Double Beds with Storage Buying Guide
A double bed takes up considerably more floor space than a single, so it makes sense to ask whether that space can do more than simply provide somewhere to sleep.
A double bed with storage can combine a comfortable sleeping area with useful drawers, shelving or a large hidden storage compartment underneath the mattress. This can be particularly useful in a teenager's bedroom, guest room or smaller adult bedroom where adding a separate chest of drawers isn't practical.
At Family Window, our range includes double beds with drawers, shelves and cubby holes, as well as lift-up ottoman double beds with large storage areas underneath.
But which type is right for you?
Why Choose a Double Bed with Storage?
The main advantage of a storage double bed is that it makes use of space that would otherwise be occupied by the bed without providing any additional storage.
Instead of having:
Bed + Chest of Drawers + Storage Boxes
you can potentially have:
Double Bed + Built-In Storage
This can be particularly useful when furnishing a teenager's bedroom, where clothes, bedding, books, gaming equipment and other belongings can quickly take up valuable floor space.
Storage can also help keep the room looking tidier by providing somewhere to put things away rather than leaving them around the bedroom.
What Types of Double Beds with Storage Are Available?
There are several different approaches to incorporating storage into a double bed.
The two main types are:
Double beds with drawers
These have individual drawers built into the bed frame, making them convenient for items that you need to access regularly.
Ottoman double beds
With an ottoman bed, the mattress base lifts up to reveal a large storage compartment underneath.
Some beds combine several storage options, such as drawers, shelves and an ottoman compartment.
The right choice depends largely on what you want to store and how frequently you need to access it.
Double Beds with Storage Drawers
Storage drawers are one of the simplest ways to add storage to a double bed.
Depending on the design, drawers can be used for:
- Clothes
- Bedding
- Shoes
- Toys
- Books
- Games
- School equipment
- Other bedroom essentials
The advantage of drawers is accessibility. You can open one drawer and retrieve what you need without having to lift the mattress or empty a large storage compartment.
Double Bed with 3 Storage Drawers & Cubby Holes
The Dream Double Bed by Parisot combines three drawers with additional shelving and cubby holes.
It provides storage at the bottom of the bed as well as open storage on either side, making it useful if you want everyday items to remain easily accessible. The bed requires a 140 x 190cm mattress, so it is particularly important to check the required mattress dimensions rather than assuming every "double" bed takes the same mattress.
Double Beds with Lots of Storage
If storage capacity is one of your main priorities, look at designs that combine several different storage areas.
For example, the Jazz Double Bed by Trasman combines four drawers with two pull-out storage units. It is one of the most storage-heavy double beds in our current range.
This type of design can be particularly useful when you are trying to reduce the amount of additional furniture needed in the bedroom.
Before buying, however, check exactly where the drawers and pull-out units are positioned.
A storage bed may provide plenty of capacity but still need sufficient clearance around it for the drawers to open properly.
Double Beds with Shelves and Cubby Holes
Not everything needs to be hidden away.
Open shelves and cubby holes can be useful for items you want to keep close to hand or display.
For example:
- Books
- Decorative items
- Games
- Small storage boxes
- Alarm clocks
- Personal belongings
The Most Double Bed by Parisot combines three storage drawers with shelving and cubby holes, giving you a mixture of closed and open storage.
This can be a good compromise if you want the convenience of drawers but also want some easily accessible shelving.
Ottoman Double Beds
An ottoman double bed works differently from a drawer storage bed.
Instead of pulling out individual drawers, the mattress platform lifts upwards to reveal a large storage area underneath.
The advantage is that the storage compartment can extend across a large proportion of the bed's footprint.
This makes ottoman storage particularly useful for larger items such as:
- Spare duvets
- Pillows
- Blankets
- Seasonal clothing
- Suitcases
- Storage boxes
- Less frequently used belongings
Because the storage is concealed underneath the mattress, the bedroom can also have a cleaner appearance.
Lift-Up Ottoman Double Beds
The Kids Avenue Heritage Lift-Up Ottoman Double Storage Bed is a good example of a conventional-height double bed with hidden storage.
