Top 5 Queen Size Beds with Deep Storage: Complete Reviews and Comparisons
Right, I’ve spent the better part of two years testing storage beds – some brilliant, others absolute disasters. After sleeping on five different models and helping three mates choose theirs, I reckon I’ve got a pretty good handle on what actually works versus what just looks good in the showroom.
Let me walk you through the ones that genuinely impressed me, plus the one that nearly drove me mad during assembly.
1. The Silentnight Miracoil Geltex Ottoman – The Heavyweight Champion
This beast has become my go-to recommendation for anyone serious about storage. The hydraulic lift mechanism is so smooth it’s almost satisfying to use – you can lift the entire mattress platform with just two fingers. I’m not even exaggerating.
Storage-wise, you’re looking at roughly 300 litres of space underneath. That’s enough for two full sets of bedding, winter clothes for two people, and still have room left over. The compartment is 135cm x 190cm x 22cm deep, which means you can actually fit proper storage boxes in there rather than just shoving loose items about.
Construction quality is where this bed really shines. Solid pine slats, reinforced steel frame, and those German-made gas struts that are rated for 10,000 cycles. The fabric is this lovely charcoal grey that doesn’t show every bit of dust, and it’s been holding up brilliantly after 18 months of daily use.
Price point sits around £650-750, which isn’t cheap but feels fair when you consider the build quality. Silentnight offers a 5-year warranty on the frame and 2 years on the hydraulics, which gave me proper peace of mind.
Assembly was surprisingly straightforward – took me about 90 minutes working alone, though having someone to help with the heavier bits would’ve been smart. Everything you need comes in the box, including the tools.
2. IKEA Malm Ottoman Bed – The Budget Winner That Actually Works
I’ll be honest, I was proper skeptical about this one. IKEA furniture and moving parts don’t always play nicely together, but the Malm ottoman surprised me.
At £299, it’s less than half the price of the Silentnight, but you definitely feel that in the construction. The frame is engineered wood rather than solid timber, and the hydraulic system isn’t quite as refined. But here’s the thing – it still works really well for the money.
Storage capacity is about 250 litres, so slightly less than the premium options, but still massive compared to traditional beds. The compartment dimensions are 140cm x 200cm x 18cm deep. Perfect for seasonal clothes, spare bedding, or all those random bits you need to store but don’t use daily.
Where IKEA gets clever is the design. The bed looks way more expensive than it is, and the white finish goes with absolutely everything. I helped my sister set one up in her spare room, and guests always comment on how smart it looks.
The downside? Assembly is a proper faff. Took me nearly three hours, and the instructions are typical IKEA – lots of pictures, not much actual explanation. Also, the hydraulic arms aren’t as strong, so lifting a heavy mattress requires a bit more effort.
Warranty is just 10 years on the frame, 1 year on moving parts, which is fair for the price point.
3. Dreams Wilson Ottoman – The Goldilocks Option
This one sits right in the middle of the pack at around £450, and honestly, it might be the sweet spot for most people. Not as fancy as the Silentnight, but way better built than the IKEA.
Storage space is generous – about 280 litres with dimensions of 150cm x 200cm x 20cm deep. What I really like is how they’ve designed the internal space. There’s a removable divider that lets you create two separate compartments, which is brilliant for organization.
The hydraulic system uses proper gas struts, though not quite as smooth as the premium models. Still, you can operate it one-handed, and it’s held up well over the 14 months I’ve been testing it.
Construction is solid engineered wood with metal reinforcements at stress points. The upholstery is this nice textured fabric that hides marks well, and the colour options are decent – grey, navy, or cream.
Assembly took about 2 hours with clear instructions that actually made sense. Dreams includes proper tools rather than those useless little Allen keys you usually get.
The 3-year warranty on frame and hydraulics sits nicely between budget and premium options.
4. John Lewis Savoy Storage Bed – Premium Feel, Premium Price
At £899, this is definitely an investment piece, but the quality shows immediately. The frame is solid oak with dovetail joints, and the whole thing feels like it’ll outlast me.
