An ottoman bed is great for bedrooms with limited space. It comes with plenty of storage space underneath where you can stuff extra bedding or whatever else you don’t have room for in your drawers and cabinets.
To access the storage, you simply lift the base and mattress. That’s sounds hard, even impossible if you have a thick and heavy mattress.
But it’s quite easy. Ottoman beds come with assistive lifting mechanisms – usually gas pistons – to make it safer and easier to lift the mattress.
In this buying guide, we are going to review the best ottoman beds you can buy online in the UK.
What to Consider When Buying an Ottoman Bed
a. Size
Don’t just consider the size of your mattress when buying an ottoman bed. Even if your mattress can fit in your bedroom, the bed itself is most likely a few centimetres wider and longer.
So rather than assuming a King size bed is exactly the same size as your mattress, check the actual dimensions to make sure the bed will actually fit.
Don’t worry about getting the bed inside the door or up the stairs. The bed will come in several pieces that you can easily carry inside and assemble in your bedroom.
b. Storage organisation
Most ottoman beds consist of a single storage space that extends the entire length of the bed. This type of storage is handy if you need to store large items such as pillows and blankets.
Some divide the storage space in halves or quarters, allowing you to organise your stuff in different compartments.
There are also those that split between a large storage compartment and smaller drawers.
The drawers can be set in one half of the bed while in some beds, the drawers are set beneath the main storage space.
The best type of storage depends on your needs. If you only need to store large items, get a bed with a large storage space.
If you have a lot of smaller items such as books, clothes, cycling gear and so on, get a bed with smaller compartments or a mixture of compartments and drawers.
c. Opening side and Mechanism
Most ottoman beds use gas pistons to make it easy for one person to lift the base and mattress up. The mechanism then locks in place, allowing you use both hands to store or remove something.
Make sure the opening mechanism is easy to use and safe (it shouldn’t move too fast and should securely lock in place when opened).
Don’t forget to check which side of the bed lifts up. Some beds lift from the end while others can be opened from the side.
Side-opening ottoman beds are ideal for small bedrooms where you don’t have room at the end.
d. Frame and Upholstery
Most frames in ottoman beds are constructed from solid wood, providing durability and support. The side rails are usually MDF.
Most beds are upholstered with a soft fabric like polyester or faux leather but you can also get one with a solid wood finish. It all depends on your tastes.
e. Ottoman bed vs. Divan
Sometimes the terms ‘ottoman bed’ and ‘divan’ are used interchangeably.
While they both have storage space underneath, there is one major difference.
Unlike an ottoman bed that usually contains large compartments for storage, most divans use drawers. So there is no opening mechanism to lift the mattress and base.
You simple pull the drawers from the sides.
For small spaces without much clearance on the sides, an ottoman bed is the best option. If you get a divan, you might not have enough space to fully open the drawers.
The Best Ottoman Bed Reviews
1. Ottoman Double Storage Bed Upholstered in Faux Leather
This is the best option if you are looking for an ottoman bed with one continuous storage space that can fit bulky items.
With a depth of 30cm, the storage space is deep enough to store most of your extra beddings and other stuff.
The entire bed is a double size. The external dimensions are 204cm (Length) by 146cm (width).
The headboard is 90.5cm high while the side rails are 3.5cm thick.
The bed uses a reliable gas lift base. The pistons have been tested to last for 180,000 lifts over their lifetime, ensuring you’ll be using the bed perfectly well for years.
They can handle even the heaviest of mattresses without any problem.
The frame and headboard are constructed from solid wood while the side rails are made with plywood. The base consists of 28 sprung wooden slats to provide sturdy support to the mattress.
The entire base is upholstered in fabric to give the bed a nice look and ensure it doesn’t come into direct contact with the floor.
What we like about it:
- Sturdy and durable construction.
- Good quality gas lift mechanism.
- Upholstered base.
- Large storage space.
2. Ottoman Gas Lift Up 4’6″ Double Faux Leather Storage Bed
This one is also a double size bed that uses gas pistons to lift the mattress and base.
It has a metal frame that adds durability and ensures proper support for extra-thick mattresses.
The storage space is quite generous. It’s 31cm deep, providing plenty of depth for bulky items like blankets and guest pillows.
It’s one continuous space that’s handy for beddings and things like camping gear and winter wear.
The base and headboard have modern faux leather upholstery. Though not as homely and warm as fabric upholstery, it’s easy to clean and you don’t have to worry about stains.
The all-black finish adds to its stylish modern style.
What we like about it:
- Durable metal frame.
- Long lasting and reliable gas lift mechanism.
- Deep storage space.
- Stylish leather-like upholstery.
3. Seattle Ottoman Storage Bed Side Lift Opening
If you are looking for an ottoman bed that opens from the side, I recommend this one.
The best part is that you can configure it to open from either the left or right depending on where you’ll position it in your bedroom.
The user guide has instructions on how to assemble the bed for opening from a specific side.
The bed is available in four sizes: double, king, small double and single.
Like other ottoman beds, this one also uses a gas lift mechanism that makes it easy to access the storage space underneath.
