What Is an Ottoman Bed? The Complete UK Buyer's Guide

You know that feeling when your bedroom finally looks clean, calm, and totally put-together? Ottoman bed frames are basically cheating your way there. An ottoman bed is a bed with gas-lift hydraulics that raise the mattress base to provide access to a storage compartment underneath. Unlike beds with drawers, ottoman beds use the full footprint beneath the mattress, offering a larger and more flexible storage solution. Ottoman beds open from either the foot end of the bed, or from one side. This makes them particularly useful in smaller bedrooms or spaces with unusual layouts.

Style and Storage In A Single Bed

An ottoman bed refers to the storage bed base, however, an ottoman bed doesn’t just provide a storage solution to your bedroom clutter, but it also adds to the aesthetics of your bedroom by combining varying styles of headboards ranging from chesterfield beds, high headboard beds, bubble beds, ambassador beds, sleigh beds, TV beds, and wingback beds with a functional storage bed base. The ottoman storage beds come with an expansive under-bed storage cavity that has ample amount of storage to hold all of your bulkier items like extra linens, suitcases, off-season clothing, etc that you wouldn’t want scattered around in your bedroom or stuffed in your closet otherwise. 

Who an ottoman bed suits best

The main draw is space. An ottoman base uses the entire footprint under the mattress, so you get far more storage than a few drawers can hold, all of it hidden from view. That makes ottoman beds a sensible pick for smaller UK bedrooms, flats, box rooms and loft conversions where every bit of floor counts. They also suit anyone who likes a tidy room, since coats, bedding and clutter go straight under the bed rather than into corners or onto a chair. Families use the space for toys and games, and couples use it for spare bedding and out-of-season clothes.

Pros & Cons of Ottoman Beds

Pros

1) Ottoman beds help to reduce clutter in your bedroom. Because everything is contained within the closed storage area, your items will stay clean and dust-free.

2) Ottoman beds make efficient use of storage spaces, or potential storage spaces, as it is becoming increasingly important in modern homes. Ottoman beds maximize storage by utilising the entire space below the mattress, making them reliable space-savers in smaller settings.

3) Ottoman beds come in many styles to suit different tastes and interiors. Whether you prefer a bold design to make a statement or a classic style that blends with your neutral décor, there are plenty of options available in fabrics, colours, and styles.

Cons

1) Ottoman beds, even in single sizes, can be quite heavy, and once they are assembled, they are very difficult to move in one piece. Whereas smaller, metal bed frames can be moved from room to room with reasonably little fuss, an ottoman bed will likely need to be disassembled to fit through the door frames in your home.

2) Assembly complexity is another con of ottoman beds as these beds can be more difficult to put together and may require a two-person delivery. To overcome this exact issue, Deeplay Beds offers assembly service at a very small price for the convenience of the customers.

3) Whilst modern ottoman beds have safety features, like the soft closing, weight-bearing mechanisms, they can still pose some risks to pets and small children. The big storage space can be very tempting for toddlers to climb inside, and pets, cats, in particular, love to find small spaces to hide inside. They’re very unlikely to come to any harm if they do climb inside, but ottoman beds aren’t really built to be played in. It’s much better to keep your young children and pets away from them, and keep your wits about you when you have it open in case somebody chooses to sneak inside!

What size ottoman beds are available?

Ottoman beds are available in a wide range of sizes. You can choose from single ottoman beds, small double ottoman beds, double ottoman beds, king size ottoman beds and even super king size ottoman beds. The varying sizes means you’re bound to find an ottoman storage bed that fits your bedroom needs while matching your bedroom aesthetics because Deeplay Beds offer fabric upholstered ottoman storage beds in multiple different styles.

Are Ottoman Beds able to hold a lot of weight?

Ottoman beds are strong and sturdy and the construction enables a greater storage capacity and weight load than most storage beds. Some of these beds are designed with a simple inner base storage area that uses floor space as the storage base, instead of a solid storage unit. This enables you to store your items without fear of overloading, as the floor will take the weight of the items instead.

How does an ottoman bed work?

These storage beds use integrated gas-lift hydraulic pistons to raise the mattress platform and reveal the storage compartment below. Simply lift a tab or pull the frame upward and the mechanism does the rest, holding the base securely open until you're ready to close it. The pistons ensure a light, controlled lift and a slow, safe release. This means both hands remain free for placing or removing items. Some models feature electric lift systems with a wireless remote control, making access even more effortless. To close, simply push the mattress platform back down; many designs also include a locking mechanism for added security.

FAQs

How to choose the right size ottoman bed for a bedroom?

Ottoman beds open up to reveal under-bed storage, so you must take into consideration both the bed's footprint and the clearance needed to access the storage.

What are top-rated ottoman storage bed brands for small bedrooms?

Deeplay Beds is considered one of the top-rated bed brands for ottoman storage beds catering to small bedrooms.

Can I change an end-lift bed into a side-lift bed?

No. The pre-drilled holes and frame supports are engineered specifically for one opening direction. You cannot alter this layout during assembly.

How many people are needed for assembly?

Two people. While one person can build the outer frame, aligning and bolting the heavy lifting platform requires a second person for safety.

Which way up do the wooden slats go?

The wooden slats must curve upward like a rainbow. This convex shape creates the suspension needed to support your mattress properly.