Within this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover commonly asked questions about ottoman beds, the pros and cons of them and the different types of ottoman beds available.
What Is An Ottoman Bed?
An ottoman bed is the ultimate storage bed. It offers a liftable base that reveals a hidden compartment underneath spanning the entire length and width of the frame, ideal for storing clothes, shoes, spare bedding and more. Ottoman beds use gas lift pistons, which allow you to open and close the base with ease.
Where Does The Name “Ottoman” Come From?
Ottoman beds get their name from the Ottoman Empire of the 14th century. In its time of ruling, the Ottoman Empire developed a distinctive style of armrests or back supports, featuring deep cavities for storing items. Interior style has changed a lot since then, and modern ottoman beds now take influence from this design with liftable bases for extra storage.
Ottoman Beds Pros And Cons
Like any bed on the market, people will have their own opinions on ottoman beds. As such you might be asking: are ottoman beds good?
In our view, ottoman beds are great, especially when it comes to storage. The built-in underbed compartments, mean a sleek, cleaner looking bedroom as there’s more storage space available than with a standard divan bed, and therefore less clutter.
Ottoman Bed Pros
Having an ottoman bed comes with many benefits, mostly revolving around space optimisation in your bedroom. The main advantages of an ottoman bed are:
Additional storage: With a convenient underbed compartment, ottoman beds allow for all sorts of clutter to be kept out of the way. The space provided grants more than enough room for pillows and duvets , spare sheets, clothes, shoes, and more.
Extra floor space: By moving your belongings out of sight, your room becomes much less cluttered as a result. This can even help you cut back on clear out any existing bulky furniture, allowing you to reclaim lost floor spac
Easy lifting: With gas-powered lifting mechanisms, opening and closing an ottoman bed is effortless. These systems help bear the weight of the mattress on top, allowing them it to be raised and lowered with ease.
Style variety: To cater for as many different interior aesthetics as possible, we offer a wide
selection of ottoman styles in all sorts of colours and materials. For a neutral, flexible design, there are white ottoman beds and cream ottoman beds .For a sleek, subdued
style, you have a choice of black ottoman beds , or a slightly lighter option with grey ottoman beds .
Ottoman Bed Cons
While ottomans do have many advantages, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as:
Weight: Ottoman beds can be quite heavy, which makes them difficult to move from room to room once assembled. However, since all of our beds will arrive flat-packed, they can be taken apart if needed.
Safety risks: The lifting mechanism in an ottoman bed can be dangerous if mishandled. For instance, children might be tempted to climb inside the frame, which can cause them to get trapped. These days, however, modern ottoman beds come with safety mechanisms like soft closing hinges.
How Do Ottoman Beds Work?
Ottoman beds work using a gas-powered lifting mechanism which allows the base to be lifted to grant direct access to the hidden storage compartment underneath the mattress.
There are two types of ottoman beds available, both have their merits, and there’ll be a suitable option for any user:
End lift ottomans - These will open from the foot of the bed and are usually suitable for larger rooms.
Side lift ottoman - These will open from the side of the bed. With most models, you choose whether you would like it opening from the left or right side.There will be an option within the instructions that advises you how to build it, depending on what side you would like it to open from.
What Types Of Ottoman Beds Are There?
As ottomans have become more popular, the number of variations has increased to ensure there’s an option available for every bedroom decor;
Fabric ottoman beds – Finished with a mixture of different fabrics, including chenille and
velvet, which offers a soft, inviting aesthetic.
Leather ottoman beds - Composed of real or faux leather, leather ottoman beds provide
a premium finish that’s easily cleaned and maintained.
Wooden ottoman beds - Wooden beds are an extremely popular choice and can give bedrooms a classic vintage feel.
Ottoman divan beds - Ottoman divans are one of our most popular bed choices. With high durability, these beds have the robustness of a solid divan base, with the addition of underbed storage.
Ottoman Beds vs Divan Beds
Ottoman beds are often compared to divans. While they share similar characteristics, they are slightly different.
Divan beds tend to use drawers underneath the bed, which can limit how much space is
available. Ottomans, however, make use of the entire bottom section of the bed frame, offering unbeatable storage. Their lifting mechanism also prevents excess space from being taken up on either side of the bed, helping save even more room.
How Much Weight Can An Ottoman Bed Hold?
The weight restrictions of an ottoman bed will largely depend on the style and size. Generally, the larger the bed frame, the more weight it can withstand. However, this can be impacted by the quality of the materials used to construct the bed, along with how the frame is maintained.
How Are Mattresses Secured To An Ottoman Bed?
With most ottoman beds, a non-slip fabric is applied to keep the mattress firmly in place when the lids are raised.
For some side lift ottoman beds, a small wooden stopper is supplied to clip to the side of the base. This ensures the mattress doesn’t slip when the ottoman is raised.
Looking for the perfect mattress to pair with your new ottoman bed? Check out our mattresses here.
Do Ottoman Beds Have Matching Headboards?
Most ottoman beds will be accompanied by a matching headboard. That said, ottoman divan beds won’t usually be supplied with a headboard.
Are Ottoman Beds Easy To Assemble?
Ottomans are no more difficult to build than an ordinary bed, detailed assembly instructions will always be provided.
Assembling an ottoman divan bed is usually just a case of clipping two bases together and screwing in the pistons, which should only take around 10 minutes. Ottoman bed frames tend to arrive in a flat pack kit that requires the whole bed to be assembled.
What Is An Ottoman Baseboard Made From?
The baseboard is what your stored items will sit on. There are two types of baseboards commonly used in ottoman beds.
Ottoman bed frames tend to use a fabric base. This option is better suited for storing lighter items. Ottoman divan bases will use solid boarded bases, which is a much more robust material able to hold substantially heavier items.