Ottoman & Gas Lift Storage Beds: The UK Buyer's Guide
Ottoman beds are the most space-efficient way to add hidden storage to a UK bedroom, but the buying decision is rarely explained properly: side lift or end lift, how much space you actually gain, what size fits the room, and whether drawers would suit you better. This guide answers those questions using nothing but the beds we build ourselves in West Yorkshire, with the real prices and the real UK mattress sizes.
What is an ottoman (gas lift) bed?
An ottoman bed is a divan-style base where the entire mattress platform lifts on hydraulic gas struts, opening a storage compartment that runs the full footprint of the bed. You don't take the mattress off — the struts carry its weight as the platform swings up on a hinge. A standard divan, by contrast, either has fixed pull-out drawers or no storage at all.
Side lift or end lift? Decide by the wall, not the price
This is the single decision most buyers get wrong, and it is decided by your room layout rather than by preference.
- End lift — the platform hinges at the headboard and lifts from the foot of the bed. Choose it when you have clear floor space at the foot. This is our Ottoman Gas Lift Divan Base, from £220.99 (Single 3ft) to £363.99 (Super King 6ft).
- Side lift — the platform hinges along one long side. Choose it when the foot of the bed sits against a wall, in an alcove, or facing a radiator or wardrobe, and you have clear floor down one side instead. This is our Side Lift Ottoman Storage Base, from £249.99 (Single 3ft) to £394.99 (Super King 6ft).
Both lift the full mattress platform, both take any standard UK mattress, and both need headroom above the bed for the platform to swing open. In a box room, the side lift is usually the one that still works after the furniture is in.
The box-room test: three questions before you order
- Where does the foot of the bed end up? Against a wall or a radiator → side lift. Open floor → end lift, which is also the lower-priced option.
- Which side of the bed has clear floor? A side lift needs that clear side to open into. Measure it before ordering, and leave at least 60cm walking space on at least one side of the bed.
- How much headroom is above the mattress? Sloped ceilings, loft conversions and low windows restrict how far the platform can swing up. If headroom is the problem, drawers are the better answer — see the comparison below.
How much storage do you actually gain?
An ottoman opens up the whole area under the mattress, so the usable area tracks the UK mattress size you choose. The table below gives the standard UK mattress dimensions we build to and the resulting platform footprint. Treat the footprint as the outer figure: the internal compartment is smaller once the base construction is allowed for.
| Size | UK mattress size | Platform footprint | End lift from | Side lift from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 3ft — 90 x 190cm | approx. 1.71 m² | £220.99 | £249.99 |
| Small Double | 4ft — 120 x 190cm | approx. 2.28 m² | £253.99 | £274.99 |
| Standard Double | 4ft6 — 135 x 190cm | approx. 2.57 m² | £272.99 | £284.99 |
| King | 5ft — 150 x 200cm | approx. 3.00 m² | £305.99 | £334.99 |
| Super King | 6ft — 180 x 200cm | approx. 3.60 m² | £363.99 | £394.99 |
Internal compartment depth in centimetres: DATA NOT AVAILABLE — REQUIRES VERIFICATION. We would rather publish nothing than publish a figure we haven't measured on the finished base. Email eaglebedofficial@gmail.com and we'll measure the size you're considering.
Ottoman, drawers or plain frame?
| Option | How you get to the storage | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas lift ottoman — end lift | Whole platform lifts from the foot | Most storage; clear floor at the foot of the bed | £220.99 |
| Gas lift ottoman — side lift | Whole platform lifts from the side | Box rooms and beds set foot-to-wall | £249.99 |
| Ottoman with matching headboard | Gas lift base plus upholstered bumper headboard | Buyers who want base and headboard as one finished look | £324.99 |
| Divan with drawers | Fixed pull-out drawers | Low ceilings, or anyone who doesn't want to lift | £259.99 |
| Plain upholstered frame | No built-in storage; standard under-bed boxes fit | Rooms where storage is already sorted | £285.99 |
Browse the full range on our ottoman beds, storage beds with drawers and divan beds pages.
Gas strut safety checklist
Gas struts are safe and well proven, but they are under pressure and deserve a little respect. Run through this before and after you assemble a storage bed:
- Assemble the base on a level floor. An out-of-square base makes the platform bind and puts uneven load on the struts.
- Fit both struts the same way up, following the instructions supplied with your base — struts are directional.
- Lift and lower the platform with the mattress on. Struts are matched to carry the mattress weight; testing it bare will feel abruptly light.
- Lift with one hand on the platform, not on the mattress cover, and let the strut take over — never yank it.
- Guide the platform down with your hand; never let it drop under its own weight.
- Keep children and pets clear of the open compartment, and never leave the platform open and unattended.
- Don't store anything that props against the hinge side or stands taller than the base — it will foul the platform as it closes.
- Check the strut fixings once a year. If a platform starts sinking on its own or feels heavy to lift, stop using it and contact us — every Eagle Bed base carries a 5-year guarantee.
Mattress depth and how it affects the lift
Gas struts are rated for the weight they carry, and your mattress is most of that weight. A deeper, heavier mattress makes the platform feel firmer to open and lighter to close; a very light mattress does the opposite. Our ottoman bases take any standard UK mattress, and our own 3000 Pocket Sprung Mattress (from £220.99) and Memory Orthopaedic Mattress (from £142.99) are both built in the UK to the same five sizes as the bases. If you are replacing a mattress on an existing ottoman, keep the new one close to the old one in depth and weight so the lift behaves as it did before.
Buying checklist
- Measure the wall, the floor in front, and the side you'd open from — in that order.
- Check headroom if you're under a slope or a low window.
- Decide side lift vs end lift from the layout, not the price.
- Choose your UK size from the table above — our sizes run Kids Single 2ft6, Single 3ft, Small Double 4ft, Standard Double 4ft6, King 5ft and Super King 6ft.
- Order free fabric swatches before committing to a colour.
About Eagle Bed
We are a small bed maker in West Yorkshire. Every bed on this site is handmade to order in plush velvet, chenille, Coniston, Naples, Galaxy or Teddy bouclé — custom fabrics on request — and comes with a 5-year guarantee, free UK delivery and free fabric swatches. Klarna and Clearpay are available at checkout. Questions about storage sizes, fabrics or delivery: eaglebedofficial@gmail.com.
Journalists, bloggers and interior designers: you're welcome to quote or link to this guide. If you'd like a swatch pack or measurements for a specific size, email us and we'll measure it and send the figures.