There’s an elephant in the room when you’re eking out bedroom storage with shelves, stackable boxes, and perfectly measured furniture… and that elephant is your bed frame.
It’s no exaggeration to say that bed frames take up around 40% of the floor space in most bedrooms, so it’s only fair that they also contribute to storage space.
Ottoman beds are the best for in-built storage because they use the entire underside rather than just a few drawers. Here are ten reasons you should consider one:
Table of Contents
1. Unbeatable Storage Capacity
Let’s start with the obvious—ottoman beds are storage superheroes. While drawer beds offer some space under the mattress, ottomans use the entire underside as a capacious storage area, held open on hydraulic struts.
We’re talking room for entire seasons’ worth of clothes, extra bedding, overflowing book collections—you name it.
2. End or Side Lift Options
Is your bed squished against the wall, leaving zero room for an end lift? No problem! Many ottoman beds come with a side lift option, letting you access the storage from the sides rather than the end of the bed.
Check out the Milan Bed Company Side Lift Ottoman and Giltedge Beds Side Opening Ottoman Base (pictured below) for a genius space-saving design at its best.
3. Full or Half Opening
If you’re dealing with low ceilings or an awkward nook, a half-opening ottoman like the Giltedge Beds Half Opening Ottoman Base might be the solution. The mattress only lifts halfway, saving precious headspace.
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Half Opening
4. Hidden Storage
With an ottoman bed, all your goods are tucked away in a discreet, top-secret nook unbeknownst to casual observers.
It’s the perfect spot to stash valuables, games, off-season clothes, or even the off-limits snacks you don’t want your kids to find.
5. Low Profile Options
Getting a sleek and airy vibe in your bedroom is easy with a low-profile ottoman bed that sits 40-50cm off the floor.
Check out the Bedmr Kingham, which gives the illusion of added space while still offering loads of cunningly concealed storage underneath.
6. Upholstered or Wooden
Torn between an upholstered bed for a sumptuous, hotel-inspired aesthetic and a more classic wooden number?
The good news is that ottoman beds offer both fabric and timber options, such as the Birlea Phoenix Wooden Ottoman Bed, so you can choose the look that suits your style. Fabric versions come in decadent velvets, cozy teddy fabrics, and linens.
7. Easy to Operate
A hydraulic lift system makes ottoman beds easy to open and close. Just give the mattress a gentle nudge and let the struts lift it up smoothly.
When you’re ready to shut it, apply a bit of force, and the mechanism will lower it slowly and safely.
8. Superior to Drawer Storage
Sure, drawers give you some storage, but they’re no match for the sheer volume of stuff you can cram inside an ottoman bed.
Drawer beds need room around the perimeter for the drawers to open, while ottomans can sit flush against a wall.
9. Simple Assembly
Most ottoman beds arrive flat-packed, making them easy to maneuver through tight doorways and up narrow staircases.
With just a few simple tools, you can assemble it in under an hour—much less time (and effort) than a standard bed with a massive, bulky frame.
10. Budget-Friendly Luxury
You might think all that storage space comes at a premium, but ottoman beds are surprisingly affordable, considering all the added functionality.
While they’ll set you back around 30-60% more than a similar drawer bed, you’re getting about 300% more storage capacity, and that’s a serious upgrade for a fraction of the cost.
