Complete Guide to Storage Beds | Ottoman, Drawer & TV Storage Beds Explained

A storage bed is a bed frame built with usable space inside its base, most commonly a gas-lift ottoman mechanism that lifts the entire mattress platform to reveal a deep storage cavity underneath. It’s the single most effective way to reclaim space in a bedroom without sacrificing floor area to extra furniture.

For UK homes, where the average bedroom is smaller than most people would like, that matters. Ottoman storage beds can hold the equivalent of several large suitcases’ worth of bedding, seasonal clothing, or spare linen, all hidden beneath the mattress rather than stacked in a wardrobe or shoved under the frame in loose boxes. Compared to a standard divan with drawers, an ottoman base typically offers significantly more usable capacity, since the entire underbed area opens up rather than just a shallow drawer section.

This guide covers every type of storage bed worth considering, including ottoman, TV, and headboard storage options, along with the available heights, sizes, and colours, so you can work out which one suits your bedroom and how much space you’ll realistically gain.

What Is a Storage Bed? (And How Much Space Do You Actually Get)

A storage bed is any bed frame designed with built-in storage in its base, rather than relying on separate furniture like ottomans, chests, or under-bed boxes. The most common version on the market today is the ottoman storage bed, which uses a gas-lift mechanism to raise the entire mattress platform, exposing a deep storage compartment beneath. Other formats include divans with built-in drawers and TV beds, which combine storage with a hidden, rising television mount at the foot of the frame.

What makes a storage bed worth choosing over separate storage furniture is efficiency: the space already exists within the frame’s footprint, so you gain storage without adding a single extra piece of furniture to the room.

Ottoman Gas-Lift Storage vs Standard Under-Bed Drawers

The two most common storage mechanisms work very differently. An ottoman gas-lift bed uses hydraulic or gas-assisted hinges to raise the entire top of the bed, mattress and all, on a pivot, opening the whole base as one large cavity. A drawer-based divan, by contrast, keeps the mattress fixed in place and provides access through one or more pull-out drawers built into the base.

Ottoman storage suits people who want maximum capacity and don’t mind lifting the mattress to access it, such as for seasonal bedding or suitcases. Drawer storage suits people who want frequent, easy access to items like clothing or linen without needing to move the mattress at all. Neither is universally “better”; the right choice depends on how often you need to reach what’s stored underneath.

How Much Space Does an Ottoman Bed Really Hold?

Ottoman beds typically offer significantly more usable storage than drawer divans because the entire base forms a single open compartment rather than being divided into shallow drawers. A king-size ottoman base can comfortably store several standard suitcases, spare duvets, and multiple sets of bedding at once, space that would otherwise need a chest of drawers or wardrobe shelf.

The exact capacity depends on bed size and the depth of the base, but as a rule of thumb, ottoman storage scales with the mattress size: larger beds don’t just sleep more comfortably, they also store proportionally more underneath.

Types of Storage Beds

Storage beds come in several distinct formats, each built around a different way of hiding usable space within the frame. The right type depends less on how much you want to store and more on how the bed needs to look and function in your room, whether that’s maximising capacity, hiding a television, or working within an unusual layout.

Ottoman Storage Beds

Ottoman storage beds are the most popular storage bed format in the UK, built around a gas-lift base that raises the entire mattress platform to reveal one large, open compartment underneath. Because the whole base opens as a single cavity rather than being split into drawers, ottoman beds typically offer the deepest and most flexible storage of any bed type, enough to fit several suitcases, spare duvets, or an entire off-season wardrobe.

They’re the natural choice for smaller bedrooms, where there’s no room for a chest of drawers or blanket box, and for anyone who wants storage that stays completely out of sight day-to-day.

TV Beds with Storage

A TV bed combines ottoman-style storage with a hidden television mount built into the footboard, which rises electronically at the press of a button and folds away flush with the frame when not in use. Underneath, the same gas-lift storage base found in standard ottoman beds remains, so you’re not trading storage capacity for the TV feature.

This format suits bedrooms that double as relaxation spaces, since it removes the need for a separate TV stand or wall mount while still keeping the underbed storage fully intact.

Headboard & Bookcase Storage Beds

Not all storage lives underneath the mattress. Headboard and bookcase storage beds build shelving, cubbies, or closed compartments directly into the headboard itself, offering a place for books, glasses, chargers, or bedside items without needing a separate nightstand. These are often paired with an ottoman base below, giving two separate storage zones in one frame: open shelving up top for everyday items and enclosed storage underneath for bulkier items.

This type works particularly well in box rooms or narrow layouts, where there isn’t space either side of the bed for traditional bedside tables.

Sleigh, Four-Poster & Corner Storage Frames

Storage isn’t limited to standard rectangular divan bases. Sleigh beds, four-poster frames, and corner beds can all be built with an ottoman or drawer storage base underneath, combining a statement silhouette with the same practical capacity as a simpler frame. Corner beds, in particular, are designed to fit into awkward room layouts, often maximising floor space in box rooms while still allowing full underbed storage.

