An ottoman bed is a bed frame whose entire mattress platform lifts upward on gas-assisted pistons, opening a large hidden storage compartment that spans the full footprint of the bed. Unlike divans with drawers, nothing slides out sideways — the storage is accessed from above, which is why ottoman beds work even in rooms where the bed sits tight against a wall.
Table of contents
- How the gas lift mechanism works
- End lift vs side lift
- How much fits inside?
- Do ottoman beds need a special mattress?
- What to check before buying
- Frequently asked questions
How the gas lift mechanism works
The mechanism uses the same principle as a car's tailgate struts: sealed gas pistons mounted between the frame and the platform. When you lift the platform, the compressed gas does most of the work — so raising a platform carrying a full-size mattress takes only light effort. Lowering it, the pistons act as dampers, letting the platform close slowly and softly rather than slamming.
End lift vs side lift
Ottomans open one of two ways. End-lift designs hinge at the headboard and open from the foot of the bed — the most common type, offering one uninterrupted storage space. Side-lift designs hinge along one long edge and open from the side, useful in narrow rooms where the foot of the bed has no clearance. We compare both fully in our side-lift vs end-lift guide.
How much fits inside?
The storage compartment typically spans the full bed footprint at roughly 25–30cm deep. In practice that's several spare duvet sets, pillows, out-of-season clothing, and suitcases — around three to four times the volume of a two-drawer divan base. Contents stay dust-protected under the closed platform. Exact figures by size: storage capacity and weight limits.
Do ottoman beds need a special mattress?
No. Any standard UK-size mattress works on an ottoman frame. A medium-weight mattress keeps lifting easiest; very heavy mattresses make the platform harder to raise on some frames. More detail: choosing a mattress for an ottoman bed.
What to check before buying
Three things: opening clearance (an end-lift needs free space at the foot of the bed), room size (allow 60cm walkways — see our UK bed sizes guide), and build quality of the pistons and platform, since the mechanism is the part that works hardest.
Handcrafted ottoman beds — 46 designs, made to order
Gas-lift storage as standard, all UK sizes and fabrics. From £269.99 with free UK delivery and a 5-year warranty.
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