Beds & Bedroom
Storage Bed Styles: A Quick Visual Guide
Storage beds come in more shapes than 'drawers underneath' — here's a quick tour of the styles you'll actually run into, and who each one suits.
If you already know you want built-in storage, the next question is which style. Below are the shapes that come up again and again while browsing — this is the quick visual tour; for the practical side (measuring, drawer runners, materials), see our storage platform bed buying guide.
Rear-storage doubles
Compartments built into the headboard or footboard area rather than under the mattress — good for tucking away spare bedding without touching the under-bed space at all. Keeps a sleek, elevated profile.
Under-bed drawer beds
The classic: slide-out drawers under the frame. Particularly good in kids' rooms, where quick access for toys and everyday linens matters more than maximum capacity.
Big-drawer under-storage beds
A step up in scale — oversized drawers built for quilts, spare pillows and bulk bedding rather than day-to-day items. Suits a master or guest room where you want serious capacity without a lift mechanism.
All-around under-storage beds
Drawers on both sides, usually on smooth-rolling runners. The trade-off for maximum storage is that you need clearance on both sides of the bed to actually use it — better for a room where the bed isn't pushed against a wall.
Front under-storage beds
Drawers positioned at the foot rather than the sides — the practical choice when a room has limited side clearance but open space at the foot of the bed.
Lift (ottoman) beds
A hydraulic or gas-strut lift raises the whole mattress platform to reveal one large compartment underneath — the highest-capacity option, and the best fit for seasonal items you don't need to reach often.
Twin-over-twin with storage drawers
A bunk-style frame with under-bed drawers built in alongside it. A genuinely space-efficient option for siblings sharing a room, or a guest room that occasionally needs to sleep two.
Trundle-and-storage combinations
A pull-out trundle for occasional guests, plus built-in drawers for everyday storage — useful for a household that hosts often but doesn't have a dedicated guest room to give up.
Curved platform beds
Where the storage bed doubles as the room's centrepiece — curved head and footboards, contrast finishes, chrome or metal accents — built-in storage without it looking purely functional.
Whichever shape appeals, the buying decision comes down to the same handful of measurements every time — room clearance, frame width, and drawer or lift access. Our storage platform bed guide walks through exactly what to check before you commit.