These styles tend to prioritise appearance and room fit first, with storage capacity as a built-in bonus rather than the primary selling point, making them a good fit for anyone who wants a statement piece without sacrificing practicality.

Storage Bed Heights | Low, Standard & High-Rise

The height of a storage bed’s base directly determines how much you can fit inside it; the taller the base, the deeper the storage cavity underneath. Storage beds are generally available in low, standard, and high-rise base heights, and choosing between them is really a trade-off between room proportions and how much capacity you actually need.

Best Storage Height for Small Bedrooms

In smaller bedrooms, a low or standard-height storage base is usually the better fit. A tall base can make a compact room feel more cramped, since the bed sits higher off the floor and takes up more visual weight in the space. A standard-height ottoman base still offers substantial storage, typically enough for spare bedding, seasonal clothing, and a couple of suitcases, without overwhelming a smaller room the way a high-rise base can.

For bedrooms where floor space is already tight, this height also tends to pair better with lower headboards and slimmer frames, keeping the overall look proportionate to the room.

High-Rise Storage Beds for Maximum Capacity

High-rise storage beds raise the base further off the ground, creating a deeper cavity and noticeably more usable storage than a standard-height frame. This makes them the better option for anyone prioritising capacity over floor-hugging proportions, particularly useful if you’re storing bulkier items like winter duvets, spare pillows, or out-of-season clothing that would otherwise need a separate cupboard.

The extra height raises the sleeping surface, so it’s worth checking the total mattress height before choosing, especially if a lower bed is important for ease of getting in and out.

Storage Beds by Size

Storage capacity scales with bed size, so a larger frame doesn’t just sleep more comfortably; it opens up a proportionally larger cavity underneath. Choosing the right size for a storage bed means balancing how much room the frame will take up against how much extra storage you actually need.

Small Double & 3/4 Storage Beds

Small double storage beds, sometimes called 3/4 beds, are a popular choice for guest rooms, box rooms, and smaller main bedrooms where a full double won’t comfortably fit. Even at this size, an ottoman base still offers meaningful storage, typically enough for spare bedding and a couple of suitcases, without demanding the floor space a larger frame requires.

This size works well for anyone prioritising room proportions over maximum capacity, particularly in bedrooms that need to accommodate other furniture, such as a wardrobe or desk, alongside the bed.

Double, King & Super King Storage Options

Moving up in size increases storage capacity at each step. A double ottoman bed offers noticeably more base area than a small double, making it a practical middle ground for anyone who wants solid storage without committing to a larger frame. King-size storage beds open that up further still, comfortably holding several suitcases’ worth of bedding and seasonal items. In contrast, super king storage beds offer the largest storage capacity of all, suited to households that need to store bulkier items like duvets, pillows, or out-of-season wardrobes, keeping them entirely out of sight.

As a general rule, each size increase adds proportionally more storage rather than simply more sleeping space, which is worth factoring in if underbed capacity is a priority alongside room fit.

Storage Beds by Colour & Fabric

Colour and fabric choice shape how a storage bed sits within a room just as much as its size or height, and getting it right means considering both the bed’s role as a visual anchor and the fabric’s practicalities. With upholstered storage beds, the frame is usually the largest single piece of furniture in the room, so its colour has an outsized effect on how the whole space feels.

White, Grey & Black Storage Beds

Neutral tones remain the most popular choice for storage beds, and for good reason: they work with almost any existing colour scheme and don’t compete with other furniture or décor for attention. White storage beds brighten smaller rooms and make them feel more open, which pairs well with the bed’s space-saving purpose. Grey sits in the middle ground, warm enough to avoid feeling clinical yet neutral enough to suit most bedroom styles. Black storage beds bring a more dramatic, statement feel, working best in rooms with enough natural light to stop the darker tone from making the space feel smaller.

Because these tones are the most versatile, they’re also the easiest to redecorate around later without needing to replace the bed itself.

Choosing a Fabric That Suits Your Storage Bed

Beyond colour, the fabric itself affects both look and everyday practicality. Velvet gives a richer, more tactile finish and tends to suit bedrooms leaning toward a bolder, more luxurious style. At the same time, boucle and linen-look fabrics offer a softer, more textured feel that suits pared-back, natural interiors. Practicality matters too; textured weaves like boucle are generally more forgiving of everyday wear and show marks less readily than smooth, flat-weave fabrics, which is worth factoring in for a piece of furniture that gets daily use.

Ultimately, the fabric should match the bed’s role in the room: a statement headboard fabric works well as a focal point, while a simpler weave lets the storage bed blend into the background of a more understated bedroom.

How Ottoman Storage Beds Work (Assembly & Mechanism)

An ottoman storage bed uses a hinged, gas-assisted lifting mechanism to raise the entire mattress platform as a single unit, exposing the full base beneath it rather than relying on drawers or separate compartments. Understanding how that mechanism functions and what’s involved in putting the bed together helps set realistic expectations before it arrives.

