Ottoman Storage Beds

An ottoman bed is the only kind of bed where the storage is the whole of the space underneath rather than part of it. The base lifts on gas struts and the entire footprint becomes one open compartment — nothing divided into drawers, nothing lost to runners, and no need for clear floor beside the bed to pull anything out.

That makes it the most efficient storage in any house, and it is the reason ottoman beds have largely replaced drawer beds. This collection covers ottoman beds in every UK size, in wood and upholstered fabric.

How an ottoman bed works

Two gas struts, sometimes four on larger sizes, carry the weight of the base and the mattress. Once the base is unlatched it rises with one hand, even made up with bedding on it, and it holds itself open while you load or unload. Lowering it is the same in reverse — the struts control the descent rather than letting it drop.

The struts are the part that wears. Over many years they lose some of their lift, and the sign is a base that no longer stays up on its own or needs two hands to raise. They are replaceable, and replacing them costs a fraction of replacing the bed.

Side lift and end lift ottoman beds

This is the decision most people overlook and the one most likely to cause regret. A side lift opens along one long side of the bed; an end lift opens from the foot. The bed needs clear floor on whichever side it opens, because the base swings up and out through that space.

End lift suits a bed with a wall or a wardrobe close along one side, which is most small bedrooms. Side lift suits a bed with a wall at the foot, or a room where the foot end is the tight part. On larger sizes the end lift is usually more practical, because a 5ft or 6ft base swinging up sideways needs a great deal of room to clear.

Decide this before the finish, because it is the one thing you cannot change afterwards.

How much fits under an ottoman bed

Close to the full footprint of the bed, and the depth is usually enough for a suitcase standing on its side. In practice that means spare bedding, out-of-season clothing and luggage all at once — a double ottoman holds roughly what a chest of drawers holds, in space that was doing nothing.

What it does not suit is anything you need daily. Getting into an ottoman means clearing the top of the bed first, so it is storage for things you reach for a few times a year rather than every morning.

Ottoman bed sizes

Ottoman beds come in all five UK sizes, and the storage scales with the bed — a super king holds well over twice what a single does.

Single ottoman beds

3ft by 6ft 3in. A single ottoman is usually in the smallest room in the house, which is exactly where the storage is worth most. The lift is almost always from the side at this width, so the bed needs clear floor along one long side to open — worth checking in a box room where the bed sits lengthways against a wall. More in our single beds.

Small double ottoman beds

4ft by 6ft 3in. The size that turns a spare room into a bed for two and a storage cupboard at the same time, which is a good fit for a room used a few weeks a year. Both side and end lift are common at this width. More in our small double beds.

Double ottoman beds

4ft 6in by 6ft 3in, and the most popular ottoman size by a distance. Under a double there is enough space for a full change of seasonal clothing alongside spare bedding, which in a bedroom with one wardrobe is often the storage the room depends on. More in our double beds.

King size ottoman beds

5ft by 6ft 6in. At this width the end lift becomes the more practical of the two, since a 5ft base needs a lot of clear side floor to swing up. It is also the size where the strut count starts to matter — more struts working evenly keep the lift light and the base square. More in our king size beds.

Super king ottoman beds

6ft by 6ft 6in, roughly 39 square feet of storage, which is more floor than some box rooms. End lift is almost always the right choice here. More in our super king beds.

Wooden and oak ottoman beds

A wooden ottoman bed puts the lifting mechanism inside a timber frame, so you get the storage without the padded sides that add width. That matters in a room where the bed only just fits, since a wooden frame sits closer to the mattress size than an upholstered one.

Timber is also the quieter option, which counts on a bed that is being lifted and lowered regularly. Look at how the base itself is built rather than only the frame around it: a well-supported platform stays square through years of lifting, and a light one starts to twist.

Upholstered, velvet and fabric ottoman beds

Most ottoman beds are upholstered, and there is a practical reason beyond the look — the padded surround hides the mechanism completely and gives the base a clean edge to lift against. The headboard comes as part of the bed, already matched.

Velvet holds colour deeply and is the most asked-for finish here. Flat weaves and textured fabrics show marks less, which is worth thinking about on a bed whose sides get handled every time it is opened. Whichever you choose, the padding adds a few inches to the external width.

Grey, black, cream and white ottoman beds

Grey is the most searched-for finish on an ottoman bed and the most forgiving, since the sides of this kind of bed are touched more often than any other. Cream and white keep a small room open, which suits the single and small double sizes where the bed usually sits in a tight space. Black anchors a larger bedroom and hides marks best of all.

Ottoman bed FAQs

What is an ottoman bed?

A bed whose whole base lifts on gas struts to reveal one open storage compartment underneath, running the full footprint of the bed. Unlike a drawer bed, nothing is divided up and nothing needs clear floor beside the bed to slide out.

Should I choose a side lift or an end lift ottoman bed?

Whichever direction has clear floor. The base swings up and out through that space, so an end lift suits a bed with a wall or wardrobe tight along one side, and a side lift suits a bed with a wall at the foot. At king size and above, the end lift is usually the more practical. It cannot be changed after buying.

How much can you store in an ottoman bed?

Close to the full footprint of the bed, deep enough for a suitcase on its side. A double holds roughly what a chest of drawers holds. It suits seasonal storage rather than anything you need daily, since the bed has to be cleared before it opens.

Are ottoman beds hard to open?

No. The gas struts carry the weight of the base and the mattress, so it lifts with one hand and stays up on its own. If it starts needing two hands or will not hold itself open, the struts are wearing and can be replaced without replacing the bed.

What sizes do ottoman beds come in?

All five UK sizes — single 3ft, small double 4ft, double 4ft 6in, king size 5ft and super king 6ft. Double is the most common, and the storage scales with the bed.

Are ottoman beds better than beds with drawers?

For volume, comfortably. Drawers lose space to their runners and their sides, and they need clear floor beside the bed to open, which is often the floor the bed has already taken. An ottoman uses the whole footprint and opens upwards. Drawers are easier for daily access; an ottoman holds far more.