How to Choose the Right Storage Bed for Your Bedroom

A storage bed is one of the most practical upgrades you can make to a bedroom. The right choice transforms how much space you have for clothes, bedding, and seasonal items without changing the footprint of the room itself. The wrong choice creates frustration: drawers that catch on carpet, lift mechanisms that struggle under heavier mattresses, or storage configurations that look great in a showroom but don't suit how you actually live.

This guide walks through eight considerations to weigh up before you buy. We've written it for shoppers who want a clear, honest framework rather than a sales pitch.

1. Choose between drawer storage and ottoman lift storage

Drawer storage suits everyday access

Drawer beds work like deep, low drawers that pull out from the side of the bed. They're best for items you reach for regularly: spare pillows, folded jumpers, shoes, kids' toys. The drawers are usually 2 or 4 in number; 2-drawer designs put both on one side, and 4-drawer designs split storage across both sides of the bed for couples who want their own space.

Ottoman lift storage suits bulk and seasonal items

An ottoman bed lifts the entire mattress base on hydraulic struts, exposing a large compartment underneath roughly the size of the whole bed. That single deep space takes bulkier items: duvets, suitcases, vacuum-bagged winter coats. Access is slower than pulling a drawer, so it suits items you store rather than rotate.

2. Match storage type to room size and layout

Small rooms favour ottoman beds

Drawer beds need clearance on one or both sides of the bed for the drawers to slide out. If your room is tight (under about 2.8m wide for a king-size bed), a drawer bed may be impractical: the drawers will hit the wall or wardrobe. Ottoman beds open upward, requiring only ceiling clearance, which most rooms have in abundance.

Larger rooms tolerate either approach

In a room with 80cm or more clear on at least one side of the bed, drawers operate cleanly. If both sides are clear, a 4-drawer design splits storage equally and avoids one side becoming "the drawer side."

3. Understand lift mechanisms (side lift vs end lift)

Side lift suits beds against a wall on the headboard side

A side-lift ottoman hinges along the long edge of the bed. Lift it from either side. Best when there's space for the mattress to rise sideways without obstruction.

End lift suits beds in awkward corner layouts

An end-lift ottoman hinges at the foot of the bed. The mattress rises toward the foot of the room, which suits beds tucked against side walls where a side-lift would catch on a wardrobe. End lift can be heavier to operate single-handed, so worth a try-before-you-buy if possible.

4. Consider mattress weight and lift assistance

Heavier mattresses need stronger gas struts

Hybrid and pocket-sprung mattresses are heavier than memory foam. If you're pairing an ottoman with a denser mattress, check that the bed's lift struts are rated for the combined weight. Most quality ottoman beds at the price points we sell handle mattresses up to 30kg without strain.

Counterbalanced struts make daily use easier

Counterbalanced gas struts hold the mattress at the top of its travel without pressure on your arms. This matters if you're storing items you'll access regularly: you don't want to wrestle a 25kg mattress every time you need to grab a duvet cover.

5. Choose your bed size with storage in mind

Single and small double: drawer storage is usually enough

Solo sleepers or kids' rooms rarely need ottoman-scale storage. Two side drawers usually cover everyday needs.

King and super king: ottoman storage starts to make sense

The space under a larger bed is significant. If you're investing in a king-size or super-king frame, an ottoman base unlocks storage roughly equivalent to a small wardrobe.

6. Think about fabric, upholstery, and durability

Fabric beds suit warm, soft bedrooms

Upholstered storage beds in plush velvet, naples, or marble fabric feel softer in a room than leather or wood-grain alternatives. They also resist showing wear on the bedhead.

Crushed velvet wears differently to plush velvet

Crushed velvet has a more reflective, dramatic finish; plush velvet is matte and softer to the touch. Both wear well; choose based on the look you want, not durability.

7. Look at the headboard pairing and bed height

Match headboard scale to your wall

A 70-inch headboard on a low-ceiling bedroom can dominate the wall. A 54-inch on a tall wall can look lost. Measure from your mattress top to the ceiling and pick a headboard that fills the wall comfortably without crowding it.

Total bed height affects climbing in and out

Ottoman beds tend to sit slightly higher than divan beds because of the lift mechanism. Add the mattress depth on top. If anyone in the household has mobility considerations, sit on a similar bed before ordering to check the height works for getting in and out.

8. Budget honestly, then prioritise

Storage doesn't add much to bed cost; mattress does

The price difference between a non-storage divan and a 4-drawer or ottoman version is usually small relative to the mattress upgrade. If you have a fixed budget, spend the savings on a better mattress rather than skipping storage.

Made-to-order means you commit before you see it in your room

Made-to-order beds aren't returnable in the same way an off-the-shelf bed is. Take advantage of fabric swatches, measure your room carefully, and ask questions before ordering rather than after.

Final thoughts

The right storage bed is one that quietly removes friction from your daily routine. You should rarely think about it; you should just appreciate the extra space and the absence of clutter elsewhere in the room.

If you're unsure between two options, default to whichever better matches your room layout (the bed will physically work in the space) and your storage habits (drawers for daily, ottoman for bulk). Style and price are secondary; you can find good options across both at most price points.

Browse our storage bed collection to see what's available in your preferred size and fabric. Order fabric swatches first if you're unsure about colour or texture; they ship for £1.80 and remove the biggest source of buyer's regret on made-to-order furniture.