If your bedroom has generous floor space and you mainly want more room to sleep, a wooden king size bed is the better choice. If your bedroom is short on storage and you would rather not add another chest or wardrobe, a wooden bed with drawers will serve you better. Many households find the answer sits in the middle: a king size wooden frame that also has drawers built into the base, provided the room can accommodate the extra clearance those drawers need to open.
The rest of this guide explains how to weigh space, storage, comfort and daily routine so you can decide with confidence. Whichever direction you lean, our modern king size wooden beds UK sale collection includes both open frames and storage designs to compare side by side.
These two categories overlap, which is where much of the confusion comes from. “King size” describes the sleeping area. In the UK, a king size mattress measures 150 x 200cm, compared with 135 x 190cm for a standard double. “Beds with drawers” describes a storage feature, and drawers can appear on single, double, king and super king frames.
So the real question is not one or the other in a strict sense. It is whether your priority is a larger sleeping surface, built in storage, or a combination of both, and whether your room can comfortably hold the result.
The extra 15cm of width and 10cm of length over a double can make a noticeable difference for couples. Each sleeper gains a little more personal space, and taller people benefit from the longer mattress, with feet less likely to hang over the end.
An open wooden king size frame on legs also keeps a bedroom feeling airy. You see the floor beneath the bed, which makes the room appear larger than a solid base would. Cleaning underneath is straightforward, and air flows freely around the mattress, which helps keep it fresh.
Visually, a king size wooden bed acts as a strong centrepiece. A tall timber headboard, a slatted design or a panelled frame gives the room a clear focal point, and the natural grain adds warmth that works with both traditional and contemporary schemes across the wider range of modern bedroom furniture UK styles.
Storage is a constant challenge in UK homes, particularly in new builds and flats where bedrooms are compact and fitted wardrobes are shallow or absent. Drawers built into a bed base turn otherwise wasted space into useful storage for bedding, towels, knitwear or children’s toys.
A storage bed can remove the need for an extra piece of furniture entirely. In a small room, that might be the difference between fitting a dressing table or not. The drawers keep their contents dust free, unlike open underbed storage, and they are easier to reach than boxes pushed beneath a frame.
Drawer beds also tend to look tidy and grounded. With a solid plinth or drawer fronts running along the sides or foot, the bed sits closer to the floor visually, which suits rooms with lower ceilings or a calmer, more minimal style.
This is the point most people underestimate. Drawers need room to open. A typical underbed drawer extends 40 to 60cm, and you need space to stand or kneel in front of it while it is open. If a drawer sits on the side of the bed facing a wardrobe or wall that is only 50cm away, it may barely open at all.
Before choosing a drawer bed, measure the distance from each side and the foot of the bed to the nearest obstruction. Compare this with the drawer depth listed on the product page and add a little extra for comfort. If clearance is tight on the sides, look for a frame with drawers at the foot instead, or one with drawers on one side only.
For king size frames, check the overall external dimensions too. A wooden king size bed frame often measures around 160 to 175cm wide and 210 to 220cm long once headboard and rails are included, so always work from the external measurements rather than the mattress size.
Open king size frames usually have a slatted base. Slats provide gentle support and let the mattress breathe, which many sleepers prefer. Drawer beds may use slats above the drawer units or a solid platform. A solid platform feels firmer and can reduce airflow slightly, so it is worth airing the mattress regularly and turning it as the manufacturer recommends.
Height also differs. Some drawer beds sit a little higher to accommodate deep drawers, which can make getting in and out easier for some people but may feel imposing in a small room. Check the height to the top of the base, then add the depth of your mattress to see where you will actually sit.
Think honestly about how you use your bedroom. If you change bedding often, store seasonal clothing or share a small home with children, drawers save daily effort. If you already have ample wardrobe space and keep your bedroom deliberately uncluttered, the extra sleeping width of a king size frame may matter more.
It also helps to consider the alternatives. A chest of drawers adds plenty of storage without affecting the bed at all, and our modern wooden chest of drawers UK range includes slim designs for narrow walls. A blanket box UK sale at the foot of an open king size frame is another way to gain storage while keeping the bed itself light and lifted. If you are weighing storage formats more broadly, our piece on chests of drawers explained for UK lifestyles may help.
Both options come in a range of timbers and finishes. Light oak and white painted wood feel fresh and suit Scandinavian or coastal looks. Walnut and darker oak feel richer and more traditional. Grey washed wood sits well in contemporary rooms with cool colour palettes.
Drawer beds sometimes have more visible hardware, such as handles or cut out grips. Recessed grips keep the look sleek and avoid catching shins in a tight room. Open frames rely more on the shape of the headboard and legs for character, so look closely at those details.
Open wooden king size frames are generally simpler to assemble, with fewer parts. Drawer beds include runners, drawer boxes and fronts, which adds time and requires more care to align. They are also heavier once loaded, which matters if you rearrange furniture often or expect to move house.
If you are carrying parts up a narrow staircase, check the largest component on each design. A king size headboard can be wide, while drawer units tend to be bulky but shorter.
A king size bed needs king size bedding, which is worth factoring in if you are moving up from a double. Duvets, sheets and mattress protectors all change size, and a larger duvet takes a little more effort to wrangle into its cover. Most people adjust quickly, but it is a practical consideration that often gets forgotten in the excitement of extra space.
Drawer beds bring their own small habits. A valance or bedspread that hangs too low can catch in drawer runners, so fitted sheets and a duvet that sits on top of the mattress tend to work best. Drawers along the sides also mean you will want to keep that floor area clear of slippers, laundry baskets and bags, otherwise you lose easy access to the storage you chose the bed for.
Think too about cleaning. An open king size frame on legs lets you vacuum underneath with ease. A drawer bed seals off that area, which keeps dust from building up under the bed but means the drawers themselves need an occasional empty and wipe to stay fresh.
Start with your room measurements. If the bedroom is roughly 3.5 x 3.5m or larger and storage is already covered elsewhere, an open wooden king size bed gives you space, comfort and an elegant focal point. Our guide to UK king size bed dimensions for frame, mattress and room covers recommended room sizes in more depth. If the room is smaller or storage is limited, a wooden bed with drawers is the more practical route, possibly in double size to leave enough clearance for the drawers to open.
If you have both space and a need for storage, a king size wooden frame with drawers is worth considering, as long as you have checked that the drawers can open fully on whichever sides they sit.
When you have measured and decided on the priorities, take your time comparing frames across our bedroom range at Furniture in Fashion, where you can filter by size and finish to find a design that suits your room.
Yes. Many wooden king size frames include drawers in the base, either along the sides or at the foot. Check the drawer depth and make sure there is enough clearance in your room for them to open fully.
Most drawers extend between 40 and 60cm. Allow that distance plus some extra room to stand or kneel while you reach inside.
Not necessarily. Comfort depends mainly on the mattress. Some drawer beds use slats above the drawers, while others use a solid platform that feels slightly firmer and benefits from regular airing of the mattress.
A room of around 3.5 x 3.5m usually allows comfortable space around a king size frame. Smaller rooms can work if you are careful with bedside furniture and door clearances.
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