Storage8 min read
Are ottoman beds worth it? The honest pros and cons
An ottoman bed gives you a storage space the full size of the mattress. It also asks you to lift that mattress every time you want something. Whether the trade suits you comes down to what you store and how often you need it.
In this guide
- How does an ottoman bed work?
- What are the advantages of an ottoman bed?
- What are the disadvantages of ottoman beds?
- Who should buy an ottoman bed?
- What should you check before buying an ottoman bed?
- Is a slatted or solid ottoman base better?
- How much does an ottoman bed cost at Bedline?
- Ottoman, drawers or divan: which is better?
- Questions
Key takeaways
- An ottoman bed lifts the whole mattress platform on gas struts to open a storage space the full size of the bed.
- It holds more than any drawer option and needs no clear floor at the sides, which makes it the strongest storage choice for a small room.
- The main downsides: you lift the mattress to reach your things, and you need clear headroom above the bed for it to open.
- It suits things you need weekly or less, such as spare bedding, suitcases and winter clothes. Drawers suit things you use every day.
- At Bedline the slatted gas-lift ottoman base is £219 in every size from Single to Super King, so a bigger bed gives you more storage for the same base price.
How does an ottoman bed work?
An ottoman bed has a base that lifts on gas struts. You raise the foot of the mattress, the platform rises with it, and the whole area under the bed opens up from headboard to footboard. The struts take most of the weight and hold the base open while you reach in.
Nothing slides out at the sides, so an ottoman needs no clear floor around it. It needs height instead: room above the bed for the mattress to rise into.
- slatted ottoman base, same in every size
- £219
- extra floor needed beside the bed
- 0 cm
- more storage in a king than a double
- +17%
What are the advantages of an ottoman bed?
The first is volume. An ottoman opens up the full area under the mattress, so the base takes the bulky things that otherwise end up in the loft or on top of the wardrobe: spare duvets, pillows, suitcases, winter coats.
The second is floor space. Drawers need floor to pull out into, and a walkway with a drawer opening into it wants about 90 cm clear. An ottoman needs nothing beyond the footprint of the bed. In a small bedroom, where a wardrobe or a door already claims that floor, it is the stronger choice.
Ottoman beds: the honest pros and cons
What we like
- The most storage any bed can give you: the full area under the mattress
- No clear floor needed at the sides, so it suits a tight room
- Gas struts take the weight, so the base lifts with a light pull and stays open
- Can replace a chest or blanket box, freeing floor in the room
Worth knowing
- You lift the mattress every time you want something
- Needs clear headroom above the bed, which rules out some sloping ceilings
- Slower than a drawer for things you use every day
- Adds to the price: £219 for the slatted base or £279 for metal
What are the disadvantages of ottoman beds?
There are four practical ones, and you can check each before you order.
- You lift the mattress to reach anything. The struts do most of the work, but it is slower than opening a drawer. Keep the base for things you need weekly or less.
- You need headroom. The mattress and platform rise as you lift them, so a low sloping ceiling over the foot of the bed can get in the way.
- Mattress weight changes the feel. A deep, heavy mattress makes the lift heavier. If yours is unusually heavy, tell us before you order and we will advise on the base.
- You need room to lift. Most ottomans lift from the foot end, so you need space to stand there. A bed with its foot hard against a wardrobe is awkward to open.
The fifth is price. The ottoman base adds £219 or £279 to the frame, while a single end drawer starts at £119.
Who should buy an ottoman bed?
An ottoman makes the most sense when storage is short and the things you need to keep are bulky. That usually means:
- Flats and homes without a loft or a large wardrobe
- Small bedrooms where drawers would have nowhere to open
- Guest rooms, where the base holds the spare bedding for the bed above it
- Anyone who wants boxes and cases off the bedroom floor
It suits you less if you need to reach things every day, such as the clothes you wear each morning, or if the bed sits under a low slope. Drawers or a divan base serve those rooms better.
What should you check before buying an ottoman bed?
Headroom over the foot of the bed
The mattress rises as you lift it. Measure the ceiling height at the foot end, and allow for the thickness of your mattress.
Space to stand at the foot
Most ottoman bases open from the foot of the bed. Leave enough clear floor there to stand and lift, and keep wardrobe doors from swinging into that space.
Your mattress
A deep or heavy mattress makes the lift feel heavier. You can add a new mattress on the bed page when you order; if you are keeping a heavy one, ask us first.
