Double Ottoman Bed UK: The Complete Buying Guide
The double ottoman bed is one of the most popular bed types in the UK — and with good reason. A standard double gives most couples the sleeping space they need without dominating a room, and an ottoman base turns the wasted void beneath the mattress into genuinely usable storage. For the vast majority of UK master bedrooms, it's the most practical combination available.
This guide covers everything you need to know before buying: what makes a double ottoman different from other storage beds, how to choose the right opening mechanism for your room, which fabrics work best, how to pair it with the right mattress, and what the key quality indicators are when comparing models.
What Is a Double Ottoman Bed?
A double ottoman bed is a bed measuring 135 cm wide by 190 cm long — the standard UK double size — built on an ottoman storage base. The defining feature of an ottoman base is its hydraulic gas lift mechanism: rather than pulling out side drawers to access under-bed storage, you lift the mattress from the foot end or the side, and the entire sleeping platform rises smoothly to reveal a large, open storage space beneath.
That storage space spans the full footprint of the bed — typically around 125 cm wide, 175 cm long, and 40–50 cm deep — giving you significantly more capacity than even a 4-drawer divan. In practice, it's large enough for multiple sets of bedding, out-of-season clothing, towels, and the kind of bulky items that typically end up stacked in the bottom of a wardrobe.
For UK homes — where bedrooms are rarely as spacious as we'd like — a double ottoman bed does two jobs at once: it gives you a comfortable, properly-sized sleeping surface and quietly solves the storage problem without requiring any additional furniture.
Double Ottoman Bed Dimensions: The Essentials
Before committing to any bed, it's worth being precise about dimensions — both the bed itself and how it relates to your room.
| Measurement | Standard UK Double Ottoman |
|---|---|
| Bed width | 135 cm (4 ft 6 in) |
| Bed length | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) |
| Mattress size | 135 × 190 cm |
| Typical storage depth | 40–50 cm |
| Typical overall frame width | 145–150 cm (including upholstered sides) |
| Recommended minimum room width | 3.0 m |
| Recommended minimum room length | 3.5 m (allowing walking space) |
The general rule is to leave at least 60 cm of clear space on each side of the bed you need to walk past, and at least 70–80 cm at the foot if your ottoman opens from that end. In a room exactly 3 metres wide, a 135 cm double leaves you 82 cm on each side if centred — perfectly comfortable.
If you're still deciding between a double and another size, our complete UK bed sizes guide includes a full room-by-room layout breakdown.
How Does the Ottoman Storage Mechanism Work?
The gas lift is what makes an ottoman bed so practical — and understanding it helps you distinguish a well-built model from a poor one.
Hydraulic Gas Pistons
Quality ottoman bases use hydraulic gas pistons — the same technology found in car boots — positioned along the hinge of the base. When you lift the mattress, the pistons compress and hold the platform at full extension without you needing to support the weight manually. A well-engineered system opens with minimal effort, stays securely open while you access storage, and lowers smoothly under control when you're done.
On lower-quality beds, weaker pistons require significant effort to open, fail to hold the platform fully extended, or drop suddenly when released. These are signs of a base that will wear out or become frustrating quickly — always check reviews specifically for comments on the gas lift mechanism before purchasing.
Foot-End Opening vs Side-Opening
Double ottomans come in two opening configurations, and this choice matters depending on your room layout:
- Foot-end opening — the mattress hinges from the headboard end and lifts from the foot. Most common and easiest to use, but requires 70–80 cm of clear space at the foot of the bed to lift fully. If your bed sits close to a wall, wardrobe, or radiator at the foot end, this can be a problem.
- Side-opening — the mattress hinges from the opposite side and lifts laterally. Useful in rooms where foot clearance is restricted but there's space along one side of the bed.
Always measure your room and check which direction the ottoman opens before ordering. This is one of the most commonly overlooked details — and one of the most frustrating to discover after delivery.