The mattress base lifts up to provide access to the storage space underneath, while the bed retains a relatively simple appearance when closed. The collection also includes the Heritage version in small double, which can be useful where a full double is simply too wide for the room.
For someone who needs a lot of hidden storage rather than several smaller drawers, an ottoman bed can be an attractive option.
Double Ottoman Bed with Drawers and Shelving
Some designs go further and combine different types of storage.
The Travel 3 Double Ottoman Storage Bed by Parisot, for example, combines a lift-up mattress frame with a large storage drawer, full-length shelving and open storage compartments.
This kind of design can be particularly useful when the bed needs to provide much of the storage in the room.
It is worth considering whether you actually need this much storage, though. A bed with more compartments isn't automatically the right choice if you only need somewhere to keep spare bedding.
Ottoman Bed or Double Bed with Drawers?
Both have advantages.
| Feature | Ottoman Double Bed | Double Bed with Drawers |
|---|---|---|
| Storage capacity | Often very large | Depends on number and size of drawers |
| Best for | Bulky or infrequently used items | Everyday belongings |
| Access | Lift the mattress base | Open individual drawers |
| Bedding storage | Excellent | Good |
| Clothes | Good | Excellent |
| Suitcases | Excellent | Usually less suitable |
| Everyday access | Less convenient | Very convenient |
| Visible storage | Usually hidden | Drawers visible |
An ottoman bed can therefore be particularly useful if your priority is maximum concealed storage.
A drawer bed may be better if you regularly need to access the things you're storing.
Small Double Beds with Storage
If you want the benefits of a double bed but don't have enough room for a full-size double, consider a small double storage bed.
A typical UK small double mattress measures approximately 120 x 190cm, compared with approximately 135 x 190cm for a standard UK double.
That 15cm reduction in width can make a surprisingly significant difference in a smaller bedroom.
For example, the Achille Small Double Bed by Parisot combines two storage drawers with cubby holes while taking up less width than a standard double.
Family Window also stocks the Kids Avenue Heritage Small Double Ottoman Bed, giving you the option of lift-up storage in the smaller format.
Double or Small Double: Which Should You Choose?
Before choosing a size, measure the bedroom carefully.
A double bed isn't just about whether the mattress fits.
You also need to consider:
- Space to walk around the bed
- Wardrobe doors
- Bedroom doors
- Windows
- Radiators
- Bedside tables
- Drawers
- Other furniture
- Clearance required to open storage
For a drawer bed, check that the drawers can be pulled out fully.
For an ottoman bed, check that there is enough space for the lift-up mechanism to operate and that nothing above or beside the bed will obstruct it.
Check the Mattress Size Carefully
One of the most important things to check when buying a double storage bed is the actual mattress size required.
The word "double" doesn't necessarily mean that every bed uses exactly the same mattress dimensions.
For example, our range includes beds designed for different mattress sizes, including UK double and 140 x 190cm European-style double mattresses. The Dream Double Bed, for example, requires a 140 x 190cm mattress.
Always check the individual product specification before buying a mattress.
If you're replacing an existing mattress, measure it rather than relying solely on the label.
How Much Storage Do You Need?
It's easy to assume that more storage is always better, but think about what you actually want to keep in the bed.
For clothes
Look for drawers that are easy to access.
For bedding
Large drawers or an ottoman compartment can work well.
For suitcases
An ottoman bed is generally more suitable than shallow drawers.
For books and everyday items
Shelving and cubby holes can be particularly useful.
For seasonal clothing
A large concealed ottoman compartment can provide useful out-of-season storage.
Think about what you're storing before choosing the bed, rather than choosing a bed simply because it has the largest number of storage compartments.
Double Beds with Storage for Teenagers
A double bed can be a particularly useful choice for a teenager.
It provides considerably more sleeping space than a single and can continue to be used as they get older.
Adding storage can make the extra floor space occupied by the larger bed more useful.
For example, a teenager's bedroom might benefit from:
Double bed + clothes storage + bedding storage
rather than:
Double bed + separate chest of drawers + additional storage boxes
A double bed can therefore be a long-term choice that works from the teenage years into adulthood.
