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The king size ottoman bed is, by a significant margin, the most searched bed type in the UK. More than 33,000 people search for one every month — and it's easy to understand why. A king size bed gives couples proper sleeping space. An ottoman base solves the storage problem that comes with it. Put the two together and you have one of the most practical, stylish, and genuinely useful pieces of furniture you can put in a bedroom.

But with so many options available — different fabrics, opening mechanisms, base constructions, and price points — it can be genuinely difficult to know what to look for. This guide covers everything: what makes a king size ottoman bed different from other storage beds, how to choose the right one for your room, which mattresses work best with an ottoman base, and what separates a well-built bed from one that will frustrate you within a year.

What Is a King Size Ottoman Bed?

A king size ottoman bed is a bed that measures 150 cm wide by 200 cm long — the standard UK king size — built on an ottoman storage base. Rather than using side drawers to access under-bed storage, an ottoman base uses a hydraulic gas lift mechanism. When you lift the mattress from the foot end or the side, the entire sleeping platform rises smoothly on gas pistons, revealing a large, completely open storage space beneath.

That storage space spans the full footprint of the bed — typically around 140 cm wide, 190 cm long, and 40–55 cm deep — giving you significantly more usable capacity than any drawer configuration can offer.

In a king size ottoman, that space is large enough to store:

• Multiple sets of bedding, including spare duvets and pillow sets
• Out-of-season clothing, folded or in vacuum bags
• Towels, blankets, and bulky household textiles
• Suitcases, depending on the base clearance height

For most UK couples, a king size ottoman effectively replaces a chest of drawers or a second wardrobe — which, in bedrooms where space is always at a premium, is a genuinely significant advantage.

King Size Ottoman vs Super King Ottoman: Which Do You Need?

This is a common point of confusion, and the answer comes down to your room dimensions and how you sleep.

A king size bed (150 × 200 cm) is the most popular size for UK couples. It gives both sleepers around 75 cm of personal width — roughly equivalent to a single bed each — which most people find comfortable unless one or both sleepers is particularly tall or broad.

A super king (180 × 200 cm) adds 30 cm of total width — 15 cm per person. That's a noticeable improvement in sleeping comfort, but it requires a larger room to accommodate it without the bed dominating the space.

As a practical guideline:

• King size ottoman — suits bedrooms of approximately 3.5 metres wide and above, comfortably accommodated in most UK master bedrooms
• Super king ottoman — suits bedrooms of 4 metres wide and above; makes a real difference for restless sleepers or those who simply want more room

Our super king ottoman bed guide covers that size in full detail if you want to compare both options side by side. For most UK master bedrooms, a king size ottoman is the right fit.

How the Ottoman Gas Lift Mechanism Works

The defining feature of any ottoman bed — king size or otherwise — is the hydraulic gas lift. Understanding how it works helps you assess quality when comparing models.

Gas Pistons

Quality ottoman bases use hydraulic gas pistons — the same technology found in car boots and office chairs — positioned along the hinge of the base. When you lift the mattress, the pistons compress and then hold the platform open at full extension without you needing to support the weight manually. A well-engineered piston system opens smoothly, holds firmly, and lowers gently under control.

Cheaper ottoman beds often use weaker pistons that either require significant effort to open, don't hold the platform fully open, or drop suddenly when you release them. These are the signs of a base that will wear out or become frustrating within a few years.

Opening Direction: Foot-End vs Side-Opening

King size ottomans are available in two opening configurations:

• Foot-end opening — the mattress hinges from the head of the bed and lifts from the foot end. This is the most common configuration. It requires clear space at the foot of the bed — typically 60–80 cm — for the platform to lift fully without obstruction.
• Side-opening — the mattress hinges from the opposite side and lifts laterally. This is useful in rooms where the foot of the bed is close to a wall, wardrobe, or radiator.

Always check the opening direction before purchasing, and measure your room accordingly. A foot-end opening ottoman positioned with the foot 40 cm from a fitted wardrobe won't open properly — a detail that's frustrating to discover after delivery.

King Size Ottoman Bed Dimensions: What You Need to Know

Before buying any king size bed, it's worth understanding the exact dimensions and how they relate to your room.

The general rule is to leave at least 60–70 cm of clear space on each side of the bed you need to walk past, and at least 80 cm at the foot if your ottoman opens from that end. Our full UK bed sizes guide includes a detailed room sizing breakdown if you want to plan your layout carefully.

Fabric and Finish Options for King Size Ottoman Beds

Ottoman beds are upholstered — meaning the base, and usually the headboard, is wrapped in fabric rather than constructed from visible wood or metal. The choice of upholstery affects both the look and the practical longevity of the bed.

Fabric (Linen-Style and Woven Finishes)

Fabric upholstery is the most popular choice in UK bedrooms. It's warm to the touch, blends naturally with most interior colour schemes, and tends to feel less formal than leather or velvet. Neutral shades — oatmeal, light grey, stone, and warm white — are the most versatile and the easiest to style around changing soft furnishings.

