What Is an Ottoman Bed and How Does It Work? | Storage That Lifts

An ottoman bed is a storage bed whose mattress platform lifts on gas struts or pistons to reveal one large compartment beneath, and it stays open hands-free while you load it.

You lift the base, the whole mattress rises with it, and the space under your bed stops being wasted air. That’s the entire idea. The mechanism is the part worth understanding before you buy, because an ottoman frame changes how you use the room, not just where you put the spare duvet.

Here’s what actually happens inside the frame, which direction it opens, and the few habits that keep the lift working for years.

How Does an Ottoman Bed Actually Work?

An ottoman bed works by hinging the bed base and using gas struts or pistons to assist the upward motion, so the platform and mattress rise together and hold position until you push them back down.

Inside most frames sit two gas struts, the same kind of pressurized supports that hold a car trunk open. You start the lift with a handle, a strap, or a cut-out in the base, and the struts take over from there. They slow the rise, hold the base up while you reach in, and lower it with controlled resistance instead of letting it drop.

Some frames use hydraulic systems instead, so the exact feel varies by bed. The physics stay the same either way: stored pressure does most of the lifting so you don’t have to.

One design detail matters more than it looks: because the whole platform swings up as one piece, there’s no divider, no drawer runner, and no frame eating into the floor space. That’s why ottoman beds are generally described as offering more room than standard divan or drawer-based frames.

End-Lift vs. Side-Lift: Which Direction Does It Open?

Ottoman beds lift in one of two directions, and the choice comes down to your bedroom’s free floor space rather than storage capacity.

• End-lift: opens from the foot of the bed. You need clear floor at the foot before lifting, but both long sides stay usable.
• Side-lift: opens along one side. It suits rooms where the foot of the bed sits close to a wall, but you need open floor beside the bed instead.

A full ottoman typically opens from the foot end to expose the entire area beneath the mattress. Measure your clearance before you commit, because a lift that fights a nightstand gets old fast.

Using an Ottoman Bed Safely

DFS’s safety guidance is direct: “Do not remain on the bed whilst the lifting mechanism is in use.” Lift with the bed empty of people, and let the struts do the work.

Three habits prevent nearly every problem:

• Keep the mattress on. The lift is designed to operate with it installed, and some models rely on mattress weight to stay closed.
• Never force the platform down. If it resists, check nothing is trapped in the storage well or resting on the hinge.
• Load evenly. Heavy items piled at one corner strain the struts and make the base harder to close flat.

Manufacturers fit anti-slip material on some frames to keep the mattress from sliding during the lift.

If you’re shopping for one, our tested roundup of the best bed in an ottoman covers which frames held up and which lifts felt stiff.

What you can’t buy is a universal lift height. One UK retailer states its storage beds lift up to 1.7 metres, but that figure is seller-specific and depends on the frame, not a standard. Expect variation between models, and treat any single number as marketing until you confirm it for the bed you’re considering. Mattressman’s guidance on how ottoman bed mechanisms operate makes the same point: gas struts, gas pistons, and hydraulic systems all behave a little differently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special mattress for an ottoman bed?

No special type is required, but the mattress is part of how the mechanism works. The lift is designed to operate with a mattress installed, and its weight helps keep some models closed. A mattress that’s extremely light may let the platform drift up slightly, so check your frame’s guidance if you’re pairing it with a very thin or foam-only mattress.

How much weight can the storage area hold?

Weight limits vary by frame and manufacturer, so there’s no single figure that applies to every ottoman bed. As a general rule, spread heavy items evenly across the base rather than concentrating them in one corner, since uneven loads strain the struts and can stop the platform closing flat. Check your specific bed’s documentation before loading it heavily.

Can the lifting mechanism wear out or be replaced?

Gas struts do lose pressure over time, which shows up as a platform that sinks instead of staying open. Replacement struts are available and are usually swapped as a pair rather than one at a time, since matched pressure keeps the base level. If your bed is still under warranty, contact the retailer before ordering parts yourself.