For more information about choosing the right size, see our Double Bed Buying Guide.
Double Storage Beds for Guest Rooms
Double beds with storage aren't just for children's and teenagers' bedrooms.
They can also be useful in a guest bedroom.
A guest room may spend much of the year unused, so an ottoman double bed can provide somewhere to store:
- Spare bedding
- Towels
- Blankets
- Suitcases
- Seasonal clothes
That means the bedroom can provide useful storage even when nobody is sleeping in it.
What to Check Before Buying a Double Bed with Storage
Before ordering, check the following:
1. What mattress size does it require?
Don't assume every double bed uses the same mattress.
2. What type of storage does it provide?
Drawers, shelves, cubby holes and ottoman storage all work differently.
3. How large are the storage compartments?
Check the actual dimensions rather than simply counting drawers.
4. Can the storage be accessed?
Make sure drawers have enough clearance and that an ottoman mechanism can operate properly.
5. What are the overall bed dimensions?
The mattress dimensions don't tell you the complete footprint of the bed.
6. Who will use the bed?
Consider whether it is for a child, teenager, adult or guests.
7. Will it still work as the child gets older?
A double bed can potentially last much longer than a smaller children's bed.
8. Do you need home assembly?
Check whether assembly is included or whether an optional assembly service is available.
Double Beds with Storage at Family Window
Our Double Beds with Storage & Ottoman Beds collection includes a selection of double and small double beds with different approaches to storage, including drawer beds, shelving and lift-up ottoman designs.
Some of the options currently include:
Kids Avenue Heritage Ottoman Double Bed
A lift-up storage bed offering a large concealed storage area underneath the mattress.
Parisot Travel 3 Double Ottoman Storage Bed
Combines lift-up storage with a large drawer, shelving and open storage compartments.
Trasman Jazz Double Storage Bed
Combines four drawers with two pull-out storage units for a particularly storage-focused design.
Parisot Most Double Storage Bed
Combines three drawers with shelving and cubby holes.
Parisot Dream Double Storage Bed
Provides three drawers plus additional shelving and cubby-hole storage.
Parisot Achille Small Double Storage Bed
A smaller-width option combining two storage drawers with cubby holes.
View all Double Beds with Storage & Ottoman Beds
Frequently Asked Questions
Are double beds with storage suitable for teenagers?
Yes. A double bed can provide additional sleeping space for a teenager and can continue to be used into adulthood. Storage built into the bed can also reduce the need for additional bedroom furniture.
Are ottoman beds better than drawer beds?
They provide a different type of storage rather than being universally better. Ottoman beds are particularly useful for large or infrequently used items, while drawers can be more convenient for things you access regularly.
What can I store under an ottoman double bed?
Depending on the design and available space, an ottoman bed can be useful for storing bedding, blankets, seasonal clothes, suitcases and other larger belongings.
Does every double bed use a 135 x 190cm mattress?
No. Always check the manufacturer's specification. Some beds sold as double beds use different mattress dimensions. For example, the Parisot Dream Double Bed requires a 140 x 190cm mattress.
Is a small double suitable for teenagers?
A small double can be a useful choice for a teenager when bedroom space is limited. It provides more width than a single while taking up less floor space than a standard double.
Are storage beds suitable for adults?
Yes. Many conventional-height double storage beds are suitable for adults as well as older children and teenagers. The individual product specification should always be checked.
Final Thoughts
A double bed with storage can be a practical way to make better use of bedroom space, particularly when a larger bed would otherwise take up valuable floor area without providing any additional storage.
Start by deciding what you actually need to store.
If you need easy access to clothes and everyday belongings, drawers may be the best option. If you need somewhere for bulky bedding, suitcases or seasonal items, an ottoman bed can provide a much larger concealed storage area. And if you want a mixture of storage types, designs with drawers, shelving and cubby holes can combine several functions in one piece of furniture.
Most importantly, check the overall bed dimensions, available clearance and exact mattress size before ordering.
Explore Double Beds with Storage & Ottoman Beds at Family Window