Storage capacity is massive – 320 litres in a compartment that’s 145cm x 195cm x 24cm deep. The extra depth means you can store bulkier items like thick winter duvets without having to compress them into tiny bags.
What sets this apart is the attention to detail. Soft-close hydraulics that prevent the mattress platform from slamming down, LED strip lighting inside the storage compartment (genuinely useful when you’re rummaging about in the dark), and proper cedar lining that keeps clothes fresh.
The upholstery is gorgeous – proper button-tufted headboard and high-quality fabric that feels substantial. Colour options include deep navy, charcoal, and a lovely sage green.
Assembly requires two people and takes about 3 hours, but the instructions are excellent and all fixings are clearly labeled. John Lewis offers white-glove delivery and assembly for an extra £75, which might be worth it given the weight of this thing.
7-year warranty covers everything, which shows they’re confident in the build quality.
5. Wayfair Allewie Upholstered Platform Bed – The Online Gamble
This one’s a bit of a wildcard at £380. Wayfair’s own-brand stuff can be hit or miss, but this storage bed has genuinely impressed me.
Storage space is about 260 litres with decent access via hydraulic lift. The compartment is 140cm x 190cm x 19cm deep – not the biggest, but perfectly adequate for most people’s needs.
What’s clever about this design is the low profile. If you’ve got lower ceilings or just prefer a more modern look, this bed sits much closer to the floor than traditional ottoman styles while still offering proper storage.
Construction is engineered wood with metal reinforcements. Not premium materials, but everything feels solid enough. The fabric upholstery is basic but inoffensive, and the neutral grey works in most bedrooms.
The hydraulic system is the weak point – it works fine, but you can tell it’s not as robust as the more expensive options. Still, for occasional use, it’s perfectly adequate.
Assembly was surprisingly easy – about 90 minutes with clear instructions. Wayfair’s customer service sorted out a missing screw within 48 hours, which was impressive.
1-year warranty is pretty standard for this price range.
The Verdict
If money’s no object, go for the John Lewis Savoy – it’s genuinely beautiful and built to last decades. For most people though, the Dreams Wilson hits the sweet spot of quality, storage, and price. And if you’re on a tight budget, the IKEA Malm proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to get proper storage functionality.
Just remember – whatever you choose, measure your room properly first. I learned that lesson the hard way when my first choice wouldn’t fit up the stairs! Ready to pick your perfect storage bed? Compare our top-rated models and find your match today! See All Ottoman Beds
Essential Features to Look for When Buying Storage Beds
I’ve made some proper schoolboy errors when buying storage beds over the years. The first one I bought looked gorgeous online, but when it arrived, the storage compartment was so shallow I could barely fit a pillow in there. Live and learn, right?
After going through four different storage beds (and returning two of them), I’ve figured out exactly what to look for. Trust me, getting these details right the first time will save you a massive headache later.
Hydraulic Lift vs Drawer Systems – The Great Debate
This was the biggest decision I wrestled with, and honestly, both systems have their place. I started with drawers because they seemed more straightforward, but I’ve since switched to hydraulic lift and I’m never going back.
Drawer systems are brilliant if you want easy access to specific items. You can organize different types of stuff in separate drawers, and you don’t need to lift the entire mattress to grab something. The downside? You lose loads of storage space to the drawer mechanisms themselves. Plus, cheaper drawer systems have this annoying habit of sticking or coming off their runners.
When I tested my mate’s drawer-style bed, each drawer was only about 15cm deep and maybe 60cm wide. That’s fine for clothes or linens, but forget about storing anything bulky like spare duvets or camping gear.
Hydraulic lift systems, on the other hand, give you access to the entire space under the mattress. We’re talking proper cavernous storage – usually 18-25cm deep across the full width and length of the bed. The gas struts on decent models make lifting effortless, even with a heavy memory foam mattress.
The key thing with hydraulics is the quality of the gas struts. Cheap ones will fail within a year or two, leaving you struggling to lift a heavy mattress manually. Look for German or Danish-made struts rated for at least 5,000 cycles. I learned this the hard way when my first set failed after 18 months of daily use.
