A double ottoman bed does everything a standard double bed frame does and then lifts to reveal several hundred litres of accessible storage beneath the mattress. For a primary bedroom where storage is a genuine constraint, it's one of the most practical furniture upgrades available: a single purchase that replaces the function of a chest of drawers, under-bed storage boxes, and a standard bed frame simultaneously. At Airedale Living, our double ottoman beds are available in upholstered fabric, velvet, and wooden finishes across grey, beige, cream, black, and natural tones — all built on solid frames with quality gas-lift mechanisms designed for regular daily use. Browse the full collection above and pair your chosen frame with a double mattress at 135cm × 190cm. Free UK delivery is included on every order.

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Double Ottoman Beds: How They Work and Why They're Worth It

An ottoman bed is a bed frame with a storage compartment built into the base. The mattress and slatted base lift as a single unit — either from the foot of the bed or from one side, depending on the model — via a gas-assisted mechanism that makes lifting straightforward even under the weight of a full mattress. The storage compartment beneath is the full internal footprint of the bed frame a large, open space that holds significantly more than any drawer-based storage alternative.

How the lift mechanism works. The gas-lift mechanism operates on the same principle as a car boot strut compressed gas in a cylinder provides upward force that counterbalances the weight of the mattress and base, making the lift easy to initiate and the open position stable and supported. A quality gas-lift mechanism holds the base open securely without needing to be propped — both hands are free to access the storage. Opening and closing takes seconds. A poor-quality mechanism loses its gas pressure over time, making the lift increasingly heavy and the open position unstable — check product specifications and customer reviews for mechanism quality before ordering.

Foot-end opening vs side opening. Most double ottoman beds open from the foot of the bed, with the base pivoting upward away from the headboard. This requires 60–80cm of clear floor space at the foot for the base to lift fully and the storage to be accessed comfortably. Some models open from the side — useful in rooms where the foot of the bed is close to a wall or wardrobe. Check the individual product page for opening direction and measure your room accordingly before ordering.

Is it worth the price premium over a standard frame? For most primary bedrooms, yes decisively. The price difference between a standard double bed frame and a double ottoman at the same specification typically runs to £100–£250. A chest of drawers of comparable storage capacity costs a similar amount and takes up additional floor space. An ottoman bed provides equivalent storage capacity within the existing bed footprint, freeing the floor area that a chest of drawers would occupy. In most bedrooms, the ottoman replaces both the under-bed storage solution and the secondary storage furniture the total cost saving over purchasing those items separately typically exceeds the ottoman premium within the first purchase.

How Much Storage Does a Double Ottoman Bed Have?

This is the most practically important question about any ottoman bed — and the answer is specific enough to be genuinely useful in planning.

A standard double ottoman bed (135cm × 190cm external footprint) provides an internal storage compartment of approximately 110–120cm wide × 170–180cm long × 25–35cm deep. The exact dimensions vary by model — the internal width is narrower than the external frame width because the frame sides occupy some of the footprint, and the internal length is shorter than the external bed length for the same reason.

In volumetric terms, a double ottoman bed provides approximately 400–600 litres of accessible storage — the equivalent of a generous four or five-drawer chest of drawers in total capacity, but in one continuous open space rather than divided across individual drawers. This suits:

- A full set of spare bedding (duvet, pillows, fitted sheets) — the most common use

- Seasonal clothing (winter coats, summer wardrobe overflow)

- Suitcases and travel bags (which fit flat beneath a mattress more easily than in any other storage format)

- Spare towels and linen

- Bulky items that don't fit in standard drawer storage

The storage is accessed from above and is fully open — no internal dividers, shelves, or organisers are included as standard. Storage boxes, vacuum bags, and flat organisers all work well in an ottoman base. Items stored loose will shift when the base is lifted and lowered, so anything small or loose benefits from a storage box or bag.

What doesn't work in ottoman storage: Heavy, extremely bulky items that are awkward to lift over the frame sides when the base is open. The opening requires you to lift items in and out from above — taller items (above approximately 30cm) need to be angled in, which can be difficult. Ottoman storage suits flat or compressible items best.

Choosing Your Double Ottoman Bed: Finish, Opening Direction, and Size

Finish. Double ottoman beds are available in upholstered and wooden finishes. Upholstered frames — in fabric, velvet, or faux suede across grey, beige, cream, and black — suit softer, warmer bedroom aesthetics and are the most popular choice for primary bedrooms in the UK. A fabric or velvet upholstered ottoman headboard creates a hotel-quality finish that coordinated bedside tables and wardrobes in the same neutral tone complement well. Wooden frames in oak, pine, and white finishes suit Scandi and traditional bedroom schemes.

Opening direction. Foot-end opening is the most common and suits rooms where 60–80cm of floor clearance is available at the foot of the bed. Side opening suits rooms where the foot of the bed sits close to a wall — the base pivots to one side rather than away from the headboard, requiring side clearance rather than foot clearance. Always confirm the opening direction on the individual product page and measure your room before ordering. Getting this wrong is the most common ottoman bed return reason.