The way in
Every Bedline bed arrives in parts and is assembled in the room, so you never carry a made-up ottoman upstairs. If your stairs are tight, send us the measurements before you order. Delivery with full assembly costs £149.
Is a slatted or solid ottoman base better?
Every Bedline frame that takes storage comes with a choice of two gas-lift ottoman bases. Both lift on gas struts and give the same storage space. The difference is the platform the mattress sits on.
| Slatted gas-lift ottoman | Metal gas-lift ottoman | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £219, the same from Single to Super King | £279 |
| Platform | Slats under the mattress | Stronger metal-framed platform |
| Storage space | The full area under the mattress | The same |
| Best for | Most beds and most people | Anyone who wants the sturdiest base |
| Sizes | Single to Super King | Single to Super King |
Slats leave gaps that let air move under the mattress. The metal base has the stronger platform of the two. For most people the slatted base is the right choice and the better value; choose metal if you want the sturdiest base we make. Neither is available in Small Single.
How much does an ottoman bed cost at Bedline?
The slatted ottoman adds £219 to the frame price in every size from Single to Super King. A flat price changes the maths on size: a bigger bed has a bigger base, so you get more storage for the same £219.
| Size | Mattress | Area under the mattress | Ottoman base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 90 × 190 cm | 1.71 m² | £219 |
| Small Double | 120 × 190 cm | 2.28 m² | £219 |
| Double | 135 × 190 cm | 2.57 m² | £219 |
| King | 150 × 200 cm | 3.00 m² | £219 |
| Super King | 180 × 200 cm | 3.60 m² | £219 |
The figures are mattress areas; the usable space inside the base is a little smaller once you allow for the frame. Even so, a super king ottoman has more than twice the area of a single for the same base price. Moving from a double to a king size ottoman adds around £30 to most frames and gives you about 17% more storage. If storage is part of why you are buying, that tips the decision towards the king, provided the room takes it.
King size ottoman beds
Prices shown are for the king frame; the slatted ottoman base adds £219 and opens preselected on each bed.
WingedChoose fabric and size
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Choose fabric and sizeOttoman, drawers or divan: which is better?
Drawers are the other way to add storage. On most Bedline frames you can choose one end drawer, two drawers or four drawers, from £119. They hold less than an ottoman but open without moving the mattress, so they suit clothes and bedding you reach for daily. They need clear floor to open into, which counts against them in a small room.
A divan base, opening at the end or the side, costs £299 to £369. Our divan storage beds come as complete sets with a floorstanding headboard, and the base pieces are compact to carry up a narrow staircase. The ottoman vs divan guide compares the two side by side.
The verdict
An ottoman bed is worth it if you are short of storage and the things you need to keep are bulky and used weekly or less. It holds more than any drawer option, needs no floor at the sides, and at Bedline the slatted base costs £219 in every size. Choose drawers instead if you need everyday access or the bed sits under a low slope.
Questions people ask
What are the disadvantages of ottoman beds?
You lift the mattress to reach your things, so the storage suits items you need weekly or less, and you need clear headroom above the bed for it to open. It also adds to the price: £219 for the slatted base at Bedline.
Are ottoman beds worth the money?
If you need storage for bulky things, yes: an ottoman uses the whole area under the mattress, more than any set of drawers. If you need to reach things every day, drawers are the better buy.
Is a slatted or solid ottoman bed better?
Both lift on gas struts and hold the same. A slatted base lets air move under the mattress and costs less; a metal-framed platform is the sturdier option.
Are ottoman beds hard to lift?
No. Gas struts take the weight of the mattress, so the base lifts with a light pull and stays open on its own. A deep, heavy mattress makes it feel heavier.
Are ottoman beds good for small bedrooms?
Yes. An ottoman needs no clear floor at the sides, while drawers need room to pull out, so it gives the most storage in the least space. Check the headroom above the foot of the bed first.
What is the best king size ottoman bed?
The one that suits your room and its headroom, in a style you like. At Bedline every frame except the Edmund divan set can take the slatted ottoman for £219, so you choose the look first and add the base.
About Bedline
Bedline makes upholstered beds, ottoman beds and TV beds to order in Britain, in six UK sizes and 72 colours, and delivers them free to the UK mainland. Our guides are written by the team who help customers choose their beds every day on WhatsApp, so they answer the questions we are actually asked.