Double Ottoman Bed vs Double Divan with Drawers
Both are upholstered, both provide under-bed storage, and both are sensible choices for a UK bedroom. The right one depends on what you're storing and how your room is laid out.
| Feature | Double Ottoman Bed | Double Divan (4 Drawers) |
|---|---|---|
| Storage access | Full lift-up base | Side drawers |
| Storage volume | Very large — full base depth | Moderate — drawer depth only |
| Best for storing | Duvets, suitcases, bulky items | Clothing, linen, smaller items |
| Clearance needed | Foot or side space to lift | Side space to open drawers |
| Base surface | Solid platform top | Platform or sprung |
| Price point | Mid-range to premium | Budget to mid-range |
| Assembly complexity | Moderate | Minimal |
For a room where the bed sits between two bedside tables with generous side clearance, either option works. For a room where drawers would clash with furniture or the door, an ottoman is often the cleaner solution. Our Ottoman vs Divan comparison guide goes into this in full detail if you're weighing up both options.
Choosing the Right Fabric for Your Double Ottoman Bed
Upholstered ottoman beds come in a range of fabric finishes, and this choice affects both the look and the day-to-day practicality of the bed. Here are the main options and who each suits.
Woven Fabric (Linen-Effect and Plain Weaves)
Plain woven fabric is the most popular choice across UK bedrooms. It's warm to the touch, versatile in most colour schemes, and tends to age well. Neutral shades — oatmeal, dove grey, stone, mink, and warm white — are the most adaptable and work with almost any soft furnishing combination. If you want a double ottoman that will work equally well through multiple redecorations, a quality woven fabric in a neutral tone is the safest long-term choice.
Crushed Velvet
Crushed velvet has remained consistently popular in UK bedrooms for several years. Its light-reflective quality adds a sense of luxury and warmth, particularly in deeper tones like midnight blue, charcoal, forest green, slate grey, and plum. A double ottoman in crushed velvet makes a genuine design statement without requiring additional styling — the fabric does the work. Our crushed velvet ottoman bed guide covers this style in much more detail.
Faux Leather
Faux leather ottoman beds have a contemporary, clean look and are the most practical upholstery choice for families — easy to wipe down, resistant to moisture, and unlikely to trap odours. The trade-off is that they feel cooler to the touch in winter and tend to look more formal than fabric. In the right room — a minimalist, contemporary space with neutral tones — a faux leather ottoman looks sharp and intentional.
Bouclé and Textured Weaves
Bouclé and tactile textured fabrics have moved firmly into mainstream UK bedroom design. They suit a warm, layered interior aesthetic — natural materials, organic shapes, muted tones — and add a sense of considered craftsmanship. If you're building a bedroom around natural wood, linen bedding, and warm lighting, a bouclé ottoman base fits that direction very naturally.
Headboard Options for Double Ottoman Beds
Most double ottoman beds are sold with a matching headboard, or with a headboard available as a separate purchase. The headboard choice significantly affects the overall feel of the bed in the room — both its visual weight and the sleeping experience.
Panel Headboards
A simple upholstered panel headboard keeps the bed profile clean and low. It's a versatile, understated choice that works in almost any bedroom style, and it tends to suit rooms with lower ceilings or where the bed is one element among several rather than the room's focal point.
Winged Headboards
A winged headboard — where the upholstery extends sideways beyond the width of the mattress to create wraparound side panels — is currently the most popular headboard style in UK bedrooms. It adds a sense of enclosure and hotel-like luxury that transforms the sleeping area into something that feels deliberately designed rather than functional. On a double ottoman in velvet or fabric, a winged headboard is the combination that dominates Pinterest boards and interior design guides for good reason.
High Headboards
A tall, dramatic headboard creates a strong vertical focal point that makes the bedroom feel taller and more considered. This is the boutique hotel aesthetic applied to a domestic bedroom, and it works particularly well in rooms with higher ceilings or where the bed is the clear centrepiece of the space. Our high headboard beds collection includes double options in a range of fabrics and heights.