Crushed Velvet

Crushed velvet ottoman beds have been popular in UK homes for several years and remain a strong seller, particularly in deeper jewel tones — midnight blue, charcoal, forest green, and plum. The light-reflecting quality of crushed velvet adds a luxurious, hotel-like quality to a bedroom, and it tends to work well in rooms with good natural light. Our crushed velvet ottoman bed guide covers this finish in detail if it's a style you're drawn to.

Faux Leather

Faux leather ottoman beds have a clean, contemporary look and are the most practical upholstery choice for families or anyone who wants easy-clean surfaces. They wipe down quickly and don't absorb odours or moisture. The trade-off is that they can feel cooler to the touch in winter and tend to look more formal than fabric or velvet.

Bouclé and Textured Weaves

Bouclé and heavily textured fabric finishes have moved into mainstream UK bedroom design over the past couple of years, offering a more artisanal, tactile aesthetic that works well with natural material interiors. If you're drawn to this direction, our bouclé bed frames guide is worth reading alongside this one.

King Size Ottoman Beds and Headboards

Most king size ottoman beds are sold either with a matching headboard included, or as a base with a headboard available separately. This matters practically because it affects the overall height and visual weight of the bed in your room.

Panel Headboards

A simple upholstered panel headboard is the most understated option — clean, contemporary, and versatile. It keeps the overall profile of the bed lower and works particularly well in rooms with lower ceilings.

Winged Headboards

Winged headboards extend sideways beyond the width of the bed, wrapping the sleeping area in an enveloping, cushioned surround. They're extremely popular in current UK interior design, adding a sense of enclosure and luxury that suits a master bedroom. A king size bed with a winged headboard in velvet or fabric becomes the centrepiece of the room without any additional styling required.

High Headboards

A tall headboard on a king size ottoman creates a strong vertical focal point that makes a bedroom feel more dramatic and considered. This is the style most commonly seen in boutique hotels, and it translates just as effectively to a domestic bedroom. If you're drawn to this aesthetic, our high headboard beds collection includes king size options in a range of fabrics and heights.

Choosing the Right Mattress for a King Size Ottoman Bed

An ottoman base uses a solid platform top — meaning the mattress rests on a flat, firm surface rather than on sprung slats. This affects which mattress types perform best.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam performs excellently on a solid platform top, which provides the firm, even resistance the foam needs to compress and recover correctly. If you're a couple with significantly different weight distributions — one lighter, one heavier sleeper — a memory foam mattress with individual support zones is worth considering, as the solid base won't interfere with the foam's zoned performance.

Pocket Sprung Mattresses

Pocket sprung mattresses work well on ottoman platform tops and remain the most popular choice for UK couples. Independent pocket springs respond to each sleeper's movement separately, which reduces motion transfer — a significant advantage for couples with different sleep schedules. Our pocket sprung vs memory foam guide compares both options in detail.

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid mattresses — combining pocket springs with memory foam or latex comfort layers — are increasingly popular for king size beds. They combine the responsive support of pocket springs with the pressure-relieving qualities of foam, and perform well on a platform top base. Do check the mattress weight, as heavier hybrids can add meaningful load to the ottoman's gas lift mechanism.

Weight Considerations

Most king size ottoman bases are rated to support a combined mattress and occupant weight of 200–300 kg or more, but it's always worth checking the manufacturer's specifications — particularly if you're opting for a heavier luxury hybrid or latex mattress, which can weigh 40–60 kg on its own.

For further help narrowing down your mattress choice, our complete UK mattress buying guide covers every major mattress type with buying advice.

What Separates a Good King Size Ottoman Bed from a Poor One

Ottoman beds vary enormously in build quality, and the price difference between a well-made and a poorly-made model isn't always as large as you'd expect. Here's what to look for.

Frame Construction

The internal frame of an ottoman base should be solid timber — typically kiln-dried hardwood or high-grade MDF with a robust joinery system. A frame that flexes noticeably when you press on the corners of the base, or that creaks under movement, is a sign of poor construction. A well-built king size ottoman base is heavy — typically 40–60 kg assembled — because the materials used are substantial.

Gas Lift Piston Quality

As noted above, the pistons are the functional heart of the bed. Good-quality pistons open with minimal effort, hold at full extension without drift, and lower smoothly under control. Always check reviews specifically for comments on the gas lift — this is the component most likely to wear or fail on a lower-quality ottoman.

Upholstery Finish

Quality upholstery should be taut and evenly wrapped, with no visible puckering, misaligned seams, or loose areas at the corners. The fabric should feel dense and substantial rather than thin or papery. On velvet finishes, the pile should be even and consistent with no obvious bald patches or directional inconsistencies.

