Divan Beds & Bases

What is a divan bed?

A divan base is a type of storage bed that consists of a wooden structure covered in a soft upholstered fabric. They typically come with built-in drawers, either two or four, and often have wheels, making them easy to move around a room.

Some divan beds come with ottoman storage instead. And this simply means you can lift the mattress and access the inside of the divan bed to store your items – whether that be out of season clothes, bedding, children's toys, or whatever you deem fit.

Why choose a divan bed?

Divan beds are the perfect space-saving solution for smaller bedrooms. The divan base is exactly the same size as the corresponding mattress size, so the footprint is generally smaller than more decorative bedframes (though remember you need the space to open drawers if you choose this type of divan storage).

Divan bases don't come with a headboard so if you’re really short on room, you can save that little extra space.

Space-saving and practicality are the main benefits of a divan bed. Not only are they smaller than other bed frames, but the storage options underneath the mattress can reduce the need for large furniture in the bedroom. This makes divan beds a great choice for smaller bedrooms or multi-functional rooms.

If space is an issue or your bedroom is on the small side, check out this article on tips for making your bedroom appear larger.

What type of divan bed storage do you need?

A divan bed will either come with no storage, with drawers or with an easy-access ottoman storage space.

For those who choose a divan bed with storage through drawers, you'll typically be able to choose between 2 or 4 drawers. This will consist of one or two drawers on either side of the divan base.

The only time this won't apply is if you’re choosing a single divan bed or a small double divan bed, where the drawers will only be accessible from one side. So, if you're getting anything smaller than a double divan bed, consider which side is best for you to open the drawers of your single bed.

Finally, if you're considering placing your bed against a wall and you're choosing a double divan bed or larger, it's better to choose an ottoman bed base instead. This means you won't lose out on storage as the wall won't block your drawers.

What size divan bed base should I get?

We have divans suitable for every sized bedroom. They start from small single divan beds, which are 2ft 6ins wide and next up are single and small double divans. These are perfect for smaller bedrooms requiring a divan bed with storage, but as stated before, the drawers can only be on one side of the divan base.

Queen divans are an excellent choice for smaller rooms where you still need sleeping space for two. For bigger rooms that still require space-saving, we have spacious king size divan beds and super king bed frames, which are suitable for a mattress that is 6ft wide. These larger divan bed bases are great if you have a bigger room but need lots of storage and still want plenty of floor space.

Do you need a headboard with a divan bed?

Divan bed bases are perfectly functional without a headboard and so are typically sold without one. This makes the base the same length and width as the mattress. However, we do stock a range of headboards to match our divan bases. These are easy to install and can add the finishing touch to your divan. If you want to add a headboard, be sure to measure that you have the room for this addition.

How long do divan bed frames last?

Typically, divan bed bases will last you around ten years, which is longer than the recommended time for a mattress. Divan beds are built to be robust and must conform to trading standards which ensure they’re more than stable. You can also join two single divan beds together to create a double. These will remain sturdy, especially if you use the right size bedding to ensure maximum tension and keep the mattresses together.

If you need more information on divan beds, check out our divan bed buying guide.