Updated : March 20, 2025
Published : March 19, 2025
Buying Guides
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Tags: beds

Storage beds are all the rage and it’s easy to see why. With the added benefit of storage space for your belongings and a variety of fabrics, headboards, colours and sizes to choose from, there’s no need to compromise on style or any of your needs when purchasing a storage bed.

There’s lots of options to choose from and that can be a little overwhelming, so we’ve put together a little guide that hopefully will help you to understand what options are available when it comes to creating your perfect storage bed.

Storage Space Options

When it comes to storage beds, there are generally two types of storage space access options to choose from. Let’s take a look…

Ottoman Bed Lift Up Access

Traditionally, the storage space within an ottoman bed is accessed via a platform that lifts up the mattress, allowing you to access your storage space and belongings. This platform is powered by gas-lift pistons that take the weight of the mattress and often lift the platform up to its highest point after you’ve given it a little pull. The same applies when you’ve finished accessing the storage space, a simple push and the pistons should take over, safely and slowly closing the mattress platform.

With ottoman beds there is a decision to make, which may be determined by the current or intended layout of your bedroom. Most ottoman beds can be configured (or are available in) either a side opening or end opening version. So either you can access the storage space underneath the bed from the end of the bed or one side of the bed (you may be able to choose this yourself too). It’s important to take into consideration any access issues within your bedroom before purchasing an ottoman bed. Such as if the bed will be positioned against a wall or there isn’t much space at the end of the bed.

The storage space within an ottoman bed usually takes up the entire footprint of the bed too, so it’s the best option if you require a lot of storage space, especially for larger items too.

Divan Bed Drawers

Divan beds on the other hand feature storage space in the form of integrated drawers within the base of the bed. These may be a more suitable option if you have smaller items to store away or you don’t fancy bending over and reaching into a vast storage space underneath your bed.

Divan beds can often be configured to have as many drawers as you require (as long as size permits), with the number of drawers ranging from one to four in most cases. But there are divan beds available with more drawers on the market.

Divan beds don’t give you as much room to store your belongings as ottoman beds do (due to the drawers themselves taking up space), but if you only need storage space for smaller items and prefer the function of pulling out a drawer, rather than lifting the entire mattress, they are the perfect choice.

Headboard Styles

So now you’ve decided on the type of storage bed that suits your needs, it’s time to choose a style and this is where your headboard choice comes in. There are plenty of styles and designs to choose from, let’s take a look at the most popular choices for storage beds.

Upholstered Headboards

When it comes to storage beds, particularly ottoman and divans, most headboard choices are upholstered. With a variety of fabrics and colours to choose from, you’re sure to find a stylish and luxurious headboard choice that suits your style.

There’s popular styles such as winged, wall mounted and the luxurious Chesterfield to choose from, all upholstered in a variety of fabrics ranging from smooth to the touch velvet to versatile and popular linen.

Winged Headboards

These distinctive headboards provide a really luxurious touch to your storage bed. As you can see, they curve around the top of your bed, providing extra support when reading or watching TV, whilst adding a certain air of sophistication.

Adding this finishing touch to your storage bed is sure to give your bedroom an added touch of flair and luxury. Especially when you combine it with the traditional Chesterfield design.

Floor Standing Headboards

Unlike traditional strutted headboards which are fixed to your bed frame itself, floor standing headboards take after their namesake and stand directly on the floor.

They are then fixed to the bed frame to prevent them from moving around and away from your bed. This unique design not only looks fantastic, but they actually add more stability to your storage bed too.

Wall Mounted Headboards

These headboards are completely different and really are a statement piece for your bedroom. Instead of attaching to the bed in any shape or form, these headboards are instead attached directly to your wall behind it.

There’s practical benefits to a wall mounted headboard too though. Once they’re securely fitted to your wall, there’s no need for the off adjustment every now and then like most headboards attached to bed frames.

Chesterfield Headboards

The Chesterfield design is synonymous with luxury and for good reason, just look at it, it’s beautiful. With its deep seated buttons and padded comfort, it really is a timeless design and one that’s sure to look fabulous in your bedroom.

Chesterfield headboards are a great choice if you’re after a touch of the traditional when it comes to your new storage bed and bedroom decor.

Fabric Choices

So with the headboard style chosen, it’s now time to look at your fabric choices. There’s also of course the colour choice of your fabric to consider too. The colours and fabrics available will vary by retailer, but here’s a selection of some of the most popular fabric choices when it comes to storage beds.

Linen

A very popular choice when it comes to headboards and for good reason. Available in a variety of colours and depending on the retailer, patterns too, linen is a durable choice that’s sure to last for years if you look after it. They’re maybe not the best choice for kids bedrooms though as stains can be harder to clean. You also want to keep them out of direct sunlight too, as they can become damaged by it.

Chenille

Known for its soft and plush texture, Chenille is a great choice if you’re looking for an exceptionally comfortable and textured feel. Once again, available in a variety of colours and offering insulation properties too, helping to keep you warm on those colder nights. However it’s worth considering that it can be delicate as it’s prone to potential snagging due to its ‘fuzzy’ texture. It can also be a more expensive choice than linen.

Crushed Velvet

With its distinctive, ‘three-dimensional’ look and feel, crushed velvet is a luxurious choice. Its unique texture and shimmer is created through a unique process where the fibers of the fabric are twisted whilst wet and then pressed. This added complexity in the manufacturing process can add to the cost of the fabric though.

Plush Velvet

Unlike crushed velvet, plush velvet has a smooth texture and appearance. Which of the two velvet choices you prefer, will of course come down to your own personal choice, but both give you that recognisable velvety feel when touched. Plush offers a higher degree of softness than crushed velvet though, due to the lack of the slightly raised crushed patterns. Another thing to consider when comparing the two is that plush velvet is more durable, which may factor into your decision.

Bed Sizes

So with the type of storage bed, the headboard design and the fabric style chosen, all that’s left to consider is the size of the bed. This of course all comes down to your personal preferences, current circumstances and the size of your room, but here’s a quick breakdown of the benefits of the various sizes available on the market.

If you sleep on your own, then of course a single bed is an obvious choice, with enough room for one person to comfortably sleep and potentially enough storage space on offer if you live on your own. However, have you considered a small or standard double bed?

Of course it depends on if you have enough room in your bedroom, but, the additional sleeping space, allowing you to really spread out and get comfortable and the additional storage space is certainly an attractive proposition.

If you’re a couple on the lookout for a new storage bed, then these are the starting point for you, but again, if your bedroom and budget allows it, have you considered a king or super king size storage bed? These are the ultimate choices when it comes to storage beds, offering a luxurious experience and plenty of storage space for your belongings.

Choices, Choices, Choices

As you can see, there’s lots to consider when choosing the right storage bed for you and your needs. We’ve not even touched upon mattresses and everything to consider when choosing one either. But the best way to approach picking your new storage bed is to have fun with it. Order fabric samples, visit stores to touch, feel and see for yourself which size works for you and then shop around online to find the best combination of product and price that suits your needs and budget.

Here at Magna Beds, we have plenty of storage beds to choose from in a variety of fabric finishes and colours, so be sure to check them out on your shopping journey for a storage bed.