Gas-Lift Mechanism Explained

The gas-lift mechanism is built around hydraulic struts, similar in principle to those used on a car boot, fitted to a hinged frame beneath the mattress platform. Lifting the end of the bed engages the struts, which support the weight of the mattress and platform as they rise, holding the whole structure open at a stable angle rather than requiring manual propping. Lowering it works the same way in reverse, with the struts controlling the descent so the platform closes smoothly rather than dropping under its own weight.

This is what allows Ottoman beds to offer such deep, uninterrupted storage. Because the mechanism lifts the entire top as a single piece, there’s no need for internal drawer dividers or runners that would otherwise eat into usable space.

What to Expect During Assembly

Ottoman storage beds are generally more involved to assemble than a standard divan, since the frame includes the hinge and gas-strut mechanism in addition to the usual base and headboard components. Most come with clear step-by-step instructions, and the process typically involves building the base frame first, fitting the gas-lift hinges, then attaching the headboard separately. While it’s a job most people can handle with basic tools and a second pair of hands for lifting, anyone who’d rather not tackle it alone can usually arrange assembly as part of the delivery.

Once assembled, the mechanism itself needs no ongoing maintenance beyond normal use; it’s designed to be lifted and lowered repeatedly without the struts losing their supporting force over time.

Who a Storage Bed Is Best For

A storage bed is best suited to anyone dealing with limited space, limited storage furniture, or a bedroom that needs to work harder than a simple place to sleep. Because the storage is built into the frame itself rather than added on top, it tends to suit specific living situations more than others.

Small Bedrooms & Space-Maximising Homes

Storage beds are particularly well-suited to smaller bedrooms, box rooms, and flats where there simply isn’t floor space for a chest of drawers, an ottoman box, or an extra wardrobe. Because the storage sits within the bed’s existing footprint, it adds capacity without taking up any additional room, a genuine advantage in homes where every square foot is already accounted for. This makes storage beds a common choice in newer builds and urban flats, where bedroom sizes tend to be smaller than in older housing stock.

For anyone furnishing a compact room from scratch, choosing a storage bed from the outset often eliminates the need to buy separate storage furniture.

Renters vs Homeowners: Long-Term Storage Value

Storage beds tend to suit renters and homeowners in slightly different ways. For renters, particularly those in smaller or shared properties, an ottoman bed offers a way to store seasonal items, spare bedding, or belongings without needing built-in wardrobes or paying for off-site storage, a genuinely useful trade-off given how tight rental storage space can be. For homeowners, a storage bed is more often a long-term space-planning decision, chosen specifically to avoid buying additional bedroom furniture down the line as belongings accumulate.

In both cases, the underlying value is the same: storage that’s already paid for and built in, rather than something that needs to be added, rented, or worked around later.

Shop Storage Beds

Ready to find the right storage bed for your bedroom? Explore the full range of handcrafted storage beds below, each built in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and backed by a 3-year warranty and 30-night trial.

Ottoman Divan Beds, Maximum underbed capacity with a gas-lift base, available across a full range of sizes, fabrics, and headboard heights.

TV Beds: Ottoman-style storage combined with a hidden, rising television mount, ideal for bedrooms that double as relaxation spaces.

Ambassador Beds, Statement upholstered frames with built-in storage, offered across a curated selection of premium fabrics and headboard styles.

Every bed is made to order by hand, with free UK delivery included as standard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Is an ottoman bed better than drawers?

Neither is universally better; it depends on how you plan to use the storage. Ottoman beds offer significantly more storage capacity, since the entire base opens into a single large cavity, making them better suited to bulkier or less frequently accessed items like spare duvets and suitcases. Drawer divans offer easier, more frequent access without lifting the mattress, which suits items like everyday clothing or linen you reach for regularly.

How much weight can a storage bed hold?

Ottoman storage bases are built to support the combined weight of the mattress, bedding, and whatever’s stored inside, with the gas-lift struts specifically rated to support that load safely. While exact weight limits vary by model, a well-built ottoman base can comfortably handle several suitcases’ worth of stored items alongside standard bedding without straining the mechanism.

Do storage beds need a mattress topper for extra support?

No, a mattress topper isn’t required for support, since the ottoman base and slats are designed to support a standard mattress on their own, just like any other bed frame. A topper is purely a comfort choice, not something needed to compensate for the storage mechanism underneath.

Are storage beds harder to move?

Storage beds are generally heavier than standard frames, since the gas-lift mechanism and reinforced base add weight, but they’re not meaningfully harder to move once assembled correctly. Most ottoman beds are designed to be dismantled back into their main components for moving house, in the same way a standard divan or frame would be.

Can I get a storage bed with a headboard?

Yes, most ottoman storage beds are sold with a headboard included or as a paired option, and many also offer a choice of headboard height and fabric to match the base. Some models go further, combining underbed ottoman storage with additional built-in headboard shelving for a second storage zone.