Ottoman Bed vs Under-Bed Drawers: Which Storage Bed Is Right for You?

The space beneath your bed is one of the largest potential storage areas in the bedroom, but there’s more than one way to make use of it. Two of the most practical options are an ottoman storage bed or a wooden bed with under-bed drawers.

Both keep storage neatly contained beneath the mattress, but they work very differently. An ottoman bed gives you access to a large concealed storage area by lifting the mattress platform, while under-bed drawers divide your storage into smaller compartments that pull out from the side of the frame.

The right choice depends on more than how much you want to store. The layout of your bedroom, how often you need access and even the type of belongings you want to put away can all make one option more practical than the other.

This guide compares the two to help you decide which type of storage bed works best for your bedroom.

Ottoman Storage vs Under-Bed Drawers at a Glance

If you're already weighing up the two options, here's how the main differences compare.

Neither system is inherently better. The important question is how you want your storage to work once the bed is actually in your bedroom.

When Does an Ottoman Bed Make More Sense?

An ottoman storage bed is a good option when you want to make use of a larger area beneath the mattress rather than dividing that space between individual drawers.

Our ottoman beds provide approximately 22cm of underbed storage, accessed by lifting the mattress platform with the assistance of gas struts. Once open, you can use the concealed area beneath for spare duvets, pillows, bedding, seasonal clothing and other belongings that can be awkward to fit into smaller drawers.

This can be particularly useful if you don't need to reach for everything every day. Items that only come out when the seasons change or when guests stay can be kept out of the way without taking up valuable wardrobe or cupboard space.

An ottoman can also solve a layout problem. Because nothing needs to pull out horizontally from beneath the frame, you don't need to leave the same clear floor space along the side of the bed that you would for drawers. In a bedroom where wardrobes, bedside furniture or the room itself restrict that space, this can make a considerable difference.

When Are Under-Bed Drawers the Better Choice?

Under-bed drawers approach storage differently. Instead of opening one larger area, you can pull out the individual drawer you need without disturbing everything else stored beneath the bed.

Our wooden under-bed storage drawers run on wheels for straightforward access and measure approximately 90cm wide x 60cm deep x 23cm high. They're handmade from solid oak or pine and can be finished to coordinate with your bed, so they become part of the frame visually rather than looking like separate storage boxes pushed underneath it.

They're particularly useful for belongings you want to keep organised and access regularly. Bed linen can have one drawer, clothing another, while a child's bedroom might use the separate spaces for toys, spare bedding or clothes.

The number of drawers you can accommodate depends on your bed size:

• Single – up to 2 drawers

• Small Double – up to 4 drawers

• Double – up to 4 drawers

• King – up to 4 drawers

• Super King – up to 4 drawers

• Emperor – up to 4 drawers

Our drawers are designed for compatible standard-height beds, so this is something to consider when choosing the frame itself. Bespoke drawer sizes are also available if you have a particular requirement.

Think About the Space Beside Your Bed

One of the easiest things to overlook when choosing under-bed storage is that it's not enough for the bed to fit the room. The storage needs to work there too.

A drawer approximately 60cm deep needs clear floor space beside the bed when you pull it out. A wardrobe door, bedside cabinet, radiator or nearby wall could all affect how far a particular drawer can open.

This doesn't necessarily rule drawers out in a smaller bedroom. It simply means you need to plan their position before deciding how many you want and where they'll sit.

An ottoman works differently. Access comes from above, so the storage doesn't extend out across the bedroom floor when opened. That can make an ottoman bed particularly useful where the bed fits comfortably but the space immediately around it is restricted.

If you have generous clearance along the sides of the frame, however, drawers offer the convenience of opening one storage compartment at a time without lifting the mattress platform.

Before choosing either option, take a look at the whole bedroom rather than the empty space where the bed will sit. Our How to Choose a Wooden Bed for Your Bedroom guide goes into more detail on planning around room layout, surrounding furniture and available space.

What Do You Actually Want to Store?

