Are storage beds worth the extra money? If your bedroom has limited wardrobe space or you want to reduce the amount of furniture in the room, a storage bed can be a very practical investment. But only if the storage is easy to access and suits the way you live.
For many apartment and smaller-home owners, finding enough bedroom storage is an ongoing challenge.
Wardrobes fill up.
Spare doonas, sheets and seasonal clothes need somewhere to go.
And adding a chest of drawers can make an already compact bedroom feel crowded.
A storage bed offers another solution: making use of space within the bed itself.
However, not every storage bed is equally suitable for every room.
Some use drawers.
Others use a gas-lift platform to reveal a compartment beneath the mattress.
And some simply provide enough clearance underneath for separate storage containers.
At Cozey, we developed the Ara Bed System with four side-access drawers because we wanted storage that customers could use conveniently, without raising the mattress or disturbing someone sleeping beside them.
We also made storage optional.
We don't believe everyone needs the extra functionality, and we wouldn't recommend paying more for storage you won't use.
Here's how to decide whether a storage bed is worth buying.
On This Page
- 1. What Is a Storage Bed?
- 2. Why Might a Storage Bed Be Worth It?
- 3. How Much Storage Does the Ara Bed Have in Australia?
- 4. Can a Storage Bed Replace a Chest of Drawers?
- 5. Does a Storage Bed Take Up More Space?
- 6. What Are the Disadvantages of Storage Beds?
- 7. Is the Extra Cost Worth Paying?
- 8. Side Drawers vs. Gas-Lift Storage: Which Is Better?
- 9. Can You Add or Remove Ara Storage Later?
- 10. Who Should Buy a Storage Bed?
- Final Thoughts: Storage Should Make Life Simpler
1. What Is a Storage Bed?
A storage bed incorporates compartments into the bed frame.
The goal is to provide room for belongings without necessarily adding a separate piece of furniture.
Three common designs are:
Common storage bed designs compared
| Design | How it works | Main advantage | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side-drawer bed | Drawers extend from the bed's sides | Convenient access without lifting the mattress | Requires clearance beside the bed |
| Gas-lift bed | The mattress platform lifts to reveal storage | Can work well when side access is limited | Requires lifting the sleeping surface |
| Raised frame with bins | Separate containers slide under the bed | Flexible, often lower-cost storage | Containers may collect dust or be awkward to retrieve |
The best storage system depends on your room and what you intend to store.
A larger storage compartment isn't necessarily better if accessing it is inconvenient.
2. Why Might a Storage Bed Be Worth It?
It Makes Better Use of Existing Space
Your bed is likely one of the largest pieces of furniture in your bedroom.
Using its base for storage creates additional function within approximately the same area.
This can be particularly valuable in a smaller apartment, where a bed and wardrobe may already occupy much of the available floor space.
However, side drawers still need room to open.
Built-in storage shouldn't be confused with storage that has no space requirements.
It May Reduce the Need for Other Furniture
If you have enough hanging space in your wardrobe, bed drawers may provide the supplementary capacity needed for folded clothing and spare bedding.
That could reduce the need for a chest of drawers.
But it depends on how many belongings you own and how frequently you need to access them.
A bed drawer is generally lower than a conventional dresser drawer, which may matter for everyday use.
It Keeps Belongings Out of Sight
Integrated drawers can reduce the need for baskets or containers around the room.
This can help create a cleaner, more organised appearance.
It Can Make Storage More Convenient
With side-access drawers, you can retrieve items without lifting the mattress.
This was important to us when designing Ara.
We wanted storage that could be accessed independently, even while another person was using the bed.
3. How Much Storage Does the Ara Bed Have in Australia?
Ara Storage has four drawers, two on each side.
The capacity changes according to the bed size.
Ara storage drawer dimensions and capacity by bed size
| Bed size | Internal dimensions per drawer | Approximate capacity per drawer | Combined 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 |
| Australian King | 86.9 × 69.87 × 12.85 cm | 78 L | 312 L |
Each drawer has a maximum load of 9 kg.
The Australian King uses dimensions specific to the Australian product, rather than North American King dimensions.
These figures represent nominal internal volume.
They don't mean every litre can be used equally efficiently, because real belongings have different shapes and dimensions.
What Can You Store in the Drawers?
Ara drawers are particularly useful for belongings that can be stored relatively flat.
Examples include folded sheets, doona covers, pillowcases, light blankets, towels and some folded clothing.
However, the drawers have an internal height of approximately 12.85 cm.
That means very bulky pillows, oversized doonas or tall storage containers may not fit as expected.
We recommend checking the dimensions of the items you plan to store rather than choosing based solely on the total volume.
4. Can a Storage Bed Replace a Chest of Drawers?
Sometimes.
An Ara Queen provides approximately 260 litres of nominal internal storage.
For a customer who already has enough hanging space, that may provide useful supplementary capacity.
It could allow them to reduce the amount of other storage furniture in the bedroom.
However, a chest of drawers may offer easier daily access to clothing, different compartment heights and more suitable storage for certain items.
When a Storage Bed May Replace Other Furniture
Consider a couple who have a built-in wardrobe with enough room for regularly worn clothing but need space for spare bedding and seasonal textiles.
If those belongings fit inside a storage bed, an additional low dresser may no longer be necessary.
The result could be a less crowded bedroom.
When a Separate Dresser Is Still Useful
If the wardrobe is already full, the bed drawers may simply provide additional capacity.
And if you frequently access socks, shirts or other everyday items, a dresser at standing height may be more convenient.
