Divan Beds

How to choose a divan bed

A divan bed is a mattress sat on top of an upholstered base, usually with drawer storage built into the base, and a strut-mount headboard fixed to the back. The all-in-one nature is the appeal: matched mattress and base from the same manufacturer, headboard from the same range, fewer compatibility decisions than buying a slatted frame and mattress separately.

Base type is the first decision:

• Platform-top base: a solid wooden top under upholstery. Firmer feel, since the base doesn't give underfoot, so the mattress feels exactly as firm as advertised. Best for sprung and pocket-sprung mattresses.
• Sprung-edge base: a fully-sprung upholstered top. Adds a small amount of cushioning that combines with the mattress for a softer overall feel. Better for natural-fibre and pillow-top mattresses.

Storage is where divan bases earn their place. Most bases ship with the option of two-drawer or four-drawer configurations (handy on small bedrooms with no wardrobe overflow), or end-lift ottoman bases that turn the entire under-bed cavity into wardrobe-equivalent storage. Continental-style drawers (the smaller, narrower drawers at the head of the bed) work for spare bedding and seasonal items.

Mattress matching is the practical advantage of buying a divan. Most retailers sell the divan-and-mattress as a single SKU, with brand-matched headboards from the same range. Silentnight, Sealy, Hypnos, Sleepeezee and Sweet Dreams all run divan ranges where the spec is identical to the equivalent mattress-only purchase, just easier to specify and deliver.

Sizing follows UK standard mattress dimensions: small single 75x190cm, single 90x190cm, double 135x190cm, king 150x200cm, super-king 180x200cm. The base outer dimensions are typically 5-10cm wider on each side. Measure the room and the route to the room before ordering, because full-size kings can struggle on tight stair turns.

The brands and retailers we list

We pull around 28,800 divan beds across the UK retailer network.

MattressNextDay is the largest source for us, with around 15,500 divan-and-mattress sets across all major British brands.

Robert Dyas covers around 5,000 divan listings, including ottoman storage bases.

Mattress Online and Mattress Man cover the upper-mid mattress brands matched to divan bases.

Filter the grid above by brand, size or price to narrow things down. Prices update daily.