Select Your Mattress
Most people choose a bed by looking at it. That's understandable, but it's the wrong starting point. What actually decides whether you'll be happy with a bed five years from now is the base underneath: how it supports the mattress, whether it gives you storage, how it handles a small room, and how it copes with being moved up a narrow staircase.
Get the base right and the styling follows easily. This guide explains the main types of beds sold in the UK, what each one genuinely does well, and how to match a bed frame type to your room, your budget and the way you live.
Nearly every bed in a UK showroom is a variation on three base types.
Divan beds sit on a solid, upholstered box base, usually in two halves joined together. The mattress sits directly on top. Divans are stable, quiet, and the most straightforward option for storage, because drawers build straight into the base.
Ottoman beds use a gas-lift mechanism so the entire mattress platform hinges upward, revealing a deep storage cavity underneath. They are the most space-efficient storage bed available.
Framed beds have a structural frame of wood or metal with a slatted base. The mattress sits on the slats, and the frame itself is the design feature: headboard, footboard, legs and all.
Everything else, including upholstered beds, bunk beds and Italian designs, is a style built on one of these three principles.
A divan bed is the most common bed base in Britain, and it earns that position on practicality.
What it does well. The solid base gives even, consistent mattress support with no slat gaps, which suits most mattress types and tends to feel firmer. Divans split into two halves, so they get through awkward doorways and up tight stairs where a rigid frame simply will not go. They are usually the best value for the size, and the base can be upholstered to match a headboard of your choosing.
Storage. Divans take built-in drawers, typically two or four, in half or full sizes. Drawer storage is easy to reach day to day, though it only uses the shallow band of space at the sides of the base.
Worth knowing. You need floor clearance beside the bed for drawers to open, which matters in a narrow room. If one side of your bed is tight against a wall, specify the drawers on the accessible side.
Choose a divan if you want dependable support, straightforward storage and the easiest delivery and assembly of the three.
An ottoman bed lifts the whole mattress platform on gas struts, turning the entire footprint under the bed into usable storage.
What it does well. Nothing else comes close to storage volume. A double ottoman swallows duvets, suitcases, seasonal clothing and spare bedding in one cavity. Because the storage opens upward rather than sideways, it works where drawers cannot: against a wall, in a small box room, or anywhere floor space is tight.
Side-lift or end-lift. End-lift opens from the foot of the bed and needs clear floor space there. Side-lift opens from the long edge and suits beds with one side against a wall. Measure before you decide, because this choice is difficult to reverse.
Worth knowing. You need headroom and clearance to lift the platform, so check for low sloping ceilings or a radiator above the headboard. The gas struts do most of the work, but it's still a deliberate action rather than a casual grab, so keep everyday items elsewhere.
Choose an ottoman if storage is your main constraint, particularly in a smaller bedroom.
A framed bed puts the design on show. Wood or metal, slatted base, visible legs and a headboard that defines the room.
What it does well. Framed beds carry the strongest visual character of the three, from pine and oak through to upholstered and metal designs. The slatted base allows air to circulate around the mattress, which helps with moisture and suits foam and memory foam mattresses particularly well. Raised frames leave usable floor space beneath for boxes or under-bed drawers bought separately.
Sprung or solid slats. Sprung slats are gently curved and flex under load, adding a little give and comfort. Solid slats are rigid and feel firmer. Either way, slat spacing matters: gaps wider than around 7cm can let a mattress sag between them, and some mattress warranties specify a maximum gap.
Worth knowing. Framed beds arrive flat-packed and need assembling, and they rarely offer integrated storage. If you want both strong design and hidden storage, look at upholstered or storage frames rather than a simple slatted frame.
Choose a framed bed if the look of the bed matters most and you don't need storage built in.
Small bedroom or box room: ottoman. It converts dead space under the bed into real storage without needing clearance at the sides.
Narrow room with one side against a wall: side-lift ottoman, or a divan with drawers specified on the open side only.
Awkward stairs, tight landings or a loft conversion: divan. The split base is far easier to manoeuvre than a rigid frame.
Guest room or rarely used room: framed bed. Storage matters l ess, so spend the budget on the design.
Shared children's room:bunk beds free up floor space, and triple sleepers add a third berth without a third footprint.
Statement main bedroom:upholstered or Italian beds, where the headboard becomes the focal point of the room.
UK bed sizes differ from European and American sizing, so always check the measurements rather than the name alone.
| Size | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 3′0″ | 90 × 190 cm |
| Small Double | 4′0″ | 120 × 190 cm |
| Double | 4′6″ | 135 × 190 cm |
| King | 5′0″ | 150 × 200 cm |
| Super King | 6′0″ | 180 × 200 cm |
Two practical points. A small double suits a single adult who wants more room without losing floor space, and it's the usual answer for a narrow second bedroom. And note that king and super king are 200cm long rather than 190cm, so taller sleepers gain 10cm by moving up a size.
Headboards, Slats and the Details That Matter
Headboards. Divan bases usually take a separate headboard fixed with struts, which means you can change the look later without replacing the bed. Framed and upholstered beds come with the headboard integrated.
Slat spacing. On framed beds, check the gap. Wide gaps shorten mattress life and can void a warranty.
Base and mattress together. A solid divan base makes a mattress feel firmer; a sprung slatted base makes the same mattress feel slightly softer. If you're buying both at once, try them as a pair rather than separately.
Delivery access. Measure your doorways, stairs, landing turns and ceiling height before ordering. This is the single most common reason a bed has to go back.
Think in terms of the whole sleeping setup rather than the frame alone:
The base or frame
The mattress, which is where comfort is genuinely decided
A headboard, if your base does not include one
Delivery, assembly and removal of your old bed
A sensible rule is not to pair an expensive frame with a cheap mattress. The frame shapes the room, but the mattress shapes how you sleep, so protect that part of the budget first.
What are the main types of beds?
The three main bed frame types are divan beds with a solid upholstered base, ottoman beds with a gas-lift storage platform, and framed beds with a slatted wooden or metal frame. Upholstered, bunk and Italian beds are styles built on these base types.
Is a divan or a framed bed better?
Neither is better outright. Divans offer firmer support, easier delivery and simple drawer storage, while framed beds offer stronger design and better mattress airflow. Choose on storage needs and access before styling.
Are ottoman beds worth it?
If storage is tight, yes. An ottoman uses the entire area under the bed rather than just the drawer band at the sides, which makes it the most space-efficient storage bed for small bedrooms.
What is the most popular bed size in the UK?
The double at 4'6 (135 x 190cm) remains the UK standard for two sleepers, though king size is increasingly popular where the room allows.
Can I put any mattress on any bed frame?
Mostly, but check slat spacing on framed beds, as gaps over about 7cm can cause sagging and may affect your mattress warranty. Foam and memory foam mattresses tend to suit slatted bases well.
The fastest way to decide is to see the bases side by side and try the lift on an ottoman for yourself. Browse the full bed collection online, or visit our Leeds showroom where our team can talk you through divan, ottoman and framed options, check your access measurements and help you pair the right mattress. Get in touch today.