Which Mattress Works Best with a Double Ottoman?
Ottoman bases use a solid, flat platform top — meaning the mattress rests on a firm, even surface rather than on sprung slats. This makes them compatible with almost every mattress type, but certain options perform particularly well.
Pocket Sprung Mattresses
A pocket sprung mattress is the most popular pairing for a double ottoman in the UK. Independent springs respond to each sleeper's weight and movement separately, which reduces motion transfer — a meaningful advantage for couples who go to bed at different times or have different sleeping patterns. The firm platform top provides a stable base that allows the spring system to work as designed. Our pocket sprung vs memory foam comparison is worth reading before you decide.
Memory Foam Mattresses
Memory foam performs excellently on a solid platform top, which provides the even, rigid resistance the foam needs to compress and recover correctly. For couples who share a bed and want to minimise disturbance from each other's movement, a memory foam mattress on a double ottoman is a particularly effective pairing. The foam's motion-isolating properties combine with the platform top's stability to produce a very settled, undisturbed sleeping surface.
Hybrid Mattresses
Hybrid mattresses — pocket springs topped with memory foam or latex comfort layers — offer the responsiveness of springs with the pressure relief of foam, and they perform well on an ottoman platform top. They're heavier than traditional mattresses (typically 30–50 kg for a double), so it's worth checking the gas lift rating of any base you're considering, though most quality double ottomans are rated to handle the combined load comfortably.
For more detailed mattress guidance, our complete mattress buying guide covers every type with practical buying advice.
What to Check Before Buying a Double Ottoman Bed
Ottoman beds vary considerably in build quality. Here are the specific things worth examining — either in person or via detailed product specifications and reviews — before committing.
Frame Construction
The internal frame should be solid timber. A quality double ottoman base is heavy — typically 35–55 kg assembled — because the materials are substantial. Press gently on the corners of the base: there should be no flex or movement. A base that feels hollow, light, or shifts underfoot is a sign of poor-quality internal construction.
Gas Piston Quality and Rating
Check the weight rating of the gas pistons. Most quality double ottoman bases are rated for a mattress weight of 25–50 kg and an occupant weight of 150–300 kg or more. Weaker pistons show their limitations quickly — either requiring two hands and significant effort to open, or failing to stay open at full extension. Look for models that specify the piston rating and back it up with customer reviews confirming easy, smooth operation.
Upholstery Finish
Quality upholstery should be taut and evenly wrapped with no visible puckering, loose sections, or misaligned seams. On velvet finishes, the pile should be consistent with no bald patches. At the corners and edges, the fabric should be neatly folded and secured rather than stretched unevenly. Poor upholstery finish is one of the clearest indicators of overall build quality.
Opening Direction and Clearance
As covered above — always confirm which direction the ottoman opens and measure accordingly. Some models specify this clearly; others don't. If in doubt, contact the retailer before ordering.
Headboard Stability
If a headboard is included or purchased separately, check how it attaches. A quality strut fitting holds the headboard rigidly against the base with no movement. A headboard that rocks or wobbles when you lean against it is frustrating on a bed you use every night.
Styling a Double Ottoman Bed: Room Ideas
One of the genuine pleasures of choosing an upholstered ottoman bed is how well it adapts to different interior directions. Here are four popular approaches for UK bedrooms.
Calm and Neutral
A double ottoman in oatmeal or light grey fabric with a simple panel headboard, white bedding, and natural wood bedside tables. Clean, relaxed, and easy to live with. Works in almost any bedroom regardless of wall colour or floor finish. This is the most popular direction for UK buyers and for good reason — it's timeless and genuinely restful.
Boutique Hotel
Crushed velvet or bouclé in a warm neutral — taupe, camel, warm grey, or sage — with a tall winged headboard, layered bedding in tonal colours, and soft, warm lighting. This is the direction that consistently performs well on interior design platforms and creates a bedroom that feels genuinely luxurious rather than simply functional.
