Storage is an essential element of every home, accommodating a wide range of items—from glassware and crockery to clothes and bedding. Bedrooms are the most personal spaces in the home, where we store the items we access daily, including clothes, shoes, jewelry, and sometimes toiletries and books.
Personal storage needs differ in both type and size, but it’s beneficial for everyone to create a well-planned storage system tailored to their needs. Within the bedroom, storage can take various forms, such as built-in cupboards, freestanding wardrobes, chests of drawers, shelving, bedside units, dressing tables with drawers, and even wooden storage beds.
Different Types of Storage Beds
There are many types of beds, some of which are more distinctive than others, including various traditional designs. These include beds with old-fashioned cast iron or brass bedsteads, four-poster beds (in metal or wood), and lavish canopied beds.
However, today’s most common beds feature a comfortable mattress on a base, often padded. You can buy relatively solid base and mattress sets, or you can opt for a mattress with a wooden slatted base or one of the traditional types, whether old or new.
If you’re short on space, it’s worth exploring space-saving solutions, including dual-purpose furniture. In the bedroom, one of the most popular space-savers is the wooden storage bed, though some stylish leather beds also incorporate storage. A popular option for guest rooms is a single bed with a second bed that slides away, or you might prefer a contemporary daybed that doubles as a couch.
If wood is your preferred material, the two most common types are pine and oak (in that order). Wood is often spray-painted to make the bed a bold part of your color scheme—a great choice for children’s rooms. Although you may not see it, wood is also used in most padded and upholstered bases.
Another distinction you’ll encounter when shopping for beds is the divan versus the ottoman-type bed.
Divans have been around for decades. Essentially, they are beds with a thick base and traditionally didn’t include a headboard. Instead, divans were often paired with a padded board, mounted on the wall at the bed’s head. The advantage of this design is that the headboard could be any style—modern or traditional—and easily replaced. Some contemporary divans come with headboards, but even without one, a divan can double as a long, low seat, especially if covered with an attractive throw or tailored cover and decorated with soft, comfortable cushions.
Strictly speaking, an ottoman is a large box with a soft top. Ottoman beds, a modern variation, are large upholstered boxes with storage underneath the mattress. These were popular during the Victorian era and were originally used as backless, armless seats or footrests.
As ordinary middle-class homes become smaller and more sustainable, storage space has become a premium. Instead of a bed base that only supports the mattress, many manufacturers now create beds that also provide extra storage. The amount of storage space depends on the height of the bed base, design, and the type of storage incorporated.
A particularly popular design is the mattress that tilts upwards to reveal storage space beneath it. This design is ideal for bulky items that you don’t need every day, such as spare duvets, extra pillows, or winter blankets. Alternatively, you could store heavy jackets and jerseys that you don’t wear during the warmer months, or lighter clothing for the summer.
There are two similar designs of tilting storage beds: one that tilts from the bottom towards the headboard and another that tilts sideways. Despite the hollow base, comfort is unaffected, as a good design features a fully sprung slatted base to support your body. When the mattress is lifted, the base is too.
Another popular option is a bed with drawers that slide out from the base. Some of these beds offer generous storage with one large drawer, while others, such as guest beds, feature as many as six drawers beneath the mattress.
Divan beds often feature drawer storage, while newer ottoman-type beds are designed to tilt.
Obviously, the more storage space a bed offers, the higher it will be. For example, children’s bunk beds provide a significant amount of storage, especially if they include shelves and cupboards as part of the design (rather than just a second bunk underneath the top bunk).
A well-designed children’s sleep station may include a two-door cupboard at the foot of the bed, an attractive bookshelf, four middle drawers, and even a pull-out desk at the head. Like any other bunk or “cabin” bed, these designs come with step ladders for kids to climb up and rails along the sides to prevent them from falling out.
Generally, the more storage a bed offers, the more expensive it will be. Of course, the quality of the mattress also affects the price. However, as with all beds, it’s advisable to invest in the best-quality mattress you can afford—not only for a good night’s sleep but also for health reasons.