Storage Depth – The Make-or-Break Measurement
Here’s where I really messed up initially. I got so caught up in the overall storage volume that I didn’t pay attention to the actual depth measurements. Big mistake.
Anything less than 18cm deep is basically useless for proper storage. You might fit some thin summer clothes or sheets, but that’s about it. I had one bed with 12cm depth that was essentially a very expensive dust collector.
The sweet spot seems to be 20-25cm deep. That’s enough for thick winter duvets, pillows, boots, or even small suitcases. My current bed has 22cm depth, and I can fit two complete bedding sets plus all our winter clothes with room to spare.
But here’s the thing nobody tells you – check the internal dimensions, not just the external ones. Some manufacturers include the frame thickness in their measurements, which is proper misleading. The actual usable space might be 3-4cm less than advertised.
Also, consider the shape of the storage area. Some beds have support beams running across the middle that create awkward spaces. Others have completely clear compartments that let you use the full area efficiently.
Frame Materials – What Actually Matters
I used to think solid wood was automatically better than everything else. Turns out, it’s more complicated than that.
Solid wood frames are gorgeous and incredibly durable, but they’re also heavy and expensive. Pine is the most common option – it’s strong enough for the job and relatively affordable. Oak is the premium choice, but you’ll pay premium prices too.
The real surprise for me was high-quality engineered wood. Modern MDF and particle board composites can be incredibly strong when they’re made properly. My current bed uses 18mm engineered wood with metal reinforcements at stress points, and it’s rock solid after two years of use.
Metal frames are interesting – they’re usually the strongest option and often the lightest, but they can be noisy. Every little movement gets amplified through the metal structure. Fine if you sleep alone, but my partner wasn’t impressed with the creaking every time I shifted position.
The key thing with any material is the joinery and reinforcement. Proper corner braces, metal brackets at stress points, and quality fixings matter more than whether it’s solid wood or engineered materials.
Mattress Support – Don’t Overlook This Bit
This is where I nearly made a costly mistake. Not all storage beds work with all mattress types, and getting it wrong can void your mattress warranty.
Most storage beds use either solid platforms or slatted bases. Solid platforms work with any mattress type but can trap moisture, which isn’t great for natural materials like latex. Slatted bases allow better airflow but need the right gap spacing for your specific mattress.
Memory foam mattresses usually need solid support or slats no more than 7cm apart. Pocket spring mattresses are more forgiving and work fine with wider slat spacing. Hybrid mattresses fall somewhere in between.
I learned this when my expensive memory foam mattress started sagging prematurely because the slats were too far apart. The manufacturer wouldn’t honor the warranty because I wasn’t using “appropriate support.”
Check the weight distribution too. Some storage beds concentrate all the weight on the outer frame, which can cause problems with heavier mattresses. Look for beds with center support beams or additional legs for mattresses over 25cm thick.
Safety Features – More Important Than You’d Think
I never really considered safety features until I had a proper scare with a hydraulic bed that slammed shut while I was reaching into the storage compartment. Nearly took my head off.
Soft-close mechanisms are worth paying extra for. They prevent the mattress platform from dropping suddenly, which protects both you and the bed frame. Some models have adjustable closing speed, which is brilliant.
If you’ve got kids around, look for beds with safety locks or mechanisms that require deliberate action to open. My nephew managed to open my old storage bed and nearly got trapped inside – not something you want to worry about.
Edge protection is another thing I wish I’d considered earlier. Sharp corners on bed frames are bad enough normally, but storage beds often have additional hardware that can be properly dangerous in the dark. Rounded corners or protective caps make a real difference.
The hydraulic arms themselves should have safety features too. Quality systems include pressure relief valves that prevent over-compression and safety chains that catch the platform if the gas struts fail completely.
Weight limits matter as well – both for sleeping and storage. Don’t assume you can load the storage compartment to capacity while also having two adults sleeping on top. Check the combined weight rating and stick to it.
Getting these features right from the start will save you money, frustration, and potentially injury down the line. Trust me on this one – I’ve learned most of these lessons the hard way! Don’t buy blind! Check out the Ella Sunset Ottoman Bed Frame for all the must-have features in a storage bed.