The mechanism keeps the mattress and base safely locked in place until you are ready to lower it down again.
The storage itself is quite big. It’s 30cm deep. Since it is one continuous space, you’ll have no problem fitting most of your bulky stuff in there.
The wooden slats are sprung to provide cushioned support. The entire bed is finished in a beautiful white faux leather upholstery.
White does show dirt easily but being faux leather, it’s easy to wipe it away.
What we like about it:
- Beautiful contemporary finish and upholstery.
- Side-opening mechanism – ideal for bedrooms without adequate space on the end.
- Deep storage space.
- Sturdy and long lasting gas lift pistons.
4. Unmatchable Velvet Chenille Ottoman Bed
If you are looking for a luxury ottoman bed and don’t mind paying a bit more, I recommend this one.
It has a stylish classic design with soft fabric upholstery and a tufted headboard and footboard. The upholstery fabric is velvet, which feels soft and supple.
That’s not all.
The tufted areas on the headboard and footboard are filled with diamante crystals, giving the bed a beautiful finish.
Beyond the aesthetics, the bed’s storage space is very practical. It is 32cm deep, providing plenty of space to store whatever bulky items cannot fit in normal drawers.
It is a continuous space so you don’t have to worry whether large items will fit.
Accessing the storage space is easy using the gas pistons. Just lift the bed from the foot end and it locks in place until you are done.
The bed is available in two sizes: king and double. The king measures 240cm (Length) by 169cm (Width) while the double measures 230cm by 156cm.
What we like about it:
- Beautiful luxury finish and upholstery.
- Extra-deep storage space.
- Easy to use gas lift pistons.
- Easy to assemble.
5. Birlea Phoenix Ottoman Bed
This is the most expensive among our picks. We love the high quality build and beautiful finish.
If you are looking for an ottoman bed that will last for years without any issues, this is your best bet.
One reason why it’s more expensive is the solid rubberwood construction.
Rubberwood is a type of hardwood known for its durability. It does make the bed heavier but you are assured it will last long and can support a heavy mattress.
The slatted base has springs for added mattress support. A protective base board is also included.
There is plenty of storage space underneath. Unlike other ottoman beds, the space is divided into several large compartments, making it easier to organise all your stuff.
You can get the bed in a double or king size.
You can also opt for one of four finishes: white, oak, stone grey and pearl grey.
What we like about it:
- Extra-deep storage with divided compartments for better organisation.
- Durable rubberwood construction.
- Multiple colour options.
- Beautiful traditional styling.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to assemble an Ottoman bed?
Ottoman beds are a great addition to a small bedroom, or to a household that needs a bit of extra storage space. You get a bed, and a storage solution, all in one convenient package!
- The first step is to make sure you have enough space for your assembly, and get all the tools ready (you will need spanners and Allen keys; these may come with the bed but not always).
- Have the assembly instructions to hand. If you have got the bed second hand and there are no instructions, then the internet is your friend!
- Put the headboard together first, making sure it is all secure and all the dowels are firmly in place.
- Assemble the bottom of the bed by attaching the side rails to the centre panels, ensuring that everything is tightly screwed together.
- Fix the side rails to the headboard, then attach the foot board.
- Attach the bed lifting mechanism to the side rails, once again ensuring that everything is tightly screwed into place.
- Push the bottom panels of the bed’s base together, and secure them into place using Allen keys.
- Attach the lifting mechanism to the bed base, fixing the bolts loosely in place as you go. Make sure that everything is in place and as you want it before you tighten the bolts.
- Tightly screw everything into place, and you’re done! Add a mattress, for a fantastic night’s sleep, on top of everything you can now store under the bed.
2. How to close Ottoman bed?
Once your bed is fully assembled and safe in your bedroom, opening it and closing it should be a matter of a gentle lift to open it, and a gentle push to close it. These beds work using hydraulics, so you should have to make very little effort to open and close it. If you are struggling to close your Ottoman, you may have a problem.
Your mattress may be too light. These beds are quite powerful and strong, and need a fair bit of weight on them to keep the lid closed, so you can either invest in a heavier mattress or use it as an excuse to lie around on your comfy bed all day!
You may be pushing on one side only. In order to close smoothly, you need to be exerting pressure evenly on both sides of the mattress. Have a look at your closing technique if you are struggling to close your bed.
It could simply be that you are not pushing hard enough. These beds are incredibly strong, and the hydraulic struts are there to prevent you getting stuck inside the bed, so they require a fair bit of force to shut them effectively, especially if it is a brand new bed.
3. What to store in Ottoman bed?
A better question to ask is, what NOT to store in Ottoman bed! As long as the item is small enough to fit inside the storage of your bed, you can put it in there.
They are a really good storage solution for bedding, such as spare duvets, pillows, and clean bed sheets.
You can also store clothes; for example if you are someone who is organised enough to separate out their summer and winter wardrobes, you can store all of the season’s clothes that you are not wearing, and swap them over when the weather changes.
Books that don’t fit on the bookshelf is another good bet, as are DVDs, and you can stash your board games under there too.
Just make sure that you don’t pile it so high that the top no longer shuts!
