An ottoman storage bed hides a huge additional storage space under the mattress, which can be easily lifted up, making it ideal for relatively small rooms or any bedroom where decluttering is a priority.
Simple in concept but elegantly engineered, an ottoman bed is the perfect complement to your bedroom, whether you are looking for somewhere to pack your summer clothes away this autumn, a secure place to hide valuables where nobody will think to look or simply need to declutter.
How do they work? Are they hard to use? And why is it the best bedroom storage choice?
How Does An Ottoman Bed Work?
An ottoman bed is an elegant combination of the two concepts and remarkably simple to use; it looks like a conventional bed, but the mattress frame is hinged on one side (either next to the headboard or one of the sides).
The result is akin to a giant ottoman; you can sit or lie on it however you like, but you can also lift it up to access a vast storage area which you can organise however you like.
Is It Difficult To Open An Ottoman Bed?
What makes an ottoman bed special is the engineering it takes to make using one simple; depending on the bed design, there are pistons, lifts, levers or other systems which make lifting an ottoman bed as simple and safe as lifting the lid on an ottoman stool.
Ottoman beds are often also known as “gas lift beds” because of the use of a gas spring to make it easy to support and lift a heavy surface, much in the same way it is easy to lift the boot of a car or adjust the height of a heavy office chair.
Opening an ottoman bed is as simple as pulling a lever or pull ring, and you do not need too much strength to lift the mattress and lock it safely in place.
What Can You Store In An Ottoman Bed?
Because it is such a large, open space, you can store practically anything in an ottoman bed, but its hidden nature means that there are often two schools of thought when it comes to what to store in there.
A bed is regularly used, so most of the time, an ottoman bed storage should be used for items that you only need to get out and put away a few times a week. Anything you need on a daily basis should be stored in or on a bedside table.
This means that ottoman storage is perfect for seasonal storage of the type that typically resides in a loft or at the bottom of a wardrobe.
Conversely, it is also a great place to store important documents and safety deposit boxes, as it is out of sight and thus boosts security through invisibility.
However, you can store anything in an ottoman bed, as it is easy to access and many people opt to subdivide the space to make it even easier to store everything they want.
How Does Your Mattress Stay In Place?
The mattress is typically locked in place, either through straps or clever design, meaning that it will stay on your bed even once lifted, ensuring that you do not have to readjust or lift your mattress back onto the bed once you are finished accessing your storage.
Why Choose An Ottoman Bed?
A combination of convenience, elegant design and the promise of a clutter-free bedroom all make an ottoman bed a perfect choice.
No Wasted Space In Your Bedroom
Bedrooms need to be clutter-free in order to provide a peaceful, relaxing space to sleep, unwind and contemplate, and by having storage under where you sleep, you can put away anything other than what you need as part of your daily routine.
Minimalism is very popular for its own sake, but decluttering can lead to much higher sleep quality because it inadvertently keeps your mind stimulated at night.
Easy To Reach Storage
A lot of extra storage solutions are not exactly easy to reach, either perched on the tops of wardrobes, in unconverted attics or buried at the bottom of wardrobes.
An ottoman bed is elegant to reach with one simple pull and just as easy to close, as the only extra step you need to take is to remove the pillows and bedding from the bed to stop it falling off the other side.
Vast Range Of Options
Because the concept of an ottoman bed is so elegantly simple, you can design a vast number of bed designs to have the extra storage, including a wide range of colours, textures, shades and headboards.