Ottoman Bed vs Divan Bed Storage: Which Gives You More Space?

Storage is usually the deciding factor between an ottoman bed and a divan bed, they're the two most common storage bed types sold in the UK, but they store very differently. Here's exactly how each one works and how much space you actually get.

How Ottoman Bed Storage Works

An ottoman bed uses a hydraulic gas-lift mechanism to raise the entire mattress and base top as one unit, revealing a large storage compartment underneath that spans the full footprint of the bed. Because there's no drawer casing, frame rail, or dividing structure eating into the space, almost the entire area beneath the mattress is usable. Ottoman bases open in one of three directions, left-hand, right-hand, or foot-end, so you can choose the option that matches the clearance available in your room.

How Divan Bed Drawer Storage Works

A divan bed stores items in drawers built into the base, typically a choice of 0, 2, or 4 drawers, with two drawers usually fitted to one side and four split two-and-two across both sides. Each drawer slides out independently on runners, so you get instant, no-lift access to whatever's inside, but the storage volume is limited to the size of the drawer boxes themselves, with a meaningful amount of the base still taken up by the frame and drawer mechanism.

Storage Capacity Compared

As a practical guide, a 4-drawer divan gives you roughly the equivalent of two large under-bed storage boxes' worth of space, split across four separate compartments. An ottoman base on the same size bed typically holds two to three times that volume in a single open compartment, since it isn't broken up by drawer walls or a central frame rail. The trade-off is access speed: an ottoman needs to be lifted and the mattress cleared before use, while a divan drawer opens in one motion regardless of what's on the bed.

Which Suits Which Room Size

In a small bedroom or flat where storage space is at a premium and floor space for furniture like chests of drawers is limited, an ottoman bed's larger capacity usually wins, provided you can commit to an opening direction that fits the room, most small rooms suit foot-end opening since it avoids needing clearance down either long side. In a larger bedroom where you value quick, frequent access to items like bedding or clothing over maximum volume, a divan's drawer storage is often the more convenient day-to-day choice, and it pairs well with additional wardrobe storage elsewhere in the room.