What's in this collection
The frames here are upholstered fabric ottoman beds, most with high headboards in the 70 to 72-inch range. The ottoman base is the defining feature: rather than a standard slatted or solid platform, the entire mattress surface lifts on a gas-assisted hinge to open the base like a chest. When closed, the frame looks identical to any other upholstered fabric bed. The storage is invisible until you need it.
Headboard styles across the collection include plain panelled designs and Chesterfield-buttoned versions with deep button detail across the full headboard face. If you're coming from fabric beds more broadly, the ottoman frames here represent the upper end of the range in terms of both storage functionality and headboard presence.
Frames are available in double, king, and super king sizes. The storage capacity scales with the size of the bed, so a king or super king ottoman base gives meaningfully more usable space than a double.
How the ottoman mechanism works
The lift system uses a gas piston mechanism, similar in principle to the strut on a car boot. When you lift the foot end of the mattress, the gas pistons assist the movement so the platform rises without effort and holds itself open while you access the storage below. You don't need to hold the mattress up or prop it. Lower it and it closes under its own weight, softly.
The key practical consideration is foot clearance. To open an end-lift ottoman, you need roughly 50 to 60cm of clear floor space at the foot of the bed. If the foot of the bed is close to a wall, a wardrobe, or a chest of drawers, the platform won't open fully. Some frames open from the side rather than the foot, which changes the clearance requirement to the long edge of the bed instead. Check the lift direction on the specific frame before you order, and measure accordingly. Getting this wrong isn't the end of the world, it just makes accessing the storage awkward every time.
The storage area itself runs the full internal footprint of the base. There are no drawers, no divided compartments, and no fixed sections. It's a single open space. That makes it well-suited to bulky or irregularly shaped items: spare bedding, pillows, seasonal clothes in vacuum bags, suitcases, large toys. Anything that would be difficult to retrieve from a drawer translates well to an ottoman base, because the whole platform lifts and you can see and reach everything at once.
Ottoman or divan storage
Both are legitimate storage solutions and the right choice depends on how you intend to use it. They work differently, and for different kinds of storage, one will serve you better than the other.
A divan bed stores things in drawers, typically two on a double base, either both on the same side or one on each side. Drawers give you easy, everyday access without lifting a mattress. They suit things you reach for regularly: extra pillows, a spare blanket, clothing, books. The constraint is that each drawer has a fixed size and the total capacity is a fraction of the under-bed footprint.
An ottoman base uses the entire under-bed footprint as a single storage space. The total volume is considerably larger. The trade-off is that access requires lifting the mattress, which takes a moment and means the storage is better suited to things you reach for occasionally rather than daily. Spare bedding, seasonal items, suitcases, and anything large or bulky works well in an ottoman base. It's not where you want to keep things you need at 11pm on a Tuesday.
If daily-access storage is the priority, a divan is more convenient. If maximum volume and the ability to store large, awkward items is what matters, an ottoman base is the better answer. Some households find the choice is made for them by what they actually need to store.
Spreading the Cost
Finance is available on many of our ottoman beds, subject to status. Ottoman frames tend to sit at a higher price point than standard platform beds, which reflects the storage mechanism and the quality of the upholstered headboards involved. Spreading the cost is a practical option if you're buying a frame alongside a mattress, or equipping a bedroom from scratch. Details are available on the website and we're happy to talk through options before you order.
Why buy from Shawcross
We're a furniture retailer based in Manchester with a physical showroom where you're welcome to come in and see beds in person. For ottoman beds specifically, seeing the mechanism in action is worthwhile if you can manage the trip. Photographs don't convey how the lift system feels or how much storage space a particular base actually gives you, and both of those things are relevant to the decision.
We deliver nationally across the UK and our team is available throughout the buying process if you have questions about sizing, mechanism direction, or whether a specific frame is right for your room. Call or get in touch at any stage.
