Are storage beds worth it? For many people, especially those living in apartments, condos or homes with limited closet space, the answer is yes. But a storage bed is only valuable if the storage is convenient to access and you actually need it.
A storage bed can turn space already occupied by your bed into useful storage for bedding, clothing and other belongings. It may reduce the need for additional furniture and help make a bedroom feel less cluttered.
However, storage beds generally cost more than comparable non-storage beds. They can take longer to assemble, require more components and introduce practical considerations around drawer access.
And not every storage system works equally well in every bedroom.
At Cozey, we thought carefully about these trade-offs when developing the Ara Bed System.
We chose four side-access drawers rather than a lift-up mattress mechanism because we wanted storage that would be practical to use regularly.
But we also designed Ara so customers could choose a non-storage configuration and, with the appropriate components, change between storage and non-storage later.
We don't believe everyone should buy a storage bed.
We believe customers should understand exactly what they're paying for and when the additional functionality is worthwhile.
On This Page
- 1. What Is a Storage Bed?
- 2. What Are the Biggest Advantages of a Storage Bed?
- 3. How Much Storage Does the Cozey Ara Bed Have?
- 4. Can a Storage Bed Replace a Dresser?
- 5. How Much Additional Space Does a Storage Bed Occupy?
- 6. What Are the Disadvantages of Storage Beds?
- 7. Are Storage Beds Worth the Extra Money?
- 8. Drawer Storage vs. Lift-Up Storage: Which Should You Choose?
- 9. Can You Add Storage to an Ara Bed Later?
- 10. Who Should Buy a Storage Bed?
- Final Thoughts: Buy Storage for the Way You Actually Live
1. What Is a Storage Bed?
A storage bed is a bed frame with built-in compartments for keeping belongings.
Instead of leaving the space underneath the mattress unused, the frame incorporates drawers or another storage mechanism.
There are three common approaches.
Common types of storage beds compared
| Type | How it works | Main advantage | Main disadvantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side-drawer storage bed | Drawers pull out from the sides of the frame | Easy access without moving the mattress | Needs clearance beside the bed |
| Lift-up storage bed | The mattress platform lifts to reveal a compartment underneath | Can work well where side clearance is limited | Requires lifting the platform to access items |
| Raised bed with storage bins | Separate containers slide underneath an elevated frame | Flexible and often inexpensive | Bins may be visible, collect dust or be awkward to retrieve |
The best type depends on your room and how frequently you need to access your belongings.
A lift-up system might be ideal for storing items you rarely use.
Side drawers can be more convenient when you want to retrieve clothing or bedding without disturbing the person sleeping beside you.
2. What Are the Biggest Advantages of a Storage Bed?
Advantage #1: You Use Space the Bed Already Occupies
Your bed is probably the largest piece of furniture in your bedroom.
A standard bed frame occupies a substantial area regardless of whether it includes storage.
Adding storage can make part of that existing footprint more productive.
This is particularly valuable in smaller homes where every piece of furniture needs to work harder.
However, that doesn't mean a storage bed literally takes up no additional space.
Some models have slightly wider frames, and side drawers need room to extend.
The practical space saving comes from integrating storage into the bed instead of adding another storage unit.
Advantage #2: You Might Need Less Additional Furniture
For someone with adequate closet space, a storage bed might reduce the need for a dresser.
For someone without much closet space, it may simply supplement a dresser.
The difference depends on what you need to store.
Bed drawers can work well for folded clothing, spare bedding, towels and seasonal textiles.
A conventional dresser may still be better for frequently accessed everyday clothing, tall stacks of folded garments or items that benefit from deeper drawers.
Our advice is not to assume a storage bed replaces a dresser. Compare the actual usable storage capacity first.
Advantage #3: The Bedroom Can Look Less Cluttered
When storage is integrated into the frame, belongings can be kept out of sight.
This may reduce the need for open baskets, stacked containers or additional storage furniture.
A bedroom can feel calmer and more organized when everything has a designated place.
But built-in drawers only help if they're genuinely convenient to access.
A drawer blocked by a nightstand won't provide the same benefit as one that opens freely.
Advantage #4: Storage Can Be More Convenient
The storage mechanism matters as much as the available volume.
We designed Ara's drawers so each compartment can be opened independently.
There's no need to lift the mattress or move your bedding.
For example, you can retrieve a spare pillowcase or blanket while your partner is sleeping.
This was a deliberate product-development choice.
We wanted storage to be accessible during everyday life rather than useful only for occasional seasonal organization.
3. How Much Storage Does the Cozey Ara Bed Have?
Ara Storage has four drawers, two on each side.
The drawers are designed to take advantage of space within the bed's base.
The capacity changes by bed size.
