There are three types of storage bed and choosing between them is the first decision: ottoman lift beds, drawer beds and divan bases with compartments. Ottoman beds give the largest single storage void because the whole base opens. Drawer beds give easier daily access but need clear floor space at the side or foot. Divan bases sit somewhere between the two and usually offer the lowest profile.<\/p>\n
Which suits you depends less on how much you own and more on how often you need to reach it. Ottoman bases are excellent for bulky items used seasonally. Drawers are better for clothes and bedding you touch every week.<\/p>\n
Once that is settled, everything else is a matter of measurement and specification.<\/p>\n
An ottoman bed uses gas struts to raise the mattress platform, revealing a lined compartment across the full footprint of the bed. On a double that is roughly 1.9 square metres of storage, usually 25cm to 35cm deep.<\/p>\n
Points to check before buying:<\/p>\n
You can compare lift directions and depths across our modern ottomans UK sale<\/a> range, where the specifications list both the opening type and the internal depth.<\/p>\n Drawer beds have two or four drawers set into the base, running on runners or castors. They are the more practical option for everyday items because you can open one drawer without moving the mattress.<\/p>\n The main constraint is floor space. A drawer needs to pull out its full depth to be usable, which is typically 60cm to 75cm. If your bed sits 50cm from a wardrobe, side drawers will not work.<\/p>\n Other considerations. Check whether the drawers run on castors, which need a hard floor or a low pile carpet to move well, or on fixed runners, which are smoother but often shallower. Check the internal drawer depth rather than the external dimensions, since the frame reduces the usable space. And check whether drawers are available on both sides or only one, as some frames are handed.<\/p>\n Storage beds are larger and heavier than plain frames, so measuring matters more.<\/p>\n Take these measurements before ordering: the full length and width of the room, the position and projection of the radiator, the swing of the door, the height of the window sill, the ceiling height at the bed position, and the width of the narrowest point on the route from your front door to the bedroom.<\/p>\n That last one catches people out. Ottoman bases often arrive as large assembled or semi assembled sections. Measure your staircase turn and the diagonal clearance at the top of the stairs, not just the width.<\/p>\n Then mark the external bed dimensions on the floor with tape and check that you can still open the wardrobe, reach the window and walk past comfortably.<\/p>\n This is the specification most often overlooked when buying online.<\/p>\n Ottoman bases have a maximum mattress weight, usually stated in the product details. Heavy pocket sprung or hybrid mattresses can exceed the rating on lighter frames, which makes the base hard to lift and close.<\/p>\n Drawer beds and divans have a maximum mattress depth in the sense of proportion rather than function. A very deep mattress on a tall storage base can leave the bed uncomfortably high to sit on. As a guide, the top of the mattress should sit roughly 55cm to 65cm from the floor for most adults.<\/p>\n Also check the platform type. Solid platforms suit foam and hybrid mattresses. Sprung slats suit pocket sprung mattresses and improve airflow, which reduces the risk of moisture building under the mattress.<\/p>\n Enclosed storage under a bed can hold moisture, particularly in older British housing with solid walls or limited heating in bedrooms.<\/p>\n Reduce the risk with a few habits. Store items clean and completely dry. Avoid sealing everything in plastic, which traps moisture rather than excluding it. Use breathable cotton storage bags for bedding and clothing. Open the base occasionally, especially through winter, to let air circulate.<\/p>\n If the room has a known damp issue, resolve that before choosing an enclosed storage base. Drawers on castors allow more airflow than a fully sealed ottoman compartment.<\/p>\n Storage beds suit bulky, low frequency items best: spare duvets, winter coats, suitcases, seasonal bedding, spare pillows and off season clothing.<\/p>\n Less suitable: anything heavy enough to make the base difficult to lift, anything that needs frequent access, important documents, and anything sensitive to temperature change.<\/p>\n A simple system helps. Divide the space into zones and keep like with like, using fabric boxes or bags so you can lift a group of items out in one movement rather than reaching into the corners. Label them if the base is deep.<\/p>\n Storage bases are taller and more solid than slatted frames, so the styling needs to balance that.<\/p>\n An upholstered base in a mid tone reads as softer than a high contrast one. A tall headboard helps the proportions, since a low headboard on a deep base makes the bed look bottom heavy. If the base is plain, let the headboard carry the detail with fluting, panelling or buttoning.<\/p>\n Keep bedding neat and reasonably tailored. Deep overhanging throws hide the base entirely, which loses the clean line these beds do well.<\/p>\n Fabric bases are the most common and the most forgiving. Our fabric beds UK sale<\/a> range includes ottoman and drawer versions in the neutral tones that suit most bedrooms.<\/p>\n Storage beds are heavier than standard frames and usually arrive in several packages. Before delivery, clear the room, remove the old bed if you can, and check where the packages can be unpacked.<\/p>\n Assembly typically takes longer than a slatted frame, often an hour or two for two people. Gas struts should be fitted last and handled carefully, since they are under pressure.<\/p>\n Keep the fittings pack and the instructions. Struts are the component most likely to need replacing after several years, and having the model reference makes that straightforward.<\/p>\nDrawer Beds In Detail<\/h3>\n
Measuring Your Room Properly<\/h3>\n
Mattress Compatibility<\/h3>\n
Ventilation And Damp<\/h3>\n
What To Store And What Not To<\/h3>\n
Styling A Storage Bed<\/h3>\n
Assembly And Delivery<\/h3>\n