Most UK bedrooms run out of storage long before they run out of floor space. Wardrobes fill up, the loft is a nightmare to get into, and suddenly your spare duvet lives on top of the wardrobe in a bin bag. That is usually the moment people start looking at storage beds and land on the same question: ottoman bed vs divan bed, which one actually works better?
Both give you storage under the mattress. They just do it in completely different ways, and the right pick depends on your room shape, your ceiling height, and how often you plan to open that storage. Here is the honest breakdown, from people who build these beds by hand in the UK every week.
What Is a Divan Bed?
A divan bed is a solid upholstered base that sits on the floor, with the mattress resting on top. Storage comes from drawers built into the side or the foot of the base. You pick how many you want when you order.
Standard divan storage options in the UK:
- No drawers if you only want the clean base look
- 2 drawers on one side
- 4 drawers, two on each side
- End drawer for beds pushed against a wall
The drawers pull straight out, so you get to them in a second without lifting anything.
What Is an Ottoman Bed?
An ottoman bed uses gas lift pistons. The whole mattress platform lifts up on a hinge, and underneath you get one huge open storage compartment that runs almost the full size of the bed.
Ottoman beds open in two ways:
- Side lift, which is handy when the bed sits against a wall or in a corner
- End lift, which suits rooms where you have clear space at the foot of the bed
At Bonanza Sleep every ottoman comes as a full ottoman divan base, so you get the same upholstered finish and the same handmade build, just with a lifting top instead of drawers.
Ottoman Bed vs Divan Bed: The Short Answer
If you want the most storage possible, go ottoman. If you want the easiest daily access, go divan.
| Ottoman Bed | Divan Bed | |
|---|---|---|
| Storage type | One large open compartment | Separate pull out drawers |
| Storage volume | Very high | Moderate |
| Access speed | Lift the base each time | Open a drawer |
| Side clearance needed | None | 40 to 60cm per drawer side |
| Ceiling height needed | Around 2m clear above | None |
| Best for | Bulky, seasonal, occasional items | Daily clothes and bedding |
| Typical starting price | From around £250 | From around £250 |
Storage: How Much You Really Get
This is where the two beds separate properly.
What fits in an ottoman
A double ottoman gives you roughly 600 to 800 litres of space in one open box. No dividers, no drawer walls eating into the volume. That means you can fit things that simply will not go in a drawer:
- Suitcases and holiday luggage
- Spare duvets, winter bedding and pillows
- Boxed shoes and out of season coats
- Kids toys, sports kit, Christmas decorations
A king ottoman swallows even more. For a lot of our customers, the ottoman replaces a whole chest of drawers or a loft trip.
What fits in a divan
Four divan drawers give you less total volume, maybe 40 to 50 percent of an ottoman, but the space is already organised. One drawer for bedding, one for gym kit, one for the kids. You reach in with one hand while holding a coffee in the other.
The trade off is real. Drawers are quicker but smaller. Ottomans are bigger but slower.
Room Size Decides More Than You Think
Before you fall in love with either style, measure your room.
Divan drawers need side clearance. A drawer pulls out around 40 to 60cm. If your bed sits in an alcove, or there is a radiator, wardrobe door or bedroom door in the way, that drawer will not open fully. This catches people out constantly in smaller UK bedrooms and box rooms.
Ottoman beds need height, not width. The base lifts to roughly 1.5 to 2 metres. If you have a sloped ceiling, a loft conversion, or a low beam over the bed, check it before you order. Otherwise an ottoman is brilliant in tight rooms because it takes zero floor space to open.
Quick rule of thumb: narrow room with clear ceiling, choose ottoman. Wide room with a low or sloped ceiling, choose divan.
Daily Use and Effort
Gas lift pistons do most of the work on an ottoman, so lifting the base is easier than people expect. Even so, you have to take pillows and cushions off first, and you cannot open it while someone is lying on the bed. If you need something from under there every single morning, that gets old fast.
Divan drawers stay usable no matter what. Bed made, partner asleep, does not matter. You just pull.
So ask yourself a simple question: is this storage for things you touch daily, or things you touch four times a year?
Cost and Value
Prices sit closer together than most people assume. Our divan beds start around £249 and ottoman divan beds start around £249 too, with wingback and Chesterfield styles sitting a little higher. Both come with free UK delivery.
Value wise, an ottoman often saves you buying extra furniture. If it stops you needing a blanket box, a storage bench and a loft ladder, it pays for itself.
Comfort and Support
Neither bed type changes how you sleep. Comfort comes from your mattress, not the base. Both ottoman and divan bases give you a firm, even, fully supported surface, which suits pocket sprung and memory foam mattresses equally well.
