooden Beds with Drawers or Japanese-Style Wooden Beds? How to Decide

If you need storage and want a bed at a conventional height, a wooden bed with drawers is the more practical choice. If you value a calm, uncluttered room, already have enough storage elsewhere and are comfortable sleeping closer to the floor, a Japanese style wooden bed offers a quieter, more open feel. The decision comes down to storage needs, preferred sleeping height and the atmosphere you want the room to have.

Both styles celebrate natural wood, and both suit modern UK homes, but they approach the bedroom from opposite directions. You can compare a range of designs in our collection of modern wooden beds UK sale, including storage frames and low platform beds.

Understanding the Two Styles

Wooden beds with drawers

These frames have drawers built into the base, usually along the sides, at the foot or both. The mattress sits on a slatted or solid platform above the drawers, at a familiar height. The look is usually tidy and boxy, and the base is enclosed, so nothing collects beneath the bed.

Japanese style wooden beds

Inspired by traditional Japanese sleeping arrangements, where futons were laid directly on tatami mats, these beds sit very low to the ground on a simple wooden platform. Many have a low headboard or none at all, and the frame often extends slightly beyond the mattress to create a ledge. The emphasis is on clean lines, natural materials and a sense of calm.

Both styles can be paired with the wider pieces in our bedroom furniture UK range, from wardrobes to bedside cabinets.

Storage: The Biggest Difference

A drawer bed turns the space under the mattress into substantial storage. Spare bedding, seasonal clothing, shoes and towels can all live there, which can reduce the need for an extra chest of drawers.

A Japanese style bed, by contrast, offers little or no storage. The low platform leaves no room for drawers, and its minimal look depends on keeping the area around it clear. If you choose this style, you need to be confident that the rest of the room, or the home, has enough storage.

One compromise is a blanket box at the foot of a low bed. It stores spare linen without spoiling the clean lines, and doubles as a bench. Our blanket boxes UK sale include simple wooden designs that suit a minimal room.

Sleeping Height and Accessibility

Bed height affects daily comfort more than many people expect. A drawer bed puts the mattress at a familiar height, making it easy to sit on the edge and stand up. This matters for anyone with stiff knees or back problems, and for older relatives using a guest room.

A Japanese style bed sits much lower. Many people find this grounding and enjoy the feeling of sleeping close to the floor. Others find it harder to get in and out of bed, especially first thing in the morning. If you are unsure, try sitting on a low sofa or ottoman of a similar height for a few minutes to see how it feels.

Airflow and the UK Climate

Mattresses need air to circulate beneath them to stay fresh. This is especially relevant in UK homes, where cooler, damper conditions in some rooms can encourage condensation.

Japanese style beds usually have a slatted platform, which allows air to move beneath the mattress even though the bed is low. Drawer beds with solid bases can restrict airflow, so check the base construction and choose a slatted platform where possible.

Whichever bed you choose, air the mattress regularly by folding back the duvet in the morning, and keep the room ventilated. Choosing the right mattress for the base also matters. Our mattresses UK sale range includes options that suit both low platforms and storage bases.

How Each Style Changes the Mood of a Room

A low Japanese style bed makes a room feel more spacious. Because the bed sits beneath eye level, walls and ceiling feel taller, and the open space above the mattress gives a sense of calm. This style works especially well with natural textures, muted colours and very few accessories.

A drawer bed has a more conventional, practical presence. It sits higher, which makes the room feel cosier and more enclosed. It suits a wider range of styles, from contemporary to traditional, and copes better with a busier room.

If you are drawn to the Japanese look but need practicality, a Japandi approach blends Japanese simplicity with Scandinavian warmth. Our article on Japandi colours and materials for UK homes explains the palette and materials behind the style, which carry over naturally to the bedroom.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Drawer beds have an enclosed base, so dust cannot gather beneath the mattress. You will still need to dust inside the drawers occasionally, but daily cleaning is simple.

Japanese style beds sit low, and some have a small gap beneath them. Vacuuming around and under the platform is usually straightforward, but it is worth checking that your vacuum head can reach. The wide ledge around many low beds collects dust, so wipe it regularly.

Both styles benefit from a soft, dry cloth on the wood and prompt attention to spills.

Small Rooms and Shared Spaces

In a small bedroom, a drawer bed often wins because storage is so valuable. Removing the need for a separate chest of drawers can free a whole wall.

However, a low bed can make a small room feel larger by keeping sightlines open. If the room is small but you have storage elsewhere, such as a fitted wardrobe or a loft, a Japanese style bed may make the room feel noticeably calmer.

In studio flats and rooms that double as living space, a low bed is less visually dominant, which helps the room feel less like a bedroom during the day.

Comfort and Mattress Choice

Both styles work with standard UK mattresses, though the overall look depends on mattress depth. A deep mattress on a Japanese style platform can undermine the low, grounded effect. A medium depth mattress usually suits it better.

Drawer beds work with most mattress depths, but very deep mattresses can push the sleeping height higher than you might like. Check the combined height of base and mattress before ordering. It is also worth looking beyond the firmness label when choosing, and our article on how mattress firmness labels compare for UK buyers explains why.

Style Pairings

A Japanese style bed pairs well with pale woods, linen bedding in natural tones, paper or rattan lighting and a single plant. Keep bedside surfaces low, or use a simple tray on the platform ledge.

A drawer bed adapts to almost anything. In a minimal scheme, choose handleless drawers and a pale wood. In a warmer scheme, mid tone oak with simple handles works well.

Living with Each Style Day to Day

It helps to picture an ordinary week. With a drawer bed, getting ready in the morning might mean pulling out a drawer for a jumper or fresh towels, then closing it again. The bed works quietly as furniture and storage at once, and the rest of the room can hold fewer pieces.

With a Japanese style bed, the routine is different. Storage lives elsewhere, so clothes and linen need a home in a wardrobe or cupboard. In return, the bedroom feels more like a retreat, with fewer surfaces to tidy and a clear floor that is easy to keep clean. People who enjoy a minimal home often find this sense of order restful.

Consider pets and children too. Low beds are easier for small children and older pets to climb onto, which some households see as an advantage and others as a drawback. Drawer beds stop pets from hiding beneath the bed and keep toys from rolling out of reach.

Mixing Elements from Both

You do not have to choose one approach completely. Some low platform beds include shallow drawers or lift up storage, offering a compromise between height and practicality. Equally, a drawer bed in pale ash with a low headboard, plain linen and minimal styling can capture much of the calm of a Japanese bedroom.

Think of the decision as a spectrum. Decide which matters more, the storage or the low, open look, and choose a frame that leans that way while borrowing what you can from the other.

Making the Decision

Ask yourself three things. Do you need the storage? Are you comfortable getting in and out of a low bed every day? And do you want the room to feel open and calm, or cosy and practical? Your answers will point clearly to one style or the other.

You can explore drawer beds, low wooden frames and coordinating furniture at Furniture in Fashion. Returns are available up to 30 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Japanese style beds good for your back?

Comfort depends mostly on the mattress rather than the bed height. A supportive mattress on a firm, slatted platform suits most people.

Do low beds get cold in UK homes?

Cooler air tends to settle near the floor, so a low bed can feel slightly cooler. Good bedding and a rug beneath the bed help.

Can I add storage to a Japanese style bedroom?

Yes. A blanket box, a low chest of drawers or a fitted wardrobe adds storage without spoiling the minimal look.

Which style is better for a guest room?

A drawer bed is often more practical, as it is easier for guests of all ages to use and it stores spare linen.