Wiri Showroom · Open 7 Days
Storage Beds in Auckland - base or bed?
Two very different products go by the name "storage bed". One is a base that holds your mattress and nothing else. The other is a full bed with a headboard. They're priced differently, and they take up different amounts of floor.
Same size on the label. Different floor space.
The short answer
A base sits close to the mattress footprint and has no headboard. A bed adds a headboard and a surround, so it takes more width and more depth. In queen, that's 153 cm for a Denver base against 166 cm for a Devon bed - 13 cm apart for the same mattress.
Make a list of the belongings you want to put beneath the bed: spare sheets, seasonal duvets or items currently occupying another cupboard. Note their size and how often you need to reach them. Then compare the usable compartment measurements and opening arrangement of each shortlisted bed. Frequently used belongings need convenient access, while bulky items need enough clear space to fit without forcing the compartment closed.
Storage beds are one option within our bed shop in Auckland. Choose one around the storage problem in your own bedroom, together with the space available for the complete bed.
Then check above the bed. Gas-lift lids swing upward. A low window sill or a wall shelf at the bed head can stop one opening fully.
Widths across our storage beds
Bar length to scale, taken from our own listings.
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Gas lift is the mechanism to want
A gas-lift bed uses struts to take the weight of the base as it rises, so the whole platform swings up in one motion and stays there while you load it. Older hinge-lift designs make you hold the weight yourself.
Our own guidance on this is direct: gas-lift mechanisms are far smoother and easier to operate than old-style hinge-lift beds, and that gap matters most if you use the storage often rather than twice a year.
Gas lift
- From $589
- Opens One motion
- Stays up Yes
- Best for Frequent use
Denver - the base
The Denver is a gas-lift base. It holds the mattress directly, has no headboard, and sits close to the mattress footprint, which makes it the most space-efficient option we sell. It comes in black, grey and beige.
Sizes run from king single at 115 cm wide up to super king at 183 cm, all 35 cm high. If you already have a headboard, or you plan to wall-mount one, this is the range to look at first.
Denver base
- From $589
- King single W115 × D203
- Queen W153 × D208
- Height 35 cm
Devon - the bed
The Devon is a full storage bed with a plush, diamond-tufted headboard and button detailing. It's built on plywood slats over a fixed metal frame, with the same gas-lift storage underneath.
Because of the headboard and surround, it takes more room than a base: 166 cm wide and 221 cm deep in queen, 196 cm wide in super king. The upholstery is a recycled polyester blend, and it spot-cleans with a mild detergent.
Devon bed
- From $999
- Queen W166 × D221
- Super king W196 × D221
- Base Plywood slats
NZ-made options
Two beds in this range are made in New Zealand. The Nova Queen Slat Bed Frame with storage is on clearance, and the Oberon comes in queen and NZ king with storage built in.
The Oberon in queen measures 1550 by 2050 mm, and the NZ king is 1690 by 2050 mm. Note the NZ king designation — it isn't the same as the king sizing used on some imported ranges, so check the numbers rather than the label.
NZ made
- Nova queen Clearance
- Oberon queen 1550 × 2050
- Oberon NZ king 1690 × 2050
- Made in New Zealand
Two things to check before you order
First, look up. A gas-lift lid swings upward through most of its travel, so a low window sill, a wall shelf or a sloping ceiling at the head of the bed can stop it opening fully. Measure the clear height above the bed head.
Second, lift one in the showroom. Gas-lift weight varies between models, and if one person will be making the bed alone that matters more than the finish does. It takes ten seconds to test and you can't tell from a photo.
Check first
- Above the bed Clear height
- Lift weight Varies
- Test in store Yes
- Mattress Not included
Looking after it
Upholstered storage beds spot-clean with a mild detergent. Avoid over-wetting the fabric, keep it out of extreme heat and direct sunlight, and never drag the bed across the floor — lift it, or the frame takes the strain.
Most in-stock furniture is delivered across New Zealand within five to ten business days, and delivery is free on orders over $1,000. Assembly guides for each range are published on our site.
Send us your room measurements.
That single question splits this range in two. Tell us that, plus the clear height above your bed head, and we'll narrow it to two or three before you drive over.
What our team tells people on the floor.
1 · Decide on the headboard first
It splits the range in two. A base and a bed at similar prices are not the same purchase.
2 · Measure the clear height above the bed head
The lid swings up. A window sill or wall shelf can stop it opening fully.
3 · Lift the lid yourself
Weight varies between models. If one person makes the bed alone, test it before you commit.
4 · Plan the room from the frame
A bed with a surround always takes more width and depth than a base. Use the listing dimensions.
5 · Remember the mattress isn't included
None of these prices include one. Buying both together usually costs less than buying them apart.
6 · Think about what goes underneath
Duvets and pillows are light and bulky, which suits this storage. Books and tools are neither.
Asked on the floor, most weeks.
Start with where you can reach the storage. Drawers need enough space to extend beside or at the foot of the bed, while a lifting platform needs clearance throughout its opening movement. Include bedside furniture, walls and shelves when checking access. Also consider how often you will retrieve the contents and whether you can comfortably operate the selected design.
Check more than the mattress size. Its dimensions and support requirements must suit the bed, and a lifting design may also have mattress-weight requirements. Ask the team to confirm compatibility using your mattress details and the exact storage-bed model. A mattress fitting inside the frame does not, by itself, confirm that it suits the lifting mechanism.
Measure the items you want to store and compare them with the compartment’s usable width, depth and height. Check any stated storage load limit, internal dividers and areas that must remain clear for the mechanism. Store clean, dry bedding without overfilling the compartment, and follow the manufacturer’s guidance on suitable contents.
The included pieces depend on the listing. A storage base may be sold without a headboard, while a complete storage frame may include one. A mattress is included only when the package description specifically names it. Before comparing prices, confirm the headboard, mattress support, storage components and any mattress included in each option.
Ask for the opening direction and clearance measurements for the model you are considering. Check that movement against nearby bedside tables, window sills, shelves and other furniture. For drawers, allow for their full extension; for a lifting platform, check the space it occupies throughout the lift. Send the team a room photo and measurements if the listing does not provide enough detail.
Ask for the largest package measurements and check them against doorways, hallway turns and stairs. Confirm which parts require assembly, whether an assembly service is included in your quote and which instructions apply to the chosen model. Check the available bed assembly guides, and request model-specific instructions if your bed is not covered.
See It Before You Buy.
Our Auckland showroom in Wiri - see, test and compare furniture before you buy.
