Skip to content
Home  → Beds | Single, Double, King Size, Ottoman  → Divan Beds

Divan Beds

Not every bedroom needs the bed to make a statement. In a spare room that gets used a few times a year, the priority is a comfortable, reliable bas...
Not every bedroom needs the bed to make a statement. In a spare room that gets used a few times a year, the priority is a comfortable, reliable base that takes a good mattress and doesn't take up more space than it needs to. In a child's room, it's a solid frame with somewhere sensible to put the spare duvet and the things that don't fit in the wardrobe. A divan bed is built around those practical questions. It does its job well and gets out of the way of the rest of the room.
Divan beds have a solid platform base, typically upholstered, that pairs with an attachable headboard and a mattress bought separately. The base sits low to the ground and gives the room a neat, contained look that a framed bed with visible legs doesn't. Storage configurations, usually side drawers, are often available and represent one of the clearest reasons to choose a divan over other base types. They sit within the broader beds collection alongside framed options, so it's easy to compare directly. Finance is available on many of our divan beds, subject to status.
We deliver nationally across the UK, with most orders arriving within 7 to 14 days. Our Manchester showroom is open if you'd like to see bed bases in person before buying. Get in touch at any stage if you'd like any help choosing.

What's in this collection

Divan beds consist of a base unit, a headboard that attaches to it, and a mattress, each typically chosen separately. The base is the divan itself: a solid, upholstered platform that replaces the slatted frame of a traditional bed and sits directly on short feet or castors. The low profile keeps the room looking tidy and makes the bed easier to get in and out of than a raised platform frame.

The key choices with a divan base are the drawer configuration and the mattress. Storage drawer options vary, with two-drawer and four-drawer configurations being most common, and the placement of the drawers, whether they slide out from the sides or the foot, determines how the bed needs to be positioned in the room. A bed with side drawers needs enough clearance on the relevant side to open them fully. It's worth thinking about this before you choose a configuration.

How a divan base works

A divan base provides a firm, flat surface for the mattress to rest on. Because the surface is solid rather than slatted, the mattress sits evenly across its full area rather than resting on individual slats with gaps between them. Many people find this more comfortable, particularly with a softer mattress that benefits from consistent support across the whole surface.

Choosing the right mattress is the other half of a divan purchase. The base and mattress work together, and a poor mattress on a good base, or vice versa, is a false economy. If you're replacing a divan you've had for several years, it's worth assessing the mattress at the same time rather than assuming it's still performing well.

The headboard on a divan is an add-on rather than a structural part of the frame. It attaches to a fitting at the head end of the base and can usually be swapped out independently if you want to change the look of the room later without replacing the whole bed. This makes divans a practical long-term option for rooms where the aesthetic might evolve.

Divan versus ottoman for storage

Both divan and ottoman beds offer under-bed storage, and the choice between them comes down to how much storage you need and how you want to access it. A divan with drawers gives you individual compartments that slide out from the side or foot of the bed. Access is easy and immediate, which makes drawer storage better suited to things you use regularly. The amount of storage is proportional to how many drawers the base has.

An ottoman bed lifts the entire mattress platform on a gas-assisted hinge to reveal a single, open storage area underneath. The cavity is significantly larger than anything a divan's drawers can offer and suits bulkier items like spare bedding, seasonal clothing, or luggage. The trade-off is that access requires lifting the mattress and isn't as convenient for things you reach for regularly.

In a room where wardrobe space is genuinely tight and you need to store a meaningful volume of items, an ottoman offers more. In a room where you want convenient everyday access to a few specific things, drawers in a divan base are the more practical solution. The rooms best suited to each type are often different: divans tend to work well in children's rooms and spare bedrooms, while ottomans are popular in master bedrooms where storage demands are higher.

Spreading the Cost

Finance is available on many of our divan beds, subject to status. If you're buying a base and a mattress together, spreading the cost is a sensible option rather than absorbing both at once. Details of the available finance options are on the website. Get in touch before ordering if you'd like to talk through what's available before you commit.

Why buy from Shawcross

We're a Manchester-based furniture retailer with a physical showroom where you can see bed bases in person before buying. For a divan, where the base itself is a straightforward product but the mattress choice is significant, it's worth talking the decision through with someone who knows the stock. Our team is happy to help at any stage, whether you have questions about storage configurations, mattress compatibility, or headboard options.