Our recommendation is to evaluate what you want to store, not simply count the number of drawers.
5. Does a Storage Bed Take Up More Space?
The external frame dimensions can differ slightly between storage and non-storage versions.
For Ara Upholstered, the main difference is width.
Ara frame width and depth by bed size, 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 |
| Australian King | 202.3 × 216.5 cm | 205.7 × 216.5 cm |
These are frame-only dimensions, excluding the headboard.
For example, the Queen storage frame is approximately 4.2 cm wider than the non-storage version.
The frame depth is unchanged.
However, the headboard and surrounding furniture affect the complete room layout.
Don't Forget the Headboard
The installed depth of a Queen Ara changes depending on headboard style.
A Round or Square headboard creates a complete depth of approximately 223.5 cm.
A Pillow headboard increases that to approximately 235 cm.
Extended has an installed depth of approximately 222.9 cm but requires much more wall width.
Drawer Clearance Matters More Than the Frame Difference
Before buying any side-drawer bed, measure the space beside it.
A wall, bedside table or wardrobe door may prevent the drawers from opening fully.
If your bed must sit against a wall, you may lose convenient access to one side.
In that situation, a gas-lift design may be more practical. If you'd like help working out what fits, you can book a free design consultation.
6. What Are the Disadvantages of Storage Beds?
Higher Purchase Price
A storage bed generally costs more than the equivalent non-storage configuration.
There are additional drawers, panels, rails and other components.
The exact premium depends on the size, materials and design.
For Ara, customers should compare the same size, headboard and fabric while changing only the storage selection in the Australian configurator.
More Assembly
Additional drawers mean more assembly steps.
Ara's storage configuration requires four drawer assemblies.
The main steel structure follows the same modular approach as the regular bed, but storage adds components and hardware.
Side-Clearance Requirements
This is often the most important drawback in a compact bedroom.
A bed can technically fit in the room while its drawers remain difficult to access.
Load and Height Limits
Ara drawers have a maximum load of 9 kg each.
They're designed for suitable household belongings, not heavy equipment or items that exceed the drawer's dimensions.
More Moving Components
Drawers need to be assembled correctly and maintained appropriately.
Don't force a drawer that isn't aligned, and don't exceed the specified load.
7. Is the Extra Cost Worth Paying?
We recommend thinking about the price difference in relation to your actual storage needs.
Compare Equivalent Configurations
Keep the bed size, frame shape, headboard and fabric the same.
Compare the cost of storage and non-storage.
That's the fairest way to understand the premium.
Consider Whether You Can Avoid Buying Other Storage Furniture
If the storage bed removes the need for a separate chest of drawers, part of the additional cost may be offset by that avoided purchase.
But only include furniture you genuinely wouldn't need.
Consider the Convenience
If you regularly need spare bedding, easy access can be valuable.
If you rarely retrieve stored items, the storage mechanism may matter less.
A useful framework is:
Net extra investment = storage-bed premium − cost of additional storage furniture you no longer need.
Then consider whether the drawers are accessible enough to justify the purchase.
8. Side Drawers vs. Gas-Lift Storage: Which Is Better?
Side Drawers Are Often Better For:
- Frequently accessed items.
- Customers who don't want to lift the mattress.
- Couples who may retrieve belongings independently.
- Bedrooms with sufficient side clearance.
Gas-Lift Storage May Be Better For:
- Beds placed against walls.
- Rooms with limited side clearance.
- Bulkier items that fit the particular lift-up compartment.
- Storage that is accessed only occasionally.
Why We Chose Four Drawers for Ara
We wanted storage that would be genuinely convenient in everyday life.
Customers can open one compartment without lifting the mattress or disturbing someone resting on the bed.
That's the key functional benefit of Ara's design.
But it doesn't mean drawers are the ideal answer for every bedroom.
9. Can You Add or Remove Ara Storage Later?
Yes.
Within compatible configurations, Ara customers can retain the main steel foundation and headboard when changing between storage and non-storage.
To add drawers, customers need the appropriate storage-frame components, covers and four drawer assemblies.
To remove storage, they need the appropriate non-storage exterior frame components and covers.
The original structural steel frame can remain.
We designed Ara this way because storage needs can change.
Someone may move into a smaller apartment and want additional storage.
Or they may move into a home with more wardrobe space and prefer a regular frame.
The correct conversion components depend on size and compatibility, so customers should contact Cozey Customer Happiness before ordering.
10. Who Should Buy a Storage Bed?
Storage bed recommendation by situation
| Your situation | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| Apartment with limited wardrobe storage | Strongly consider a storage bed |
| Spare doonas and bedding need a home | Integrated drawers are useful |
| Good clearance beside the bed | Side drawers are convenient |
| Bed sits close to a wall | Consider gas-lift storage |
| Need storage for very bulky items | Compare the actual compartment dimensions |
| Already have sufficient wardrobes | Non-storage may be better value |
| Prefer easy access without moving bedding | Side drawers are particularly practical |
Final Thoughts: Storage Should Make Life Simpler
When we developed Ara, we wanted a bed that could be personalised to different bedrooms and different lifestyles.
For customers who need extra storage, that meant four accessible drawers.
We chose side access because we wanted customers to retrieve belongings without lifting the mattress or moving their bedding.
But we also made storage optional and designed the system so compatible configurations could be changed later.
We don't believe every bedroom needs built-in storage.
A storage bed is worth buying when it solves a real problem: reducing clutter, making better use of available space or avoiding the need for additional furniture.
If it doesn't solve one of those problems, there's no reason to pay more simply for the feature. Explore the Ara Bed System.