From the workshop
Ottoman Bed vs Divan Bed: Which Storage Suits Your Bedroom?
Ottoman or divan with drawers? An honest comparison from a Yorkshire bed maker: storage space, access, room layout and what to check before you buy.
Both hide a serious amount of storage inside the bed. The difference is how you get at it. An ottoman lifts the whole sleeping surface on gas pistons to reveal one big open space. A divan with drawers gives you pull-out drawers built into the base, like a chest of drawers under your mattress.
We build both, handmade to order in our Yorkshire workshop, so we have no reason to push you towards one or the other. This guide compares them honestly: storage space, everyday practicality, room layout and what to check before you buy. If you want the deep dive on ottomans alone, read our ottoman storage bed buying guide next.
Ottoman vs divan: the quick comparison
| Ottoman (gas lift) | Divan (drawers) | |
|---|---|---|
| Storage space | The whole footprint of the bed, one open cavity. The most storage any bed offers. | Less overall. Drawer boxes, runners and dividers take up room inside the base. |
| Getting things out | Lift the mattress platform. Best for weekly or seasonal items, not daily rummaging. | Pull a drawer open and shut. Best for clothes and things you use every day. |
| Room needed beside the bed | None. The base lifts upwards, so ottomans suit narrow rooms. | You need clear floor space for drawers to pull out into. |
| Bedding stays put? | You clear the bed before lifting, or use straps. Duvet and pillows come off first. | Yes. Open a drawer without touching the bedding. |
| Under-bed look | Clean, unbroken base all round. Nothing to catch the eye. | Visible drawer fronts and handles, which some people like as a feature. |
| Moving and delivery | Heavier single unit. Measure stairs and doorways carefully. | Often splits into two halves on larger sizes, easier to get upstairs. |
Choose an ottoman if you want maximum space
An ottoman swallows spare bedding, suitcases, winter coats and the boxes of things you keep meaning to sort. Because the storage is the full footprint of the frame with no dividers, a super king ottoman holds a remarkable amount. It is the right choice when your bedroom is short on cupboards and you need the bed to do the work of a wardrobe.
The trade-off is access. Lifting the sleeping surface takes a moment and you clear the bed first, so ottomans suit things you reach for weekly or seasonally. Good gas pistons make the lift light and hold the base safely open while you load it. Check the pistons are rated for your mattress weight, especially with a heavy pocket sprung mattress.
Choose drawers if you want everyday convenience
Drawers work exactly like the chest of drawers they resemble. Pull one open, grab what you need, push it shut. Nothing to lift and nothing to clear off the bed first. For daily items like clothes, drawers are simply more convenient than an ottoman.
The trade-off is volume. You store less overall than an ottoman of the same size, and you need clear floor space beside the bed for the drawers to open into. In a narrow room where the bed sits close to the wall, drawers on that side become decoration.
Drawer layouts vary: two large drawers, four smaller ones, or a continental layout with a drawer at the foot end too. Think about what you will actually store before choosing. Our UK bed size guide helps you work out the footprint you have to play with.
The third option: a divan ottoman
Some divan bases combine both: the look and proportions of a divan with a gas-lift ottoman opening instead of drawers. You get the ottoman’s full-footprint storage with a base that sits and looks like a traditional divan. If you like the divan style but need maximum space, ask about this when you order. We build our ottoman storage into divan bases this way.
What to check before you buy either
- Measure the journey, not just the room. Ottoman bases are heavy single units. Measure stairs, corners and doorways as carefully as the bedroom, a lesson from our bed size guide.
- Check what the storage is made of. A proper storage base has a solid platform and sturdy sides, not thin hardboard that bows under weight.
- Ask about the pistons. On an ottoman, the gas pistons do all the work. They should lift smoothly, hold the base open safely and suit the weight of your mattress.
- Think about the mattress. Very deep or heavy mattresses suit drawers better for daily access, since you never lift them. With an ottoman, pair sensibly and check piston ratings.
- Fabric and colour are free choices with made to order. Storage beds are big pieces of furniture. Ours are built in your size, fabric and colour, so the most practical bed in the house does not have to look it.
The honest verdict
Need the most storage possible and have a narrow room? Ottoman. Want everyday convenience and have space beside the bed? Drawers. There is no wrong answer, only the wrong answer for how you live. If you are still unsure, message us on WhatsApp with your room measurements and we will tell you straight which suits your space.
Questions, answered
Which holds more, an ottoman bed or a divan with drawers?
An ottoman. The whole footprint of the bed is one open storage space, while drawer boxes, runners and dividers take up room inside a divan base.
Are ottoman beds hard to lift?
Good gas pistons make the lift light and hold the base safely open. Check the pistons are rated for your mattress weight, especially with a heavy pocket sprung mattress.
Do I need space beside the bed for drawers?
Yes. Drawers need clear floor space to pull out into. In a narrow room where the bed sits close to the wall, an ottoman that lifts upwards is the better choice.
Can you get a divan that opens like an ottoman?
Yes. A divan ottoman combines the look of a traditional divan base with a gas-lift opening instead of drawers, giving full footprint storage.
What should I measure before ordering a storage bed?
Measure the stairs, corners and doorways as well as the bedroom. Ottoman bases are heavy single units, so the route into the room matters as much as the room itself.