One small note. Ottoman platforms are usually slatted or solid boarded under the upholstery, and both work fine with any standard UK mattress. Just avoid pairing a very heavy mattress with a cheap ottoman mechanism, because weak pistons struggle. Handmade UK bases with proper gas lifts handle heavy mattresses without complaint.
Choose an Ottoman Bed If
- Your bedroom is small and floor space is tight
- You need to store bulky, awkward items
- You have no loft or garage
- You want maximum storage from one piece of furniture
- Your ceiling gives you clear height above the bed
Choose a Divan Bed If
- You want fast, everyday access
- You have space at the sides for drawers to open
- You have a low or sloped ceiling
- You prefer storage that is already sorted into sections
- Lifting anything heavy is a problem for you
Can You Get Both?
Yes, and plenty of people do. A wingback ottoman in the main bedroom for the bulky things, and a divan with two drawers in the guest room or the kids room. Because both bases use the same upholstery, headboards and fabrics, you can match them across the house without the rooms clashing.
Styling Your Choice
Storage is the practical bit, but the bed still has to look right. Across both ranges you can pick your fabric, colour, headboard height and base style. Headboards run from a standard 54 inches up to 95 inches for a proper statement wall, and wingback, Chesterfield and panelled designs all work on either base.
Not sure how a colour will actually look in your light? Order fabric swatches first and hold them against your wall. It takes a few days and saves a lot of regret.
Ready to Pick Your Bed?
Every Bonanza Sleep bed is handcrafted in the UK using solid hardwood from sustainable sources, delivered free anywhere in the UK by a two man team who bring it to the room of your choice. You can add assembly at checkout, spread the cost with Klarna or Clearpay, and lean on our 5 star reviews if you need reassurance before you buy.
Have a look at the ottoman beds and divan beds collections, or message us on WhatsApp at +44 7529 903256 and tell us your room measurements. We will tell you honestly which one fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is an ottoman bed better than a divan bed for storage?
For sheer volume, yes. An ottoman gives you one open compartment under the whole mattress, which holds roughly twice what four divan drawers hold. Divans win on convenience because you can open a drawer in seconds without moving pillows. So the better bed depends on whether you value capacity or speed. If you are storing suitcases and spare duvets, ottoman. If you are storing tomorrow's clothes, divan.
2. Do ottoman beds need a lot of space to open?
They need height rather than floor space. The base lifts to around 1.5 to 2 metres depending on the size of the bed, so check for sloped ceilings, low beams or shelves above the bed. On the floor you need almost nothing, which is why ottomans suit small UK bedrooms and box rooms so well. Side lift models are the safest choice when the bed sits in a corner or alcove.
3. How much clearance do divan drawers need?
Allow 40 to 60cm of clear space beside the bed for each drawer to open fully. Radiators, wardrobe doors, bedside tables and the bedroom door itself can all block a drawer. If your bed sits against a wall on one side, choose two drawers on the open side or an end drawer instead of four.
4. Are ottoman beds hard to lift?
No. Gas lift pistons carry most of the weight, so the base rises with light pressure and stays open on its own. You do need to clear pillows and cushions off first, and you cannot open it while someone is on the bed. Anyone with a shoulder or back injury may still prefer drawers for daily use.
5. Which bed is best for a small UK bedroom?
An ottoman, in most cases. It uses zero extra floor space when you open it, and it can replace a chest of drawers or a blanket box entirely. The only thing that rules it out is low ceiling height. If your ceiling slopes over the bed, a divan with an end drawer is usually the smarter fit.
6. Do ottoman and divan beds come in all UK sizes?
Yes. Both come in single, small double, double, king and super king. Sizes match standard UK mattress dimensions, so any UK mattress you already own will fit. If you are replacing an older bed, measure your existing mattress before ordering rather than assuming the size.
7. Can I use my existing mattress on an ottoman bed?
Usually yes, as long as it is a standard UK size. Very heavy mattresses can strain weaker gas lift mechanisms on cheaper imported beds, so check the weight rating. Handmade UK ottoman bases are built to handle pocket sprung and memory foam mattresses without any issue.
8. Is an ottoman bed more expensive than a divan?
Only slightly, and the ranges overlap heavily. Both start around the same price point, with wingback, Chesterfield and mirrored designs costing more on either base. Once you factor in the furniture an ottoman can replace, the cost difference often disappears.
9. Can I choose the fabric and headboard on both bed types?
Yes. Fabric, colour, headboard height and base style are all customisable across both ranges, with headboards from 54 inches up to 95 inches. Order fabric swatches before you commit so you can see the material in your own bedroom lighting rather than on a screen.
10. How are ottoman and divan beds delivered in the UK?
Both arrive by a two man team who bring the bed to your room of choice, with free delivery across mainland UK. Optional assembly is available for a fee and includes packaging removal. Ottoman beds arrive in sections and go together in under an hour, so you do not need to worry about getting a huge assembled base up the stairs.