We deliver nationally across the UK, and we'll be in touch once your order is placed to arrange a delivery slot that suits you.

Divan Bed FAQs

What is a divan bed?

A divan bed is a bed consisting of a solid, upholstered base unit paired with a headboard and a mattress. Unlike a traditional bed frame with a slatted base, a divan uses a solid platform that provides even support for the mattress across its full area. The base sits low to the floor on short feet or castors and gives the bed a neat, contained appearance in the room.

The term divan refers specifically to the base design. The headboard and mattress are typically chosen separately, which gives you flexibility to pair the base with a headboard that suits the room's style, and to choose a mattress independently based on comfort preference rather than what comes bundled with a particular frame.

Do divan beds come with a headboard?

The headboard is usually chosen and purchased separately from the divan base. It attaches to a fitting at the head end of the base rather than being structurally integrated into the frame. This is actually one of the practical advantages of a divan: you can change the headboard independently of the base if you want to update the look of the room without replacing the whole bed.

When browsing divan beds, it's worth confirming which headboard sizes are compatible with the base you're considering, as fitting sizes can vary. If you'd like help matching a base with a headboard before ordering, get in touch and we'll make sure the two are compatible.

What storage options do divan beds have?

The most common storage option on a divan base is a drawer configuration, typically two drawers or four drawers set into the sides or foot of the base. Two-drawer configurations usually have one drawer on each side or both at the foot; four-drawer configurations add drawers on both sides and provide more overall storage capacity.

The practical thing to check before choosing a configuration is which direction the drawers open relative to how the bed will be positioned in the room. Side drawers need clear floor space on the relevant side to open fully. If one side of the bed sits against a wall, drawers on that side won't be accessible. It's a straightforward thing to plan around, but worth thinking through before you order rather than after the bed is in the room.

What size divan bed do I need?

The right size depends on who's sleeping in it and the dimensions of the room. UK divan beds follow standard sizes: single (90cm wide), small double (120cm), double (135cm), king (150cm), and super king (180cm). For a child's room or a single adult, a single or small double is usually the right fit. For couples, a double is the standard minimum, though a king provides meaningfully more space per person if the room allows it.

Room width matters as much as the bed size itself. A divan base needs enough clearance on each side for you to get in and out comfortably, and if the base has drawers, the relevant side needs enough floor space for the drawers to open fully. A good working rule is to allow at least 60cm of clearance on each accessible side. If you're looking at a specific size for a double or queen bed, the size page includes more detail on room planning for that particular dimension.

Divan versus ottoman: which is better for storage?

The honest answer is that they suit different storage needs rather than one being straightforwardly better. A divan with drawers is better for things you access regularly. The drawers slide out easily and you don't need to move anything to get to them. The storage capacity per drawer is modest, which makes divan storage best suited to everyday items: spare bedding, clothes, smaller belongings.

An ottoman base lifts the entire mattress platform to reveal a large, open cavity underneath. The amount of storage is substantially greater than a divan's drawers and suits bulkier items like duvets, suitcases, and seasonal clothing. The access requires lifting the mattress each time, which is straightforward with a gas-lift mechanism but less convenient for things you need frequently. If the room is genuinely short on storage and you need to put away a meaningful volume of items, an ottoman is the more capable option. If everyday access to a few specific things is what you need, a divan with drawers is more practical day to day.

How does delivery work, and can I see divan beds in person first?

We deliver nationally across the UK. Once your order is placed you'll receive a confirmation, and we'll be in touch closer to the time to arrange a delivery date that suits you. For divan bed bases, delivery is typically within 7 to 14 days. The base is delivered in sections rather than fully assembled, so access through hallways and up staircases is generally straightforward. If there's anything about your property worth flagging in advance, let us know when you order so the delivery team can prepare.

If you'd prefer to see divan bed bases in person before you commit, our Manchester showroom is open and you're welcome to come in without any obligation. Seeing the base height and build in person gives you a clearer sense of how it will sit in your room than photographs can. If you'd like to confirm whether a specific base is currently on the showroom floor before travelling, just give us a call.