Is a double the right size? A double ottoman bed measures 135cm × 190cm — the most popular adult bed size in the UK. For a primary bedroom shared by two adults who both require maximum sleeping width, a king size bed at 150cm × 200cm may be more appropriate. For a single adult or a guest bedroom, a small double at 120cm × 190cm provides more storage than a standard double at a more compact footprint. The double is the right choice for most primary bedrooms where the room comfortably accommodates 135cm width with adequate clearance on both sides — plan for at least 60cm of walkway on each side.

Weight limit. Ottoman beds have a rated weight capacity for the sleeping surface — typically 120–200kg for a double, varying by frame construction. This applies to the sleeping surface under normal use. The gas-lift mechanism has a separate rated capacity for the combined weight of the mattress and base it lifts — check this on the product page to ensure it's compatible with your mattress weight. Heavier mattresses (memory foam or hybrid mattresses of 25cm+ depth) are significantly heavier than standard spring mattresses and may require a higher-rated mechanism.

Completing the Bedroom Setup

A double ottoman bed is most effective when the surrounding bedroom is planned around what the storage eliminates. If the ottoman base handles spare bedding and seasonal storage, a wardrobe with an internal drawer section or a smaller chest of drawers handles daily clothing — and the floor space previously occupied by larger storage furniture is freed for other use.

Pair your double ottoman frame with a double mattress at exactly 135cm × 190cm. Browse the full mattresses collection for the right firmness, depth, and material. Note that heavier mattresses (memory foam, hybrid, latex) add significant weight to the gas-lift load — if your mattress is 30cm or above in depth, check the mechanism weight rating on the product page.

Complete the bedroom with bedside tables in a coordinating finish, and browse the full bedroom furniture collection to plan the complete room. Every Airedale Living double ottoman bed comes with free UK delivery and arrives ready for self-assembly with all fixings and instructions included.

Browse the full double ottoman bed collection above — and make the most practical upgrade your bedroom can receive.

Frequently Asked Questions

A double ottoman bed is a bed frame at the standard UK double size (135cm × 190cm) with a large storage compartment built into the base. The mattress and slatted base lift as a single unit via a gas-assisted mechanism — either from the foot or the side of the bed — to reveal the storage space beneath. When closed, it functions as a standard double bed frame. When open, it provides access to a storage compartment of approximately 400–600 litres — the equivalent of a generous chest of drawers in capacity, within the existing bed footprint. See the full double beds collection to compare ottoman and standard frames side by side.

A double ottoman bed opens via a gas-lift mechanism — the same principle as a car boot strut. The mattress and slatted base lift together as one unit, pivoting either from the foot of the bed (most common) or from one side, depending on the model. The gas-assist makes the lift easy to initiate and holds the base open securely without propping — both hands are free to access the storage. Closing is equally simple: lift the base slightly, release, and the gas mechanism lowers it gently back into position. Foot-end opening requires 60–80cm of clear floor space at the foot of the bed. Side opening requires side clearance. Always check the opening direction on the individual product page before ordering.

A standard double ottoman bed provides an internal storage compartment of approximately 110–120cm wide × 170–180cm long × 25–35cm deep — roughly 400–600 litres of accessible storage, depending on the model. This is equivalent to the capacity of a four or five-drawer chest of drawers, in one continuous open space rather than individual drawers. It comfortably holds a full set of spare bedding, seasonal clothing, suitcases, and bulky items that don't fit in standard drawer storage. The compartment is fully open with no internal dividers — storage boxes and vacuum bags help organise the space and prevent smaller items from shifting when the base is lifted.

For most primary bedrooms, yes. The price premium over a standard double frame is typically £100–£250. A chest of drawers of comparable storage capacity costs a similar amount and occupies additional floor space. An ottoman bed provides equivalent storage within the bed's existing footprint — freeing floor space and eliminating the need for supplementary under-bed storage solutions. For bedrooms where storage is a genuine daily constraint — and in most UK bedrooms it is — the ottoman premium is recovered in the furniture it replaces and the floor space it frees. For guest rooms or bedrooms with substantial existing storage, a standard frame is adequate and the ottoman premium is less justified.

Most double ottoman beds have a sleeping surface weight capacity of 120–200kg, varying by frame construction and quality — check the individual product page for the specific rating. The gas-lift mechanism has a separate rated capacity for the combined weight of the mattress and base it needs to lift. Standard spring mattresses are typically 20–30kg; memory foam, hybrid, and latex mattresses of 25cm+ depth can be 40–60kg or more. If you're using a heavier mattress, confirm the mechanism's lift capacity rating on the product page to ensure the gas-lift performs correctly over time. An undersized mechanism on a heavy mattress will lose pressure faster and make lifting progressively harder.