A storage bed can be worth the extra cost if it helps you organize your bedroom, use space more efficiently or avoid buying another piece of furniture. But it isn't automatically the best choice for every room.
If you live in an apartment, share a closet or have limited space for a dresser, built-in bed storage can be especially useful.
Instead of adding another cabinet, you can use some of the space already occupied by your bed.
However, storage beds introduce trade-offs.
They're generally more expensive than similar non-storage beds, have additional components to assemble and may need clearance for drawers or access to a lifting platform.
At Cozey, we designed the Ara Bed to offer customers a choice.
You can select a regular upholstered frame or one with four built-in drawers.
We chose side-access drawers because we wanted customers to reach their belongings easily, without lifting the mattress or disturbing someone sleeping beside them.
But we also believe the non-storage version is the better purchase for someone who doesn't need the additional compartments.
Here's how to evaluate the real cost, space savings and everyday benefits of a storage bed.
On This Page
- 1. What Is a Storage Bed?
- 2. What Are the Main Benefits of a Storage Bed?
- 3. How Much Storage Does the Cozey Ara Bed Provide?
- 4. Can a Storage Bed Replace a Dresser?
- 5. Does a Storage Bed Save Floor Space?
- 6. What Are the Disadvantages of Storage Beds?
- 7. Are Storage Beds Worth the Extra Money?
- 8. Drawers vs. Lift-Up Storage: Which Is Better?
- 9. Can You Add Storage Later?
- 10. Who Should Buy a Storage Bed?
- Final Thoughts: Pay for Storage You'll Actually Use
1. What Is a Storage Bed?
A storage bed is a bed frame with built-in space for belongings.
That storage can take different forms.
Storage bed systems compared
| Storage system | How it works | Best suited for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side drawers | Drawers extend from the sides of the frame | Regularly accessed bedding and clothing | Requires side clearance |
| Lift-up platform | Mattress platform rises to reveal a compartment | Bulkier, less frequently accessed belongings | Requires lifting the sleeping surface |
| Open under-bed space | Separate bins slide under a raised frame | Flexible, lower-cost storage | Bins need clearance and may be visible |
The most useful system is the one that works with your room layout and how frequently you need your belongings.
A large compartment isn't necessarily more convenient than several smaller drawers.
2. What Are the Main Benefits of a Storage Bed?
More Function From Existing Floor Space
Your bed occupies a significant amount of your bedroom.
Adding integrated storage makes some of that footprint useful for another purpose.
The strongest advantage isn't that a storage bed has literally zero additional footprint.
Some designs are slightly larger than their non-storage equivalents, and drawers need room to open.
The advantage is that the bed can perform a second function without requiring an entirely separate storage cabinet.
Potentially Less Need for a Dresser
For someone with adequate closet space, built-in bed drawers may hold the extra clothing and bedding that would otherwise require another dresser.
That can be meaningful in a studio apartment or small bedroom.
But if you have a lot of folded clothing or need drawers you can access while standing, a dresser may still be necessary.
Easier Organization
Integrated drawers can help separate spare bedding, seasonal clothing and other belongings.
Instead of stacking bins in a corner, you can store those items under the sleeping surface.
Convenient Access
With side-access drawers, you don't need to raise the mattress.
We chose that approach for Ara because we wanted storage customers could use regularly.
Each of Ara's four drawers opens independently.
Someone can retrieve an extra blanket without moving the bedding or disrupting a sleeping partner.
3. How Much Storage Does the Cozey Ara Bed Provide?
Ara Storage includes four drawers: two on each side of the bed.
The exact capacity depends on the size.
Ara storage drawer dimensions and capacity by bed size
| Bed size | Interior dimensions per drawer | Approximate volume per drawer | Combined nominal volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full | 25.6 × 25.0 × 5.1" | 1.9 cu. ft. | 7.5 cu. ft. |
| Queen | 28.5 × 27.5 × 5.1" | 2.3 cu. ft. | 9.2 cu. ft. |
| King | 35.7 × 27.5 × 5.1" | 2.9 cu. ft. | 11.5 cu. ft. |
The equivalent combined nominal volumes are approximately 212, 260 and 326 liters, respectively.
Each drawer has a maximum load of 20 pounds.
The measurements describe nominal internal volume rather than a tested quantity of belongings.
What Actually Fits?
The relatively wide, shallow drawers can be useful for folded sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, light blankets and clothing.
However, the internal height is only about five inches.
Bulky pillows, large storage boxes and tall rigid objects may not fit easily.
When evaluating a storage bed, always compare the drawer's actual internal dimensions with the items you plan to store.
A published volume figure doesn't tell the entire story.
4. Can a Storage Bed Replace a Dresser?
It can reduce or eliminate the need for a dresser in some homes.
Imagine someone who has a closet for hanging clothes but needs extra room for spare bedding, workout clothes and seasonal garments.
An Ara Queen offers approximately 9.2 cubic feet of nominal internal storage across four drawers.
That might provide sufficient supplemental storage without adding another dresser.
But for two people sharing a small closet, it may not be enough.
Consider the Type of Storage
A dresser typically offers several drawers at a convenient standing height.
Bed drawers sit lower and may be better for items that aren't needed multiple times per day.
If you need quick access to socks, shirts and other everyday clothing, a dresser may still be preferable.
If you need accessible storage for spare bedding or folded seasonal clothes, bed drawers can be particularly useful.
Our recommendation is to compare the type of belongings, not simply the total storage volume.
