Ottoman Beds: The Summer Solution for Your Storage Needs

An ottoman bed is an absolute must for anyone with a small bedroom. Centralising bulky storage directly underneath your sleep zone keeps the rest of your floor clear with no more banging your shins on cumbersome drawers.

This is a collaborative post.

To maximise those verticals, use a low-profile design like the Flair Rumba (pictured below) Or make a showstopping centrepiece with a sleek, upholstered option with a built-in headboard like the stylish Bedmr Osborne (pictured below) Clever bedroom feng shui has never looked so chic.

Pictured: Flair Rumba 4FT 6 Double Ottoman Bed – Grey. Priced £499 (Save £300 on RRP) Available from Bedstar.

No airing cupboard? No problem

Airing cupboards are perfect for towels and bedding, but what if you don’t have one? Then you can get the next best thing: an ottoman bed. 

Ottoman beds hide all your stuff away, like an airing cupboard, and are arguably more convenient because they’re in your bedroom. 

You can also split your ottoman storage space with dividers and boxes, giving you multiple areas for all your seasonal belongings. 

Pictured: Bedmr Osborne 4FT 6 Double Ottoman Sleigh Bed – Grey. Priced £649 (Save £250 on RRP) Available from Bedstar.

Stow and go for seasonal shifts

With ample year-round organisation, Ottoman beds are superstars for quickly swapping out seasonal bedding and apparel. 

When winter coats and flannels need to be replaced by breezy linens and summer wardrobes, stow everything under the mattress until next year’s big swap.

Swap out those heavyweight duvets and woolly blankets for lightweight summer sheets and quilts. Out go the space heaters and hot water bottles, and in come the fans and portable AC units if needed. With everything neatly packed away, you’ve got room to breathe!

Downsize and declutter

Feeling like you’re living in a maze of stuff? An ottoman bed encourages a “streamlined” minimalist approach by incentivising you to declutter and get organised. After all, those depths can only hold so much before they become a cluttered cavern.

Go through your wardrobe with a paring knife and discard outdated trends and torn garments. The same goes for accessories and linens that have seen better days. 

Curate it to just the essentials and store away off-season items under the bed. Less stuff means less stuff to trip over or dig through.

Airy mattress platforms

An airy, slatted platform allows air to circulate freely beneath your mattress instead of getting trapped and stale. That steady fresh air flow helps disperse body heat and prevent moisture build-up and overheating at night. 

This added breathing room is especially valuable for foam and hybrid mattresses that can restrict airflow when placed on a solid platform. 

Wooden or upholstered designs

Pictured: Kaydian Walkworth 4FT 6 Double Ottoman Bed – Ocean Blue. Priced £699 (Save £374 on RRP) Available from Bedstar.

The Kaydian Walkworth offers a warm, boutique hotel aesthetic with plush fabrics and tufted headboards to lean against. 

Wooden bed frames such as the Milan Madrid have a more minimalist, contemporary vibe that creates an airy, open feel—just be sure to incorporate cosy textiles elsewhere. 

No matter which style you choose, an ottoman bed’s built-in organisation helps maximise space while allowing you to declutter efficiently throughout the season.

Pictured: Milan Bed Company Madrid 4FT 6 Double Wooden Ottoman Bed – Natural. Priced £498 (Save £100 on RRP) Available from Bedstar.

Choose quality, and thou shalt be rewarded

Of course, with all that heavy lifting and frequent opening and closing, an ottoman bed must be of high quality and durable.

Look for reputable brands like Kaydian, Limelight, and Bedmr that construct their ottomans with sturdy bases and smooth hydraulic or piston mechanisms.

A solidly built frame that opens easily makes daily ergonomics a breeze—look for fingertip opening and branded gas struts. You can always replace struts over time, but ensure they have the same rating for a similar feel.

Summing Up

Ottoman beds rule the roost for bedroom storage and can easily replace your airing cupboard, wardrobe, or chest of drawers. Pick a colour and a style that suits your space and enjoy a clutter-free bedroom from here on out.