The perfect ottoman bed is comfortable and stylish, with enough storage depth to accommodate all your bedding and other bits and bobs.
This is a collaborative post
We can divide your choices into two parts—the mattress and the bed frame—to ensure you end up with an ottoman you love.
Let’s jump in!
Choosing the bed frame
Ottoman beds offer concealed storage underneath the mattress, but not all are equal. These are the main points to consider:
Bed size
Most couples have a double bed, but a king size bed offers 15cm more width and 10cm more length on the mattress – equivalent to a slender person sleeping on their side. That’s a big difference between comfort and motion isolation.
Lift location
Ottoman beds have either an end or side-lift configuration: end-lift ottomans open at the foot of the bed, while side-lift ones open at one side.
Some ottoman beds have a dual setup option, letting you choose the most suitable configuration for your roof and bedroom layout (although the opening mechanism will only work on your preferred layout).
Storage depth
Ottoman beds offer different storage depths and sizes depending on the model.
Of course, a king-size ottoman has more storage space than a double ottoman, but you can increase the storage space with more depth.
Most ottoman beds have 22 cm to 35 cm of storage depth across ‘low’ and ‘high’ bed frames. Simply choose the style or depth you prefer.
Materials
Ottoman beds are available wooden or upholstered.
Wooden ottomans are less plentiful but are arguably more beautiful, with an expensive, solid look and feel.
Upholstered ottoman beds offer more colours and multiple fabrics, not to mention a more unique range of headboards.
So, both options have their pros and cons.
A few options:
Wooden
Upholstered
Most people choose an upholstered ottoman bed because sitting up against a warm fabric headboard is nicer than doing so on a wooden one.
Choosing the mattress
You can spend over £1,000 on a mattress, but the sweet spot for most people is the £400 to £600 range for a king (minus any great offers).
The firmness
Firmness is relative to body weight – the heavier you are, the softer a mattress feels.
Here are a few pointers:
- If you weigh more than 200 lbs, you need extra support, so a medium-firm or firm mattress is best.
- A medium mattress is best for people under 180 lbs and most side sleepers.
- A medium-firm mattress is usually best for back sleepers, while firm mattresses are needed for front sleepers.
The technology
Hybrid and pocket spring mattresses are the best for comfort, support, and durability.
The difference is that hybrids aim to replicate the feel of pure foam with springs as a support layer, while pocket spring mattresses are a bit bouncier.
Mattress depth and spring counts play enormous roles in motion isolation (limiting the motion transfer from you to your partner and vice versa). Mattresses with over 1,000 pocket springs are a good starting point.
The comfort layers
Mattresses have either memory foam, memory gel, latex foam, latex gel, reflex foam, polyester fibre, or natural fillings as comfort layers (or a combination).
Gel versions of foams have thousands of gel beads embedded in them to dissipate heat, making them a better option for hot sleepers.
Memory foam has low responsiveness – it’s great for conforming to your curves and retaining its shape – while latex foam has high responsiveness, bouncing back instantly and providing more support through greater pushback.
Fibre fillings—whether synthetic or natural—are loftier and compress more, providing more breathability and an airier sleep experience.
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