Headboard Attachment

If a headboard is included, check how it attaches to the base. A quality fitting will use a solid strut system that holds the headboard stable with no rocking or flex. A headboard that moves when you lean against it becomes irritating very quickly on a bed you use every night.

King Size Ottoman Beds for Different Bedroom Styles

One of the genuine strengths of upholstered ottoman beds is how well they adapt to different interior aesthetics. Here are the most common UK bedroom styles and which ottoman finishes suit them best.

Contemporary Minimalist

Clean lines, neutral palette, no unnecessary decoration. A king size ottoman in oatmeal, light grey, or white fabric with a simple panel headboard fits perfectly. Keep the rest of the furniture low-profile and the floor largely clear.

Boutique Hotel

Velvet or bouclé in a deep or warm neutral tone — charcoal, warm taupe, sage, or camel — with a tall or winged headboard. Pair with textured cushions, layered bedding, and a single large pendant light above the bed. This is currently the most aspirational direction in UK bedroom design and an ottoman bed is the natural centrepiece.

Contemporary Glamour

Crushed velvet in a jewel tone — teal, midnight blue, plum — with a statement winged headboard. Works best in a room with good natural light or well-planned artificial lighting to show the fabric at its best.

Warm and Natural

Bouclé or a warm linen-effect fabric in sand, ivory, or terracotta tones. Pair with natural wood bedside tables, woven textiles, and soft lighting. A popular direction for homes that blend contemporary furniture with warmer, more organic materials.

For inspiration across all these styles, our ottoman beds collection shows the full range in every available fabric and size.

FAQ: King Size Ottoman Beds UK

What size is a king size ottoman bed?

A king size ottoman bed measures 150 cm wide by 200 cm long — equivalent to 5 feet by 6 feet 6 inches. This is the standard UK king size and requires a 150 × 200 cm mattress. The overall bed frame will be slightly larger than the mattress dimensions, typically around 160–165 cm wide including the upholstered sides.

How much storage does a king size ottoman provide?

Most king size ottoman bases provide a storage space of approximately 140 cm wide, 180–190 cm long, and 40–55 cm deep — encompassing the full under-mattress area. This is significantly more storage than any drawer configuration, and large enough to hold multiple duvet sets, seasonal clothing, and bulky household items.

Are king size ottoman beds difficult to assemble?

Most king size ottoman beds arrive in several flat-packed components and require assembly. The process typically takes one to two hours for two people and involves assembling the base frame, connecting the gas lift mechanism, and attaching the headboard. Most quality beds include clear assembly instructions; some retailers offer paid assembly services if preferred.

Can one person open a king size ottoman?

Yes — a well-engineered ottoman with quality gas pistons should be operable by one person with minimal effort. The pistons do the work of supporting the mattress weight. On lower-quality beds with weaker pistons, the effort required can be significant, particularly with a heavier mattress. Always check reviews for comments on the ease of opening before purchasing.

Do king size ottoman beds need a box spring or slats?

No. Ottoman beds use a solid platform top base that provides all the support needed for the mattress. No additional slat system, box spring, or support structure is required. The solid surface is particularly well-suited to memory foam and hybrid mattresses.

What is the difference between a king size ottoman and a king size divan with drawers?

Both provide under-bed storage, but an ottoman gives you access to the full base depth across the entire footprint of the bed — far more capacity than drawers. Drawers are better for frequent-access items like clothing; the ottoman is better for bulkier or less frequently accessed storage. Our Ottoman vs Divan comparison guide covers this in full detail.

How long does a king size ottoman bed last?

A well-built king size ottoman base should last 10–15 years under normal use. The gas lift pistons are the most likely component to require attention over that timeframe; quality pistons from reputable manufacturers typically carry a 2–5 year warranty. The upholstery on a quality bed should remain presentable for 8–10 years with reasonable care.

Is a king size ottoman bed suitable for a guest room?

Yes — a king size ottoman is an excellent choice for a guest room because it provides a genuinely comfortable sleeping surface for two people while the ottoman storage can be used for household items when the room is not in guest use. The storage capacity is particularly useful in homes where linen storage space is limited.

Conclusion

A king size ottoman bed is the most popular bed type in the UK for good reason. It gives couples the sleeping space they need, solves the storage problem that every bedroom faces, and does both in a single, well-designed unit that can become the defining piece of furniture in your bedroom.

Choosing well means paying attention to frame quality, gas lift engineering, upholstery finish, and opening direction — details that separate a bed you'll love for fifteen years from one you'll want to replace in three.

Whether you're drawn to the understated versatility of a fabric finish, the tactile luxury of crushed velvet, or the contemporary appeal of bouclé, you'll find king size ottoman options to suit across our ottoman beds collection. For a broader look at all storage bed options — including divan bases with drawers — our storage beds range is worth exploring. And if you're also considering a super king, our divan beds collection covers that size in both divan and ottoman configurations.