Milwaukee’s Guide to Storage Beds Queen Size: Practical, Stylish Solutions
Feeling squeezed for space in your bedroom? A queen size storage bed is one of those brilliant pieces that can completely change how a room feels and functions. It's like finding a secret closet you never knew you had, hidden right under your mattress!
Your Guide to Smarter Bedroom Storage
Here in the Metro Milwaukee area, we know our homes come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you live in a charming older house in Bay view, a new build out in Franklin, or a cozy apartment in Wauwatosa, making the most of your space is always a priority. This is where the simple genius of a storage bed really shines.
As a 4th generation family business, we’ve been helping our neighbors find furniture that makes life better since we first opened our doors in 1928. A queen size storage bed isn't just a place to sleep—it's a hard-working solution that solves a real problem.
We believe good furniture should be practical, beautiful, and built to last. A storage bed does exactly that by tackling the universal need for more space without ever sacrificing style or comfort.
Why We Love Storage Beds
A storage bed is a smart investment in a more organized, clutter-free life. It’s one of the easiest ways to add a huge amount of storage to your bedroom without taking up a single extra inch of floor space. Here’s why we think they’re such a fantastic choice for Milwaukee families:
- They Maximize Your Space: The area under a traditional bed frame is often just wasted space that collects dust. A storage bed puts that space to work with functional drawers or a large hidden compartment.
- They Reduce Clutter: Imagine having a dedicated home for extra bedding, bulky sweaters, shoes, or off-season clothing. Everything has its place, creating a more peaceful and relaxing bedroom.
- They Offer Great Value: You’re getting two pieces of furniture in one: a durable bed and a storage chest or dresser. At BILTRITE, we focus on affordable, better-quality pieces, so you know you’re getting a fantastic deal on furniture built to last.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the different types of storage beds, from models with handy drawers to those with easy-lift tops. We’ll also share tips for measuring your room and explain what makes our selection of USA and Amish-made furniture so special. We have plenty of experience with space-saving beds for small rooms and are excited to pass that knowledge on to you.
Ready to reclaim your space? Let's dive in! We can't wait to show you all the possibilities when you visit our Greenfield showroom.
Understanding Your Storage Bed Options
When you think about it, the space under your bed is one of the most underutilized areas in any bedroom. A queen size storage bed is the ideal solution, turning that dead space into a smart, functional spot for everything from extra linens to bulky winter sweaters. It’s a bed frame and a dresser all in one!
It's no surprise that storage beds are exploding in popularity. More people are living in homes where every inch of space matters, and smart furniture is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. In fact, the market is projected to grow into a $1.051 billion industry by 2033, a testament to how many people are looking for clever ways to declutter. You can see more on this trend in the latest storage bed market research.
A great storage bed blends comfort, style, and practicality into one beautiful piece of furniture.

It’s not just about hiding things away; it’s about creating a more serene and organized room that feels bigger and more inviting.
Here at BILTRITE, we’ve been helping Metro Milwaukee families choose the right furniture since 1928. Over the years, we've seen three main types of storage beds become the go-to choices for our customers.
To help you figure out which is right for you, here is a simple breakdown of the most common storage bed styles.
Quick Guide to Queen Storage Bed Types
| Storage Type | Best For | Access Style |
|---|---|---|
| Drawers | Storing everyday items like clothing, socks, or extra sheets. | Drawers pull out from the sides or foot of the bed. |
| Ottoman/Lift-Up | Storing bulky or seasonal items like luggage, duvets, or winter coats. | The entire mattress platform lifts up on a hinge. |
| Cubbies/Shelves | Storing and displaying items like books, baskets, or shoes. | Open, easy-to-access nooks built into the frame. |
Each style offers a unique way to tackle clutter, so let's dig into the details to see which one best fits your bedroom and lifestyle.
Beds with Built-In Drawers
This is the classic storage bed style and probably what most people picture. These beds feature drawers built right into the base, essentially giving you a low-profile dresser without taking up any extra floor space. It’s an incredibly practical way to organize folded clothes, linens, or shoes.
We love this design because it keeps your go-to items organized and within easy reach. Just be sure to pull out a tape measure first! You'll need to make sure you have enough clearance on the sides to pull the drawers all the way out, especially if you have nightstands.
Ottoman or Lift-Up Beds
Now this is a true space-saving champion! An ottoman bed, often called a lift-up bed, uses a smooth hydraulic system to raise the entire mattress platform. Underneath, you’ll find a massive, open compartment—it’s like having a hidden cedar chest right under your bed.
This is a fantastic solution for those bulky items you don’t need every day, like seasonal bedding, suitcases, or extra pillows. It keeps everything tucked away, dust-free, and completely out of sight.
Because the mattress lifts straight up, you don’t need any clearance around the bed to access the storage. This makes it an ideal fit for smaller rooms where every square foot is precious. The quality gas-lift mechanisms on the beds we carry are built to last and make lifting the mattress feel almost effortless.
Platform Beds with Cubbies or Shelves
Finally, there’s a more casual and open style: the platform bed with built-in cubbies or shelves. This design gives you storage that’s both functional and a bit decorative.
These are wonderful for items you want to grab easily or even put on display. Think about filling the cubbies with books, sliding in some nice decorative baskets, or creating a neat little spot for your slippers. It’s a great way to add some personality to your room while keeping things off the floor. For more tips on getting organized, you can read our guide on key features to look for in bedroom furniture storage.
The best way to decide which style is right for you is to see them up close. Come on down to our Greenfield showroom, and our family would be happy to walk you through the options and show you how each one works.
How to Measure for Your New Storage Bed
Alright, let's talk practicalities. A queen storage bed is a brilliant way to reclaim space in your bedroom, but only if it actually fits. As a family business that’s been helping Metro Milwaukee furnish their homes since 1928, we have a simple motto we live by: measure twice, buy once!
It’s about so much more than just the bed’s dimensions. You have to consider how you’ll move around the room and, just as importantly, how you’ll actually use the storage features.

