Divan & Storage Beds

A divan is an upholstered base on gliders with a headboard standing against it, and drawers built into the sides if you want storage. The mattress never moves, so you reach things the way you would open any drawer.

Two practical advantages people underrate. A divan base goes up a narrow staircase far more easily than a bedstead with siderails, because there is no rigid frame to manoeuvre around a turn. And it gives a firmer, more consistent mattress platform, which matters if you are using memory foam or a hybrid.

Our headboards here are floorstanding — they rest on the floor under their own weight rather than bolting to the base, so they are simple to fit and can be swapped later without changing the bed.

Drawers or an ottoman? Drawers win on everyday access, ottomans win on total volume. Our full comparison covers floor clearance, headroom and which works under a sloping ceiling.