Best Storage Beds

The short answer

• Bedroom with no wardrobe space, storing things you reach weekly or less: an ottoman bed.
• Things you need every day, with clear floor beside the bed: a bed with drawers.
• Keeping the bed you have: bed risers and rolling under-bed boxes.

Why the bed is your biggest storage opportunity

In a small bedroom, the space under the bed is usually the largest unused volume in the room. A double bed covers more floor than a wardrobe, and on most frames the space beneath holds only dust. Every option below turns it into storage; the difference is how you get things out.

Side by side

Where they differ

Space

An ottoman base uses almost the whole area under the mattress. Drawer beds lose space to runners and frames. Risers plus boxes depend on the height you gain and the boxes you buy.

Access

Drawers win for daily use. With an ottoman, you lift the mattress on gas struts each time, which suits seasonal clothes, bedding and suitcases. Boxes on wheels are in between.

Floor needed

Drawers need clear floor beside the bed to open fully: measure this, because bedside tables and walls get in the way. An ottoman needs only headroom to lift. Boxes need enough space to slide out.

Delivery and moving

Storage beds are heavy and come in several boxes; check the route in with how to measure for a sofa, the same rules apply. Risers move with you in a carrier bag.

The picks in detail

Mistakes to avoid

• Ignoring mattress weight with an ottoman. Struts are rated for a range; a heavy mattress needs stronger struts.
• No space for drawers to open. Measure the full drawer depth plus room to stand.
• Storing things you use daily in an ottoman. You will stop putting them back.
• Bed legs that do not fit the risers. Check the cup size and the weight rating.

Assembly and delivery

Storage beds are heavier and have more parts than ordinary frames. Ottoman beds arrive with gas struts that are under pressure; follow the instructions exactly and fit them last, with someone to help. Drawer beds have runners that need careful alignment, or the drawers stick. Allow an afternoon and two people. Check the delivery route as you would for a sofa, including stair turns, because headboards and side rails are long.

Looking after it

Lift an ottoman base by the handle, not by the mattress. Check strut fixings and drawer runners once a year and tighten any loose bolts. Do not overload drawers, as sagging bases wear runners out. Vacuum under and inside the base occasionally; enclosed bases collect less dust than an open bed, but not none.

Ottoman or drawers?

Ottoman beds lift to reveal the whole base, ideal for bulky things you need rarely. Drawer beds suit everyday items but need clear floor space beside the bed to open.

Which should you choose?

If you are buying a new bed anyway and storage is your biggest problem, an ottoman gives the most. If you want daily access and have floor beside the bed, choose drawers. If you are keeping your bed, risers and rolling boxes are the cheapest fix. See also best under-bed storage and the small space furniture buying guide.

How we chose

These are research-based recommendations: we compared published specifications, maker documentation and the features that matter in a small home. We have not tested them hands-on. Most picks are types of product rather than single models, so the buttons open the retailer's results; compare a few listings before you buy, in your own country's store.