Contemporary Dark
A double ottoman in charcoal, slate, or deep navy velvet with a high headboard. Paired with darker walls — deep green, navy, or charcoal — and metallic accents. Works best in rooms with good natural light or well-planned artificial lighting. A strong, graphic look that suits contemporary and industrial-influenced interiors.
Warm and Tactile
Bouclé or textured linen-effect fabric in sand, ivory, or terracotta. Natural wood furniture, woven rugs, linen bedding. This aesthetic has grown significantly in UK popularity over the past two years and suits both new builds and older properties equally well.
For the full range of double ottoman options across all fabric finishes, our ottoman beds collection is the best place to start.
FAQ: Double Ottoman Beds UK
What size is a double ottoman bed?
A double ottoman bed measures 135 cm wide by 190 cm long — 4 ft 6 in by 6 ft 3 in in imperial. This is the standard UK double size and requires a 135 × 190 cm mattress. The overall bed frame is typically slightly wider than the mattress, around 145–150 cm including the upholstered sides.
How much storage does a double ottoman bed provide?
Most double ottoman bases provide a storage area of approximately 125 cm wide, 175 cm long, and 40–50 cm deep. The exact dimensions vary by model, but in practical terms this is large enough for multiple full duvet sets, several bags of out-of-season clothing, or a combination of bedding and household textiles. It's significantly more storage than a 4-drawer divan.
Is a double ottoman bed suitable for a small bedroom?
Yes — a double ottoman can work well in a smaller bedroom, provided there's sufficient clearance at the foot or side for the mechanism to open. The integrated storage removes the need for a separate chest of drawers, which can free up meaningful floor space. As a minimum, allow 3 metres of room width and 3.5 metres of room length.
Can one person operate a double ottoman alone?
Yes — a well-made double ottoman with quality gas pistons should be easy to open with one hand. The pistons do the work of supporting the mattress weight. On cheaper models with weaker pistons, solo operation can require more effort. Always check user reviews for comments on ease of use before purchasing.
Do double ottoman beds come with a mattress?
Some models are sold as a bed and mattress set; others as a base only. Buying a set is often more cost-effective than purchasing separately, and many retailers allow you to choose a mattress type to pair with your chosen base. If you're buying a base only, ensure you order a correctly sized double mattress — 135 × 190 cm.
How long does a double ottoman bed last?
A well-built double ottoman base should last 10–15 years with normal use. The gas lift pistons are the component most likely to need attention over that timeframe; quality pistons from established manufacturers typically carry a 2–5 year warranty. The upholstered finish should remain presentable for 8–10 years with reasonable care and occasional cleaning.
Are double ottoman beds noisy?
A quality double ottoman should be silent in normal use — no creaking from the frame, no noise from the gas mechanism during opening and closing. A base that creaks when you move during the night is typically a sign of poor internal construction or loose joinery. This is another area where checking customer reviews before purchasing pays dividends.
What is the weight limit of a double ottoman bed?
Most quality double ottoman beds are rated for a combined occupant weight of 200–300 kg or more, with mattress weights of up to 50 kg. Always check the specific weight rating in the product specifications, particularly if you're opting for a heavier hybrid or latex mattress or if combined sleeper weight is a consideration.
Conclusion
A double ottoman bed is the default sensible choice for most UK master bedrooms — comfortable for two, practical for storage, and available in enough styles and fabrics to suit almost any interior direction.
Choosing well means paying attention to the gas lift mechanism quality, the frame construction, the opening direction relative to your room layout, and the upholstery finish. Get those four things right and you'll have a bed that works well and looks great for well over a decade.
Whether you're drawn to the warmth of a fabric finish, the texture of crushed velvet, or the contemporary appeal of bouclé, our ottoman beds collection has double options in every major fabric and colour. If you're also weighing up divan storage beds with drawers, our divan beds collection and storage beds range cover those options in full — including double, king, and super king sizes across both storage types.