Ara storage drawer dimensions and capacity by bed size
| Bed size | Internal dimensions per drawer | Approximate volume per drawer | Total nominal capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full | 64.9 × 63.4 × 12.85 cm | 53 L | 212 L |
| Queen | 72.4 × 69.8 × 12.85 cm | 65 L | 260 L |
| King | 90.7 × 69.87 × 12.85 cm | 81 L | 326 L |
Each drawer has a separate weight limit of 9 kg (20 lb).
These figures describe nominal internal volume based on the drawer dimensions, not a tested number of clothing items that will fit.
Actual packing capacity depends on the size and shape of the items.
What Can You Store in Ara's Drawers?
They're particularly suited to belongings that fit within a relatively shallow compartment.
Examples include:
- Folded sheets and pillowcases.
- Duvet covers.
- Lightweight blankets.
- Folded T-shirts and other clothing.
- Seasonal accessories.
- Smaller bedroom textiles.
Very bulky pillows, thick duvets or rigid storage boxes may be less practical because the drawers have limited internal height.
It's worth measuring the items you want to store rather than relying on volume alone.
4. Can a Storage Bed Replace a Dresser?
Sometimes, but not always.
Let's use the Ara Queen as an example.
It offers approximately 260 litres of nominal internal storage across four drawers.
That is a meaningful amount of space that would otherwise not be available inside a conventional non-storage bed frame.
However, a dresser's capacity varies substantially according to its size, number of drawers and internal dimensions.
A tall dresser may offer better vertical storage and easier access to daily clothing.
Ara's drawers are wide and relatively shallow.
That makes them particularly useful for bedding and folded textiles.
When a Storage Bed Could Reduce Your Need for a Dresser
A storage bed is especially attractive when you already have enough hanging space for everyday clothing.
For example, someone living in a condo with a reasonably sized wardrobe might use their closet for shirts, dresses and jackets, and their bed drawers for folded clothing and extra bedding.
In that situation, the storage bed could eliminate the need for a separate low dresser.
When You Should Keep the Dresser
If two people share a small closet or have a large amount of folded clothing, bed drawers alone may not be sufficient.
And if you need drawers you can open while standing upright several times a day, a conventional dresser may be more ergonomic.
A storage bed can replace some storage furniture, but it shouldn't be expected to replace every kind of storage.
5. How Much Additional Space Does a Storage Bed Occupy?
This is one of the most misunderstood questions about storage beds.
The bed itself usually occupies approximately the same floor area whether it contains storage or not.
However, some storage configurations have different external dimensions.
Ara Upholstered Frame Dimensions
Ara Upholstered frame width and depth, non-storage and storage
| Bed size | Non-storage frame width × depth | Storage frame width × depth |
|---|---|---|
| Full | 158.5 × 203.5 cm | 162.3 × 203.5 cm |
| Queen | 173.5 × 216.5 cm | 177.7 × 216.5 cm |
| King | 210.5 × 216.5 cm | 213.9 × 216.5 cm |
The storage configuration is slightly wider, while the frame depth remains the same.
The complete bed's footprint also depends on your selected headboard.
For example, the Queen Ara with Round headboard has an overall installed depth of approximately 88 inches (223.5 cm).
A Pillow headboard increases that to approximately 92.5 inches (235 cm).
The More Important Question: Can the Drawers Open?
The crucial measurement is not only the bed's external dimensions.
You need to know how far the drawers extend and whether nearby furniture obstructs them.
Consider the position of:
- Nightstands.
- Walls.
- Dressers.
- Bedroom doors.
- Walkways.
- Other furniture beside the bed.
Don't assume a storage bed will be convenient simply because its frame fits between two walls.
A bed pushed against a wall may leave two of its four side-access drawers difficult or impossible to use.
For accurate planning, confirm the drawer-extension clearance for your chosen configuration. If you'd like help working out what fits, you can book a free design consultation.
6. What Are the Disadvantages of Storage Beds?
Disadvantage #1: They Cost More
Storage configurations generally require extra panels, drawer components, rails and hardware.
That increases the purchase price compared with a similar non-storage bed.
The size of the price difference depends on the brand, dimensions, finish and storage mechanism.
For Ara, we recommend comparing the storage and non-storage versions using the same size, headboard and fabric in the current configurator.
That provides a meaningful comparison without confusing a headboard upgrade or premium fabric with the storage premium.
Disadvantage #2: Assembly Can Take Longer
Drawers add components.
For Ara, the storage version requires assembling four separate drawer units and installing their supporting components.
The underlying steel bed frame uses the same modular construction philosophy as the non-storage version, but the drawer assembly adds work.
Disadvantage #3: Drawers Require Access Space
This is particularly important in apartments.
A room may be large enough for a Queen bed but too narrow for convenient side-drawer access.
If your bed needs to sit against a wall, consider whether a lift-up bed would make better use of the space.
Disadvantage #4: Drawers Have Weight and Height Limits
Built-in storage isn't unlimited storage.
Ara drawers have a 9 kg weight limit each and an internal height of approximately 12.85 cm.
