Wooden Ottoman Beds or Wooden Super King Beds? How to Decide

Choose a wooden ottoman bed if storage is your biggest problem and your bedroom is a standard UK size: the whole base lifts to reveal a deep compartment that can replace a chest of drawers or a cupboard. Choose a wooden super king bed if your room is generous, you share the bed and want more personal space, and you already have enough storage elsewhere. In short, an ottoman solves a storage shortage, while a super king solves a sleeping space shortage.

The two are not always exclusive, since some ottoman beds come in super king sizes, but most people find they are really choosing between priorities. Our range of modern wooden super king size beds UK sale sits alongside storage focused designs, and the sections below explain which one tends to suit which home.

How each design works

A wooden ottoman bed has a solid timber or timber framed surround with a base that lifts on gas struts. The mattress platform rises from the foot or the side of the bed, revealing a storage well that runs almost the full length and width of the frame. It is one of the most efficient ways to use the space under a bed, because nothing is wasted on drawer runners or gaps between boxes.

A wooden super king bed is about the size of the mattress it holds: roughly 180 x 200 cm in the UK, which is 30 cm wider than a king size. Frames can be low or high, open on legs or built with a solid base, with or without drawers. The defining feature is space to sleep rather than space to store.

Begin with an honest look at your storage

Walk around your home and note where seasonal items currently live. Spare duvets, pillows, suitcases, winter coats, Christmas decorations and children’s outgrown clothes all need somewhere to go. If the answer is a crowded wardrobe floor, a loft you rarely reach or a pile in the spare room, an ottoman bed could transform the way the house works.

If you have a loft with a ladder, built in wardrobes on the landing or a utility room with cupboards, the case for an ottoman becomes weaker. In that situation, the extra width and comfort of a super king may be the better use of your bedroom.

Think too about how you plan your bedroom furniture overall. Our wider modern bedroom furniture UK collection includes wardrobes, chests and bedside cabinets, and the bed you choose changes how many of those you need.

Room size: the deciding factor for a super king

A super king frame often measures somewhere around 190 to 200 cm wide and 210 to 225 cm long once rails and headboard are included. Add 60 to 70 cm of walkway on each side and at least 60 cm at the foot, and you need a room of roughly 3.2 metres wide and 3 metres long as a starting point, before any wardrobe or chest of drawers.

That is comfortable in many principal bedrooms of detached and larger semi detached houses, but tight in a typical bedroom of a terraced house or flat. If a super king only fits by losing a bedside table or squeezing past the wardrobe, the extra width can feel like a cost rather than a benefit.

An ottoman bed, by contrast, can be chosen in the size your room naturally suits. A double or king size ottoman fits most main bedrooms while adding storage without enlarging the footprint at all.

Sleeping comfort and sharing

For couples, the width of a super king is its main appeal. Each person gets roughly 90 cm of mattress, the same as a single bed. If one partner moves a lot at night, works shifts or simply likes room to stretch out, that extra width can make a noticeable difference to sleep quality. It also helps when children or pets climb in on weekend mornings.

Ottoman beds can be just as comfortable, provided the mattress platform is well supported. Look for a sprung slatted base rather than a solid board, because slats allow the mattress to breathe and give better support. Check the depth of mattress the ottoman can take, since the lifting mechanism is calibrated for a particular weight range.

Daily practicality

An ottoman bed is designed for items you need occasionally rather than every day. Lifting the base each morning to reach clothes soon becomes a chore, so it works best for bedding, seasonal clothing, luggage and keepsakes. For everyday clothes, a chest of drawers or wardrobe is still more convenient.

Consider who will lift the base. Gas struts make it easy for most adults, but it still takes a deliberate movement and a little clear space at the foot or side, depending on how the bed opens. Check whether the bed opens from the end or the side and make sure that side is not tight against a wall or a piece of furniture.

A super king on raised legs keeps cleaning simple, as you can vacuum underneath. Ottoman beds sit on a solid base, so dust does not gather under them at all, though the storage well itself benefits from an occasional clean out.

Ventilation and mattress care

Mattresses need air circulation to stay fresh. On an open super king frame on legs, air moves freely underneath. On an ottoman bed, the storage well is enclosed, so it is sensible to air the bedroom regularly, lift the base now and then, and avoid packing the compartment with damp items.

Use breathable storage bags for bedding and clothes rather than sealed plastic where possible. This keeps the contents fresher and reduces the chance of condensation, which is worth thinking about in older homes with solid walls.

Looks and proportions

A wooden super king makes a broad, horizontal statement. In a large room, it anchors the space and gives a relaxed, hotel style generosity. A low frame with a wide headboard in oak or walnut can look particularly calm.

Ottoman beds tend to have a more solid, boxed appearance, as the base goes down to the floor. Choosing a design with a slim timber surround, a well proportioned headboard and a finish that matches the rest of the room helps keep it from feeling heavy. In a smaller room, the solid base can actually feel tidier than a raised frame with boxes visible underneath.

Access and assembly

Both styles are substantial pieces of furniture. Ottoman beds contain a heavy base and a lifting mechanism, while super king frames have long side rails and wide headboards. Measure the front door, hallway, stair turns and bedroom door before ordering, and check the dimensions of the largest component. In houses with narrow staircases, this step can decide the matter on its own.

Allow time and space for assembly. Ottoman mechanisms need to be fitted carefully so the base lifts smoothly and stays open safely.

Combining the best of both

If you want generous width and storage, there are a few ways to achieve it. Some ottoman beds are available in super king size, although they are heavy and need a sturdy floor and good access to the room. Alternatively, pair a super king frame with storage at the foot of the bed. Our bedroom ottomans UK can sit at the end of the frame to hold throws and spare pillows while doubling as a seat.

Wardrobes are the other half of the equation. If you choose a super king, a well planned wardrobe with internal shelving and drawers can hold what an ottoman bed would have stored. Browse our modern wardrobes UK sale to find designs that fit alongside a wide frame.

Before making the final call, check the full room dimensions against your chosen frame. Our article on UK king size bed dimensions for frame, mattress and room size explains how frame sizes relate to room sizes, which helps when you are comparing a king size ottoman with a super king.

A simple decision guide

Choose a wooden ottoman bed if: you are short on cupboard space, your bedroom is a typical UK size, you want to keep the room tidy and uncluttered, and you mainly need to store items used occasionally.

Choose a wooden super king if: your room comfortably allows the extra width plus walkways, you share the bed and want more personal space, storage is already handled elsewhere, and you prefer an open frame on legs.

You can compare both styles, along with matching bedroom pieces, at Furniture in Fashion, where we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently asked questions

How much can a wooden ottoman bed store?

The storage well runs almost the full length and width of the bed, so a king size ottoman can typically hold several duvets, pillows, seasonal clothing and a suitcase or two. The exact capacity depends on the depth of the base.

Is a super king too big for a standard bedroom?

Often, yes. A super king needs roughly 3.2 metres of room width to allow comfortable walkways on both sides. In smaller rooms, a king size or double usually leaves more practical space.

Are ottoman beds hard to lift?

Gas struts do most of the work, so most adults can lift the base easily. Make sure the side or end that opens has enough clear space and that the mattress weight suits the mechanism.

Can you get a super king ottoman bed?

Some designs are available in super king size. They are larger and heavier than standard ottomans, so check access to the room and the overall dimensions carefully before ordering.