Ottoman Beds: Side Opening Vs End Opening, Which Is Better?

Updated : 23 Jun 2025
Published : 24 Jun 2025
Guides

Ottoman beds are a very popular choice within the bed market these days and it’s really easy to see why. Not only do they look fantastic, with plenty of styles, fabric finishes and colours to choose from, but they offer unrivaled storage space when it comes to storage beds too!

Ottoman beds are generally available in either an end opening or side opening version, but which type is more suitable for your needs? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each shall we.

Side Opening Ottoman Bed Pros

There’s plenty of benefits when it comes to ottoman beds, but what specifically can a side opening ottoman bed bring to the table?

Potentially More Suitable For Smaller Bedrooms

Making the most of the space in your bedroom is something we all want to achieve, whether it’s by freeing up space for a minimalist approach or ensuring there’s enough space for all your favourite furniture items. However, when it comes to smaller bedrooms, these dreams are often more difficult to achieve and as such you can find yourself having to place furniture somewhere you maybe didn’t really want to.

However, if this is the case, you don’t need to compromise on taking advantage of an ottoman bed’s storage capabilities. By opting for a side opening ottoman bed, you can place your bed up against a bedroom wall and still have the room to access your belongings underneath. Just be sure to leave enough space for the piston assisted ottoman bed frame and mattress to lift out sideways slightly and safely. It’s also important to determine which side your ottoman bed will open on before purchasing, as it’s not always possible to configure which side this is.

Potentially More Suitable For Users With Mobility Issues

Side opening ottoman beds don’t lift as high as end opening ottoman beds do. Because the width of your bed is of course less than the length of your bed.

As such, a side opening ottoman bed could be more suitable for you if you’re a wheelchair user or someone who struggles with reaching higher to pull things down due to your mobility issues.

It Can Feel Lighter To Lift

Whilst both models utilise gas-lift piston mechanisms that make either model a breeze to use, side opening ottoman beds can sometimes feel lighter to lift than end opening ottoman beds due to the position of the lifting mechanism.

As it’s positioned closer to where you’re lifting from, it can make things that little bit easier when lifting the mattress platform to access your belongings.

Side Opening Ottoman Bed Cons

As with anything, there’s often always some downsides, however these may not always apply to you and your situation.

Potentially Less Storage Space

Each and every manufacturer creates their ottoman beds differently and as such, they feature slightly different materials which may be more or less bulky than others. With a side opening ottoman bed, there’s a potential for you to not have as much storage space as you would if you opted for an end opening ottoman bed.

This is often down to the gas-lift piston mechanism’s placement and the need for a hinge at both the top and bottom end of the bed. This could make the storage space available to you feel a little more cramped than in the end-opening alternative.

Requires Sufficient Space To Open & Access Storage Space

If you opt for a side opening ottoman bed, you’ll need to ensure there’s enough space at the side of the bed for the mattress platform to open and of course to allow you to access your belongings underneath the bed.

This isn’t always the case in smaller bedrooms or even medium sized bedrooms when the bedroom layout doesn’t lend itself to allowing the space you need. So potentially a bedroom layout change may be required if you were to choose a side opening ottoman bed.

End-Opening Ottoman Bed Pros

So what about end opening ottoman beds, what can they specifically offer?

Can Be Accessed From Three Sides

As these types of ottoman beds are opened from the end of the bed, it allows you to access the storage space and your belongings from three sides of the bed.

This can certainly be useful if there’s more than one of you that needs to access the space at the same time and makes it easier for you if you need to move around the bed, whilst accessing your belongings, for example if you were packing your suitcase for a holiday.

Ideal For Narrow Spaces

If your bedroom is rather narrow or you have to place your bed in a section of your bedroom that’s narrow, an end opening ottoman bed ensures you won’t have any issues accessing the storage space underneath your bed.

As long as you have enough space to safely and effectively lift the mattress platform from the end of the bed, you’ll be able to access your storage space.

Greater Access To Your Storage Space

Due to their construction, end opening ottoman beds also often make it easier to access and retrieve larger, bulkier items from your storage space.

Because the mattress platform opens from one end, you have the space to reach in from three sides to safely and more easily pull out heavier or bulkier items such as storage boxes and suitcases.

End Opening Ottoman Bed Cons

We’ve looked at the pros, but what are the cons of an end opening ottoman bed?

Required Ceiling Height

As the length of your bed is longer than the width of your bed, you’ll need more space above your bed to be able to access the storage space in an end opening ottoman bed. Therefore, if you have low ceilings in your bedroom, an end opening ottoman bed may not be the right choice for you and you should instead look to opt for a side opening variation. Make sure you measure your ceiling height and check the product dimensions before making a decision though, as you may have enough space.

Can Be Harder To Open If Placed Near a Wall

Whilst the gas-assisted piston mechanism present within all ottoman beds takes a lot of the heavy lifting away from you, you still need to be able to effectively and safely lift the mattress platform in the first place. The pistons won’t kick in to help you until you’ve lifted it to a certain point, so you want to ensure you can lift the platform without injuring yourself. If the foot of the bed is placed near a wall or piece of furniture, it may make it much harder to access the storage space safely and effectively.

Think About Your Needs & Situation

Both end opening and side opening ottoman beds offer you essentially the same amount of storage space and many of the other benefits such as beautiful headboard designs, luxurious fabric finishes and availability in all UK bed sizes. But it’s important to consider your situation and needs before opting for either a side opening or end opening ottoman bed.

As long as you consider the placement of the bed, your physical abilities and your preference when it comes to accessing the storage space, you should make the right choice for you. If you’re unsure which is the best type of ottoman bed for you, please get in touch with our team of experts. We’ll be more than happy to help.