5. Does a Storage Bed Save Floor Space?
Potentially, but the savings depend on whether you avoid another piece of furniture.
Ara's storage and regular frames have slightly different widths.
Ara regular and storage frame width and depth by size
| Size | Regular frame width × depth | Storage frame width × depth |
|---|---|---|
| Full | 62.4 × 80.1" | 63.9 × 80.1" |
| Queen | 68.3 × 85.2" | 70.0 × 85.2" |
| King | 82.9 × 85.2" | 84.2 × 85.2" |
These frame measurements exclude the headboard.
The storage version is slightly wider, but the frame's front-to-back depth remains the same.
If storage allows you to remove an additional dresser, you may gain useful open floor space elsewhere.
If you're keeping your dresser, the benefit is additional storage capacity rather than necessarily a smaller furniture footprint.
Remember the Headboard
When planning the room, use the installed bed dimensions.
For example, a Queen Ara with Round or Square headboard is approximately 88 inches deep overall.
A Pillow headboard increases that to approximately 92.5 inches.
The width of the selected headboard also matters.
And side drawers need enough unobstructed space to open. If you'd like help working out what fits, you can book a free design consultation.
6. What Are the Disadvantages of Storage Beds?
They Usually Cost More
Additional panels, drawers and hardware increase the cost compared with a comparable standard frame.
The right comparison uses the same bed size, fabric and headboard, changing only storage versus regular.
We recommend using the current Cozey configurator rather than relying on a fixed price in an article, because the total depends on the selected components.
They Require More Assembly
A storage frame has more parts.
Ara's version adds four drawer assemblies and the corresponding installation steps.
The underlying steel structural frame follows the same modular design philosophy, but the storage components require extra work.
Drawer Access Can Be Limited
A side drawer isn't useful if a nightstand or wall prevents it from opening.
Measure both sides of the bed before purchasing.
If one side must sit against a wall, a lift-up design may be more practical.
Drawers Have Weight Limits
Ara has a separate 20-pound limit for each drawer.
Built-in storage isn't intended for very heavy equipment or loads beyond the manufacturer's specifications.
More Moving Parts Need Maintenance
Drawers and their connections should remain correctly aligned.
Use the storage system as instructed and avoid forcing or overloading the components.
7. Are Storage Beds Worth the Extra Money?
We suggest evaluating the purchase in three steps.
First: Calculate the Storage Premium
Compare the price of a regular and storage bed with identical size, headboard and fabric selections.
The difference represents the additional cost of the storage configuration.
Second: Subtract Furniture Purchases You Can Avoid
If buying a storage bed means you genuinely don't need another dresser or storage cabinet, that avoided expense is part of its value.
But don't count a dresser you would still need.
Third: Consider the Convenience
A drawer you use frequently may be more valuable than a compartment that's difficult to access.
That's why we prioritized side-access drawers for Ara.
A simple decision framework is:
Net extra cost = storage-bed premium − cost of storage furniture you no longer need to buy.
You should then weigh that result against how convenient the storage will be in your particular room.
8. Drawers vs. Lift-Up Storage: Which Is Better?
Neither is universally better.
Choose Drawers When:
- You have enough side clearance.
- You want frequent access to bedding or clothing.
- You prefer not to lift the mattress.
- You share the bed and may need to retrieve something while another person is sleeping.
Choose Lift-Up Storage When:
- Your bed must sit close to a wall.
- Side drawers would be blocked.
- You're storing bulkier belongings, subject to the design's usable dimensions.
- You don't need to access the compartment very frequently.
Why Ara Uses Drawers
We wanted storage that was accessible throughout everyday life.
Customers can open one drawer without lifting the entire sleeping surface.
That's particularly convenient for regularly used bedding and smaller belongings.
But if your room cannot accommodate the drawers, we wouldn't recommend forcing the configuration to fit.
9. Can You Add Storage Later?
One of the reasons we developed Ara as a modular bed system was to let customers adapt it.
Within compatible configurations, you can retain the existing steel structural frame and headboard when changing between regular and storage versions.
To add storage, you need the appropriate exterior frame components, covers and drawer assemblies.
To remove storage, you can retain the foundation while replacing the exterior components with their non-storage equivalents.
Correct parts depend on bed size and production compatibility.
Customer Happiness can help confirm the required components and availability.
This means you don't necessarily need to predict every future storage requirement when you first buy your bed.
10. Who Should Buy a Storage Bed?
Storage bed recommendation by situation
| Your situation | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| Studio apartment with limited storage | Strongly consider integrated storage |
| Bedroom has good clearance on both sides | Drawers can be very convenient |
| Bed must be placed against a wall | Consider other storage mechanisms |
| Need somewhere for extra bedding | Storage is often useful |
| Need tall drawers for bulky objects | Check usable drawer height |
| Already have more than enough storage | Regular bed may be better value |
| May want to add storage after moving | Consider a modular system with compatible conversion parts |
Final Thoughts: Pay for Storage You'll Actually Use
When we designed Ara, we wanted storage that was practical, accessible and integrated into a customizable bed.
That's why we chose four independent side drawers.
They make it possible to retrieve belongings without lifting the mattress, moving bedding or disturbing a sleeping partner.
But we don't believe storage is always worth paying extra for.
If your bedroom is too narrow or you already have sufficient storage, the regular frame may be the better choice.
A storage bed is worth it when its usable capacity, access and cost solve a real problem in your home—not simply because it offers more features. Explore the Ara Bed System.