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Choose side lift if the foot of your bed faces a wardrobe, chest or wall. Choose end lift if both long sides are tight but there is open floor at the foot. That is the whole decision in most rooms, and it matters because the direction of an ottoman bed usually can't be changed after ordering.
What is the difference between a side lift and an end lift ottoman?
Both use gas struts to raise the mattress platform and open the storage cavity underneath. The difference is where the hinge sits.
On an end-lift ottoman, the hinge is at the headboard end. The platform rises from the foot, like a car bonnet opening towards you. On a side-lift ottoman, the hinge runs along one long side and the platform tilts up sideways, so you stand beside the bed to reach in.
| End lift | Side lift | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens from | The foot of the bed | One long side |
| Clear floor needed | At the foot | Along the opening side |
| Works in an alcove | Yes | Usually not |
| Works with furniture at the foot | No | Yes |
| How you reach in | Lean in from the end | Stand alongside and reach across |
When is a side lift ottoman the better choice?
Side lift solves one specific problem: a room where the foot of the bed sits hard against something. A fitted wardrobe, a chest of drawers, a radiator or simply the opposite wall in a narrow box room will stop an end-lift platform from rising. A side-lift base opens sideways instead, so the foot can sit close to the obstruction.
The Side Lift Ottoman Divan Bed closed, ready to sit tight to furniture at the foot.
Side access also suits some people better. You reach straight in from the side rather than leaning over the foot end, which can be easier on your back. The Legend Beds Side Lift Ottoman Divan Bed is built for exactly this layout, and the Aspen Teddy Bouclé Ottoman Bed also lists side-lift access.
When is an end lift ottoman the better choice?
End lift suits beds pushed into an alcove, or rooms where bedside tables and walls fill both sides. It's also the natural choice where the foot of the bed faces open floor or the doorway. Because the platform rises from the foot, you need clear floor at the end, but none at the sides.
How much space does each type need?
For an end lift, allow roughly 60cm of clear floor beyond the foot so you can stand and reach in while the platform is up. For a side lift, allow similar walking space along the opening side. The platform lifts through an arc, so also check headroom: a sloping ceiling or low shelf above the bed can stop it opening fully.
The platform rises through an arc, so check headroom as well as floor space: the Mayfair Ottoman Divan Bed open.
Measure in the room, not from the floor plan. Skirting boards, radiators and door swings take more space than a drawing suggests. If you're still planning the room, where to put the bed covers clearances for the whole layout.
Can I change the lift direction later?
Usually not. The hinge, strut brackets and reinforced frame are built for one direction when the base is made. Decide from the room you actually have, and check it before you order.
Does side lift hold less than end lift?
No. The storage cavity runs under the whole mattress either way. Only the opening direction changes.
A two-minute check before you order
- Stand where the bed will go and note what sits at the foot and along each side.
- If the foot is blocked, choose side lift and pick the side with open floor.
- If both sides are blocked, choose end lift and confirm clear floor at the foot.
- Look up: check nothing above the bed will stop the platform rising.
Ottoman beds to look at
Browse all gas-lift ottoman beds, or the divan ottoman beds if you want a low, upholstered-to-the-floor base with a separate headboard. For a small room, the small double ottoman beds are the usual starting point. For more on how the mechanism behaves day to day, read how gas-lift ottoman beds work.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more common, side lift or end lift?
End lift is the more common format in the UK. Side lift is the specialist option for rooms where the foot of the bed is blocked.
Which side should a side lift ottoman open on?
The side with clear floor. In a room where the bed sits against one wall, that is the side facing into the room. Confirm the opening side before ordering, as it is set when the base is made.
Is a side lift ottoman harder to open?
Not in principle. Both types use gas struts to take the weight once you start the lift. Side access can feel easier because you stand beside the bed rather than reaching over the foot.
Can I have bedside tables with a side lift ottoman?
On the non-opening side, yes. On the opening side, a bedside table has to sit clear of the platform's arc or be moved when you open the bed.
Will an end lift ottoman work in a small bedroom?
Yes, if there's clear floor at the foot. In a box room where the bed runs wall to wall lengthways, a side lift is usually the only option that opens. The small bedroom storage guide covers this layout.
