A single bed with storage gives a child's room drawers, shelves or even a spare bed without using any extra floor space, which is why it suits smaller kids' bedrooms so well. The main types are storage beds with drawers, ottoman beds, guest beds with a trundle, mid sleepers, high sleepers and bunk beds with storage. The right one depends on your child's age, the size and height of the room, and what you actually need to store.
This guide compares them side by side, explains what to check before you buy, and points you to the beds that do each job best.
Which storage bed suits your child? A quick comparison
| Type | Best for | Storage | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage bed with drawers | Any bedroom, everyday clothes and toys | Drawers in the base, sometimes shelves | All ages |
| Ottoman bed | Bulky things you rarely need | Lift-up base the size of the bed | All ages (adults do the lifting) |
| Guest bed with trundle | Sleepovers and spare rooms | Pull-out bed that doubles as a drawer | All ages |
| Mid sleeper | Younger school-age children, a den or desk | Drawers, cupboards, pull-out desk | 6 and over |
| High sleeper | Older children and teenagers | Desk, sofa bed, wardrobe, shelving | 6 and over |
| Bunk bed with storage | Brothers and sisters sharing | Drawers, wardrobe or trundle | 6 and over for the top bunk |
Why a single bed with storage works so well
Storage without the floor space
The space under a bed is the biggest empty area in most children's rooms. Putting drawers, shelves or a desk there frees up the floor for playing.
Less furniture to fit in
A bed with drawers can replace a chest of drawers or a toy box, and a high sleeper can replace a desk and wardrobe too. Fewer pieces, more room to move.
It grows with them
Pick a simple style in white, grey or natural pine and the same bed will still suit them as a teenager, so you're not replacing it after the next growth spurt.
The six types of storage bed
1. Storage beds with drawers
The simplest option: a floor-level single bed with drawers built into the base, and sometimes shelving in the headboard. There's no climbing, so it suits any age, including children moving up from a toddler bed. Drawers are best for things you use every day, like clothes, pyjamas and toys.
For a solid wood look, the Elwood pine storage bed comes in white, grey or natural pine. See all our beds with storage, or our pick of the best kids' storage beds under £400.
2. Ottoman beds
The whole base lifts up on gas struts to reveal a storage space the full size of the bed. It's ideal for bulky things you don't need every day, such as spare duvets, out-of-season clothes or the toys on rotation. An adult should do the lifting, and keep little fingers well clear of the mechanism. Browse our ottoman beds.
3. Guest beds with a trundle
A second bed slides out from underneath, so a friend or cousin can stay over without a blow-up mattress. When it isn't in use, many trundles double as a deep drawer for bedding. The Sienna and Harper are popular choices, or see all our trundle beds. Remember the trundle needs clear floor in front of the bed to pull out fully.
4. Mid sleepers
Mid sleepers, sometimes called cabin beds, raise the mattress to around half height, leaving room underneath for drawers, a cupboard or a pull-out desk. They're a good first raised bed, and many children love the den-like space below. Because the sleeping platform is raised, mid sleepers are for children aged 6 and over. See our mid sleepers.
5. High sleepers
A high sleeper lifts the bed high enough to fit a whole room's furniture underneath: a desk for homework, a sofa bed for friends, a wardrobe or shelving. For older children and teenagers in a small room, nothing uses space better. The Windsor and Oxford both combine a desk and a pull-out sofa bed, and our beds with wardrobes and gaming beds take the idea further.
High sleepers are for children aged 6 and over, and they suit older children best. Check your ceiling height so they can sit up comfortably in bed. Our high sleeper guide covers the details, or browse all high sleepers.
6. Bunk beds with storage
For brothers and sisters sharing a room, a bunk bed with drawers, a wardrobe or a trundle puts two beds and their storage into a single footprint. The Belgravia has a built-in wardrobe and drawers, and the Burford adds storage and a pull-out trundle.
The top bunk is for children aged 6 and over. Our bunk bed guide explains sizes and safety, or browse all bunk beds.
How to choose the right storage bed
- Your child's age. Under 6, stick to floor-level beds: storage beds, ottomans and guest beds. Mid sleepers, high sleepers and top bunks are for 6 and over.
- The floor space in front of the bed. Drawers need room to open, usually 50 to 60cm, and a trundle needs clear floor the length of the bed. Check doors and radiators too.
- The ceiling height. For a high sleeper or bunk, measure the ceiling, especially under a slope, so there's room to sit up in bed.
- What you're actually storing. Clothes suit drawers or a wardrobe, bulky bedding suits an ottoman or trundle, books and toys suit shelving, and homework needs a desk.
- A style they won't outgrow. Whites, greys and natural wood work from primary school to the teenage years, and they're easy to match with other furniture.
Don't forget the mattress
Our beds don't include a mattress, so check the size each one takes. Most single beds need a UK single (90 x 190cm), but some European designs take a continental single (90 x 200cm). Raised beds also have a maximum mattress depth, usually 15cm, so the guard rail stays at a safe height. Each bed page shows its size, maximum depth and matched mattresses you can add at 10% off. Browse our kids' mattresses or read our kids' mattress guide.
Common questions
Are storage beds good for small bedrooms?
Yes. They're one of the best ways to add storage without losing floor space. In very small rooms, a high sleeper can hold a desk, seating and storage in the footprint of a single bed. Our guide to beds for small rooms has more ideas.
What age can a child sleep in a mid sleeper or high sleeper?
From 6 years old. That's the UK safety standard for raised beds, including high sleepers, mid sleepers and the top bunk of a bunk bed. Younger children are safer in a floor-level storage bed or on a bottom bunk.
Do your storage beds come with a mattress?
No, mattresses are sold separately. Each bed page shows the mattresses that fit it, and you can add one to your order at 10% off.
What size mattress does a single storage bed need?
Usually a UK single, 90 x 190cm. Some European beds take a continental single, 90 x 200cm, so always check the bed's description. Our kids' bed size guide explains every size.
Is an ottoman or a bed with drawers better?
Drawers are better for things your child uses every day, as they open without moving the mattress. An ottoman holds more and suits bulky things you only need now and then, like spare bedding.
How much space do I need in front of a storage bed?
Allow at least the depth of the drawers, usually 50 to 60cm, plus room to kneel. For a trundle, you'll need clear floor about the length of the bed.
Ready to reclaim the floor?
Find the storage bed that fits your child's room, from simple drawer beds to high sleepers with a desk and sofa bed.
Shop beds with storageOr browse all single beds.