That makes them suited to many bedroom textiles but not heavy equipment or oversized belongings.
Disadvantage #5: There Are More Moving Components
Drawers and their hardware need appropriate use and maintenance.
They should be kept properly aligned and not overloaded.
We recommend following the assembly instructions, avoiding force when a drawer doesn't move correctly, and checking the mechanism periodically.
7. Are Storage Beds Worth the Extra Money?
We recommend calculating value based on three factors: the price difference, the additional storage you actually need and whether it replaces another purchase.
Step 1: Compare Equivalent Bed Configurations
Start with the same bed size, headboard, frame style and fabric.
Then compare the price of storage versus non-storage.
That difference is the additional investment for integrated drawers.
Step 2: Consider the Furniture You Might Avoid Buying
If the storage bed means you no longer need another small dresser or storage cabinet, that avoided purchase may partly offset the premium.
But only include furniture you realistically would have purchased.
Step 3: Consider Floor Space
If removing a dresser creates more circulation space, that's a real benefit.
If you'll keep the dresser anyway, the storage bed may still be convenient but won't necessarily free up floor area.
Step 4: Consider Everyday Use
Storage that is easy to reach may be worth more to you than storage that is inconvenient.
Someone who retrieves bedding regularly may appreciate Ara's independent drawers.
Someone who only stores winter bedding twice a year may find a lift-up compartment equally suitable.
A Simple Way to Think About It
Net additional investment = storage-bed price premium − furniture purchases you genuinely avoid.
That calculation doesn't capture every benefit, such as convenience or a less cluttered room.
But it helps distinguish practical value from paying extra for a feature you may rarely use.
8. Drawer Storage vs. Lift-Up Storage: Which Should You Choose?
We believe both systems have a place.
Side Drawers Are Better When:
- You want frequent access to stored items.
- You don't want to lift the mattress.
- You share the bed and want to retrieve belongings independently.
- You have enough room beside the bed for drawers to open.
Lift-Up Storage May Be Better When:
- The bed must sit close to a wall.
- There isn't enough side clearance for drawers.
- You want access to a larger central compartment.
- You mainly store items you don't need to retrieve frequently.
Why We Chose Drawers for Ara
Our goal was convenient everyday storage.
We wanted customers to be able to open one compartment without changing the position of the mattress.
That's why Ara uses four side-access drawers.
We wouldn't claim this is the best solution for every room.
But for customers with sufficient clearance, we believe it's a particularly practical approach.
9. Can You Add Storage to an Ara Bed Later?
Yes. This was an important part of Ara's modular design.
Customers with a compatible non-storage Ara can retain their steel structural foundation and existing headboard when converting to storage.
They need the appropriate storage frame components, fabric covers where applicable, and four drawer assemblies.
The reverse is also possible: storage can be removed and the appropriate non-storage exterior components installed.
This can be useful for someone moving from a spacious home into a smaller bedroom, or vice versa.
The correct parts must match the bed size and supported product family.
Customers should confirm component compatibility and availability with Cozey Customer Happiness.
How Do Ara Wood and Ara Upholstered Differ?
In Canada, Ara Upholstered offers storage with both Round and Square frame styles.
Ara Wood offers storage with the Fluted frame, while the raised Leg-frame configuration is non-storage.
This gives customers different aesthetic options while preserving the practical value of integrated storage.
10. Who Should Buy a Storage Bed?
We generally recommend storage beds to customers who have limited closet space, want to keep belongings out of sight, or would otherwise purchase additional bedroom storage furniture.
They're also useful for customers who prefer drawers to a lifting mattress mechanism.
We would be less likely to recommend them to someone whose bed must sit against a wall, whose room cannot accommodate drawer access, or who already has more than enough storage.
Our Recommendation
Storage bed recommendation by situation
| Your situation | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| Small condo with limited closets | Strongly consider storage |
| Room has good clearance beside the bed | Side-access drawers are practical |
| Bed must sit against a wall | Consider lift-up storage or other alternatives |
| Need to store spare bedding | Storage is often useful |
| Need deep drawers for bulky objects | Check drawer height before buying |
| Already have sufficient storage | Non-storage may be better value |
| Want to change needs later | Consider a modular system with supported conversion components |
Final Thoughts: Buy Storage for the Way You Actually Live
When we designed Ara, we wanted storage that was easy to use—not simply a large compartment that looked impressive in a product description.
Four independent side-access drawers give customers a practical way to organize bedding and belongings without lifting the mattress.
But we also recognize that not everyone needs them.
A storage bed is worth the additional investment when the convenience and capacity solve a real problem in your home.
If your room doesn't have enough clearance, or you already have ample storage, a non-storage bed may be a smarter purchase.
The best storage bed isn't necessarily the one with the most storage. It's the one that provides the right amount of usable storage, in the right place, at a price that makes sense for your needs. Explore the Ara Bed System.