A storage bed is a bed designed to make use of the space beneath the sleeping surface. In the classic model, the bed frame and mattress can be lifted to access a closed compartment built into the base of the bed. In very simple terms, the bed thus serves two functions: a sleeping surface and storage space. It’s a seemingly simple definition, but from a technical standpoint, there are several different solutions. There are beds with a lift-up slatted base and an underlying storage compartment, models with a parallel-opening mechanism, beds with side drawers, and more advanced systems that utilize the entire space under the bed without using the classic lift-up mechanism.
It is precisely this latter interpretation that characterizes many SpazioBed solutions. The concept of the storage bed goes beyond a simple storage compartment: the bed is raised, and drawers, closets, clothes racks, shelves, or bookcases can be integrated underneath. The function remains the same—using the space occupied by the bed for storage—but the way the space underneath is accessed changes completely.
What is a classic storage bed technically like?
In a traditional storage bed, we can identify several fundamental components. The first is the perimeter structure, or bed frame, which delimits the space. The second is the base on which the mattress rests. The base is not rigidly fixed to the base, but is connected to the structure via a system that allows it to be raised. In the most common models, movement is assisted by gas springs or pistons . A gas spring uses a cylinder sealed with pressurized gas and a piston to generate a controlled force: those interested in learning more about how they work can consult this technical guide on gas springs .
The system must be calibrated according to the structure, the bed base, and the weight of the mattress. Its purpose is not to lift the bed on its own, but to assist the movement and keep the bed base in the intended position, making it easier to access the space underneath. The lowest part consists of the bottom of the storage compartment or, depending on the model, panels or structural elements that separate the items from the floor.
How do you open a storage bed?
The most common system features a tilting mechanism: you lift the bed frame starting from the foot of the bed, and the mattress remains on the frame throughout the entire movement. Once open, the storage compartment below becomes accessible from above. There are also dual-lift or parallel-opening systems. After an initial tilt, the slatted base can be raised higher to an almost horizontal position. This configuration makes it easier to access the storage compartment and, in some models, also simplifies the process of making the bed.
However, not all systems use the same principle. It is important to distinguish between the concept of storage and the mechanism that makes it accessible: the bed serves as a “storage unit” because it incorporates usable space into its structure, not because it must necessarily have a particular type of piston. Furthermore, when evaluating the quality of a bed, its structure and mechanisms should not be considered separately from safety and overall durability. For a more detailed overview of the general technical framework for adult beds, please refer to UNI EN 1725:2024, which addresses the safety, strength, and durability requirements for beds and their components.
Are storage beds and beds with drawers the same thing?
In everyday language, they’re often grouped together because both use the space under the mattress for storage. Technically, however, they work differently. In a classic storage bed, you lift the bed base to access a single large compartment from above. In a bed with drawers, on the other hand, the sleeping surface remains stationary, and the storage space is divided into compartments that slide out from the side.
The difference isn’t just mechanical. It also changes the way space is used. The storage compartment offers a single, very spacious area; the drawers, on the other hand, create more organized and directly accessible compartments. SpazioBed makes extensive use of this second approach in its bedroom sets with drawers, where the bed frame is raised and the space underneath can accommodate actual drawer units, eliminating the need to lift the mattress and box spring every time you want to retrieve something.
The SpazioBed Concept: From a Storage Compartment to a True Living Space
The traditional storage bed is designed primarily with a horizontal layout: a storage compartment, generally a few dozen centimeters high, is created beneath the bed frame. SpazioBed starts from the same idea— not wasting the space under the bed —but develops it vertically. The bed frame can be raised to different heights, and the space below is no longer necessarily a single enclosed compartment. It can become a system composed of wardrobes, dressers, rolling carts, shelves, and other modules that can be accessed independently.
In rooms with rolling carts, for example, the contents are accessed by pulling out modules on wheels. In rooms with a cabinet underneath, the same space is converted into a wardrobe. In other configurations, multiple functions can be combined. The technical difference is significant: you don’t have to lift the mattress to access the contents. The sleeping surface remains in place, and the elements under the bed are accessed from the front or side like regular furniture.
How much storage space can a bed hold?
In a classic storage bed, the available storage space is roughly determined by the size of the bed base. A double bed therefore offers a much larger horizontal storage compartment than a single bed, although the actual usable volume depends on the internal height of the storage compartment and the design of the mechanism. With the SpazioBed system, the key factor changes. It’s not just the area under the mattress that matters, but also the usable height beneath the bed frame. By increasing this height, it becomes possible to use the space not only for low-profile items or boxes, but also for actual pieces of furniture.
For this reason, before choosing a solution, it’s important to consider the entire room. In the article on the space needed for a bed and nightstands, we saw how much the size of the sleeping area affects the walkways; similarly, deciding to concentrate storage under the bed can change the layout of the other furniture.
What do you typically store in a storage bed?
The storage compartment of a traditional storage bed is generally used for items that don’t need to be accessed frequently: linens, comforters, blankets, pillows, suitcases, boxes, and seasonal clothing. The reason is mainly practical: to access these items, you have to open the bed frame. When storage is organized in drawers, cabinets, or freestanding carts, however, it can also be used for everyday items. Clothes, knitwear, and accessories can be organized just like in regular storage furniture.
This is one of the reasons why, in smaller bedrooms, it’s worth designing the bed and storage together. The guide on how to arrange furniture in a small bedroom delves into the importance of considering the space the furniture takes up when in use—not just its dimensions when closed.
Single, double or studio container bed
The principle can be applied to beds of different sizes. Single, queen-size, French, and double storage beds are available. The choice of size naturally depends on the size of the room and the number of people who will use the bed. In the case of the SpazioBed, the structure can be configured in different widths, and the storage space underneath is designed accordingly. Space-saving double bedrooms offer different interpretations for adults, while studio-style bedrooms bring the same principle to spaces where sleeping areas and other functions must coexist in a small space.
In a space-saving master bedroom, therefore, the bed can become the focal point around which the entire storage system is organized, rather than simply being the bulkiest piece of furniture in the room.
The Classic Storage Bed and the SpazioBed at a Glance
The Classic Storage Bed is a bed with a storage compartment beneath the bed base, typically accessed by lifting the bed base and mattress using a power-assisted mechanism. It is a well-established and widely used solution. The SpazioBed system addresses the same need in a different way: it increases the available space under the sleeping surface and transforms it into a true storage system. Instead of a single storage compartment, there can be drawers, rolling units, bookshelves, or cabinets, all accessible without opening the bed.
It’s not, therefore, a matter of determining that one solution is universally better than another, but of understanding what kind of storage is needed. Those looking for a large compartment for items used only occasionally might opt for a classic storage chest. Those who want to use the space under the bed on a daily basis might consider a raised, modular design. Before making a decision, it may be helpful to explore the disadvantages of a storage bed, and if your main concern is keeping the storage space clean, you can read about how to keep dust out of a storage bed.
If you’d like to learn more about the evolution of this idea, you can also read our history of the storage bed. For those who are designing a room with limited space, our guide on how to furnish a small bedroom will help you incorporate storage solutions into the overall design of the room.