Before deciding between an ottoman and drawers, think about what currently needs a home. The amount of storage matters, but so does the shape of the items and how often you'll want to retrieve them.

Spare Duvets, Pillows and Bulky Bedding

An ottoman bed can make good use of the larger uninterrupted area beneath the mattress. Bulky items don't need to fit within the dimensions of an individual drawer, making this a useful place for spare duvets, pillows and bedding that would otherwise take up a sizeable part of a wardrobe.

Clothes You Reach for Regularly

Drawers make it easier to separate belongings into individual spaces and open only the section you need. If you're using the space for folded clothes, nightwear or other items you reach for regularly, this can make everyday organisation more straightforward.

Children's Toys and Belongings

Under-bed drawers can be particularly handy in a child's bedroom, where storage requirements have a habit of changing. Toys, books, clothes and spare bedding can be separated rather than sharing one large space, while the wheeled design makes individual drawers straightforward to pull out.

If you're planning the rest of the room at the same time, explore our children's beds for solid wood designs created with children's bedrooms in mind.

Seasonal Items

For things you only need occasionally, an ottoman can be a practical way to reclaim wardrobe space. Winter bedding, out-of-season clothes and other belongings can stay concealed beneath the mattress until they're needed again.

Guest-Room Essentials

Either option can work well in a guest bedroom. Drawers allow bedding, towels and other items to be kept in separate compartments, while an ottoman provides a larger concealed area for spare bedding and less frequently used belongings.

The best choice comes down to how the room is used. If you're regularly changing bedding or retrieving supplies, individual drawers may be more convenient. If the priority is putting larger items away between visits, an ottoman may suit you better.

How Does Each Storage Option Change the Look of the Bed?

Storage is the practical reason for choosing either option, but it doesn't have to look like an afterthought.

Wooden under-bed drawers remain visible beneath the frame, with solid oak or pine drawer fronts becoming part of the overall bed design. Choosing the same timber and finish as the frame creates a coordinated appearance while retaining the more traditional proportions of a standard-height bed.

Ottoman storage is much less visible. The storage area sits beneath the mattress platform and remains concealed when the bed is closed, allowing the overall style of the frame to take the attention.

This means appearance can become a useful tie-breaker if both options would work practically. If you like the look of visible wooden drawers and clearly divided storage, drawers may suit the room better. If you'd rather keep the storage itself out of sight, an ottoman storage bed provides a cleaner alternative.

Ottoman Bed or Drawers: Which Should You Choose?

By this point, the decision usually comes down to a handful of practical priorities.

An ottoman bed could be the better fit if you:

• Want one larger concealed storage area
• Need somewhere for bulkier items such as duvets and pillows
• Don't have enough clear floor space beside the bed to open drawers comfortably
• Mainly need storage for belongings you access occasionally
• Prefer the storage itself to remain hidden when the bed is closed

Under-bed drawers could work better if you:

• Prefer to divide belongings into separate compartments
• Want to retrieve individual items without opening the whole storage area
• Have sufficient clearance beside the bed for the drawers to open
• Want storage that works with a compatible standard-height frame
• Like the appearance of matching solid wood drawer fronts

There will be bedrooms where either option works equally well. In that case, think about your normal routine rather than trying to identify a universally “better” storage bed. The option that makes your belongings easiest to put away and retrieve is likely to be the one you appreciate most once the bed is in place.

If storage is only one part of your decision, our Wooden Bed Buying Guide looks more broadly at bed height, size, materials, headboards, construction and other choices worth considering before ordering.

Find the Right Storage Bed for Your Bedroom

Making use of the space beneath your mattress can reduce the need for additional storage furniture without taking up another part of the bedroom.

Choose one of our ottoman storage beds if you want a dedicated frame with a large concealed storage area, or pair compatible standard-height beds with solid wooden under-bed drawers for more divided storage.

If you're still considering how the bed itself will work with the available floor space and surrounding furniture, our How to Choose a Wooden Bed for Your Bedroom guide is a useful next step.