Beds with storage..

[wafter]

New flat needs bed.

What I'd really like is some skinny, low-slung, minimalist mid-century-modern effort.. however considering under-bed storage would likely double the stash capacity of my nice new shoebox I think I need to consider something more practical.

I was originally going to go with a traditional bed and just stick stuff under it but I really don't like the visual noise this would likely create.. so I'm looking at beds with built in storage.

I don't much like the aesthetic of divans, but have seen some "Ottoman" jobs that have a gas-strut assisted hinged base at the headboard. This allows the base and matress to pivot open like the yawing chops of a hungry, hungry hippo to access the sweet internal volume beneath...

Has anyone had any experience of such beds? I'm a bit wary as the format seems over-represented in the low-end of the market, while the struts would be something else to go wrong (and potentially be irreplacable once it's old).. plus I'm a bit skeptical of potentially stubbing my toes on frames that run all the way down to the floor at the sides..

Any thoughts greatly appreciate as always, ta

 

[fossyant]

All three beds in our house are this type, essential really. They do swallow up a load of stuff. Our King is a padded bottom, so you don't have to have hard wood. Daughter's bed is side lifting !

 

[vickster]

yes, I’ve had one for years, great for hiding g spare bedding etc. Mine is fabric covered so no toe stubbing and also has 4 drawers, also v useful.
Only downside is it’s incredibly heavy so cannot hoover underneath and will be a challenge when I replace the carpet in the not too distant future!
Came from a company that sadly went under a number of years back, replaced the mattress in 2021. It wasn’t a cheap one, must’ve been at least a grand with the mattress

 

[Electric_Andy]

Yes, we have a superking with a hippo mouth opening arrnagement. It is extremely handy. We went for the cheapest we could find i.e. a normal fabric coated base, but it seems strong enough. A word of advice though - the bed will come tied together so the hinge doesn't open mid-transit. The instructions say it will be stiff to open, and it is. It feels like the hinge is stuck or broken, but it's just stiff. They loosen up a bit after 1 or 2 openings.

They are quiet and don't rock/squeak as much as standard bedframes. The larger ones come apart if needed, which is handy. Ours breaks into 2 x singles, but I think the single ones break in half widthways which is also easier for installation or if you need to move it.

We wouldn't have any other type of bed now. We also have another superking with drawers underneath and they are a real pain. You have to bend down to open them for starters, in order to get a straight pull out. And they become quite stiff when the (cheaply made wood) carcass starts to age and bend. Dust, hair and fluff gets in the drawers i.e falls down from under the bed. And if you want to move the bed, the drawers must be mollycoddled or taken out completely, it's easy for them to get stuck or to break if you're not careful

 

[Sharky]

Over bed storage units look good.

Is it single or a double bed?

 

[ianrauk]

Got our Ottoman from Argos, delivered about 8 years ago. Good price and it dies the job.

 

[sheddy]

We have similar, but the lifting part has finger indents.
No footboard - I find them annoying.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Ours all have drawers

they do waste a lof of potential space with the gaps and stuff
and anyweight in them causes problems as they are only designed for a small amount of bed stuff

The one you have shown does seem to have massively more storage
but I would worry about it all being accessible - and the stuff at the top not just becoming a place to stuff you never use again

do seem like a good idea though

 

[si_c]

We have a low-slung job from west elm, Mrs C likes it, I think it's mid-century. There's plenty of space underneath, we slide plastic storage boxes underneath, gives plenty of space for extra things. Cat does occaisionally throw up under the bed so it's useful to be able to move things out to clean up the mess.

 

[Speicher]

@wafter
If you want to avoid the visual noise of things under the bed, you could put a platform valence on the bed. This goes under the mattress and on the base.

https://www.dunelm.com/product/non-...leated-divan-1000119216?defaultSkuId=30565001

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Good bed, we have one in our house. Loads of storage, JLP quality.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256851965635?_skw=john+lewis+bonn+bed&itmmeta=01JPTWDGAQAJNQDKF4TWXPNRMF&hash=item3bcd91f6c3:g:vwAAAeSw6Ftnz12v&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cTbZo5G+lY3KJ327CUWBJMfFYAB9WITQ9bapCO8JTEjcsZVCldj3FbsvE7JvrjIh0R3VdYpa0yZKDGzZtzLwfj5FQDdn3qGPar7ROGjuokq2KsZ3gQF39jIXQ6UpHQLh05Wglgw+qkrS6t7IAG3yTqxfBb3mR8fqw6mOZVp2ZjaM5FiqbIdsEKFvr88uvcjm5K26bX8guGpQxCDg5t/9SRnFxazj7DlbGdkmvRWksR1BGh8vCPXQqg9G5NZr0yQC1568dqqmMwB2SSZKGvbzeJMbbPv2eVfhAdF/63ftvc3Q==|tkp:Bk9SR8iFtty2ZQ

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

How much physical strength/effort do those bed require to lift - and put back down - when they have a full mattress and bed clothes on them?

just wondering if SWMBO could manage one

also - could a very short lady even manage to get it back down??

 

[Bonefish Blues]

How much physical strength/effort do those bed require to lift - and put back down - when they have a full mattress and bed clothes on them?

just wondering if SWMBO could manage one

also - could a very short lady even manage to get it back down??

You actually need a mattress and duvet in place to make it easy to lift (with control!) and lower (at all!) - I assembled ours and thought it was broken (duff struts, obvs) because it wouldn't go down! Fortunately I got on a forum for idiots like me and saw that I wasn't the first to think that!

Answer - yes Mrs e-biker will be fine

ETA
Today I will mainly be using exclamation marks!

 

[MichaelW2]

Ottomans come with one or two struts. Strut failure when you are nosing around inside can be unrecoverable .

 

[annedonnelly]

New flat needs bed.

Oooh. I haven't been around much lately - you've got a new flat! Congratulations! Can't help with the bed though