Here's our straightforward guide to getting the measurements right, especially for those charming older homes in Bay View or Wauwatosa where tight stairwells and doorways are part of the character.
Measuring Your Room for a Queen Storage Bed
First things first, grab your tape measure. Let’s map out the room so you know exactly what you’re working with before you even start shopping.
- Map the Footprint: A standard queen mattress measures 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. Remember, the bed frame itself will always be larger, sometimes adding several inches in each direction depending on the style of the headboard and footboard. Always, always check the total dimensions of the specific queen size storage bed you have your eye on.
- Check for Drawer Clearance: This is the big one for beds with side drawers. Go to the spot where you plan to place the bed and pull your tape measure out at least 20 to 24 inches on each side that has a drawer. This is the bare minimum you’ll need to open them fully without bumping into your nightstand or the wall.
- Create Your Pathways: You need to be able to walk around comfortably. We always recommend leaving at least 30 inches of open space around the sides and foot of the bed. It’s the secret to making a room feel open and functional, not cramped.
Don’t forget about the journey! Measure the width and height of every doorway, hallway, and staircase the bed needs to pass through to get to the bedroom. With over 400 years of combined furniture experience, our team has seen it all and can offer advice, but having your numbers ready is a game-changer.
Pairing Your Storage Bed with the Right Mattress
Once you know the frame fits, it's time to think about the mattress. This is where our BILTRITE Mattress Center really comes into its own, with over 60 models on display and genuine sleep specialists—not commissioned salespeople—to guide you.
The base of your queen size storage bed will play a big role in which mattress is right for you. Most storage beds come with either a solid platform base or a series of wooden slats.
- Solid Platform Base: This style creates a firm, even surface that’s a great match for most mattress types, including memory foam and hybrid models.
- Slatted Base: These offer better airflow for your mattress. The key here is the spacing. Most of today's mattresses require slats to be 3 inches apart or less to provide proper support and prevent premature sagging.
We’re huge believers in pairing our storage beds with our exclusive two-sided, flippable mattresses. They are a smart investment that pays off in longevity. Being able to flip and rotate your mattress helps it wear evenly, giving you a consistently comfortable sleep surface for years. For a deeper dive, check out our guide on understanding queen mattress dimensions and compatibility.
Ready to see how a storage bed can transform your space? Come on down to our Greenfield showroom. We'd love to walk you through our collection and help you find an amazing fit.
Why Quality Construction Truly Matters
At BILTRITE, we’re a family business, and we think of our customers as friends and neighbors. That’s why we’re so passionate about offering affordable, better-quality furniture that’s built to last for years. When you’re looking at a queen size storage bed, you’re looking at a piece with moving parts, and that’s where solid construction really counts.
We get excited talking about how our furniture is made, especially our USA and Amish-made collections. You deserve to know exactly what you're bringing into your home.

We believe a well-built bed is the foundation of a great bedroom. It’s not just about looks; it’s about stability, durability, and the peace of mind that comes with a smart investment.
The Beauty and Brawn of Real Solid Wood
When we say “real solid wood,” we mean it. It’s not particle board or MDF, which are basically just wood dust and adhesives pressed into a board. Our beds are crafted from genuine lumber, and that makes all the difference in the world for a queen size storage bed.
Think about it like building a house. You wouldn't settle for a foundation made of compressed sawdust; you’d insist on solid beams. The same exact principle applies to your furniture.
Solid wood gives you a few key advantages:
- Superior Durability: It won’t sag and can stand up to the wear and tear of daily life.
- Lasting Strength: You can actually sand and refinish solid wood over the years, giving you the freedom to fix a scratch or even update the look.
- Incredible Stability: This is non-negotiable for a storage bed. Drawers need to glide effortlessly and lift mechanisms demand a strong, rigid frame to work safely and correctly.
It’s no wonder that wood is the top choice for smart furniture buyers. In fact, wood holds a market share of over 46% in the bed market, simply because its strength and good looks make it suitable for any home.
Amish-Made Craftsmanship You Can Feel
One of our greatest joys is partnering with skilled Amish artisans who build furniture using techniques passed down through generations. When you see an Amish-made storage bed in our Greenfield showroom, you’re not just looking at furniture—you’re looking at a piece of functional art, built by hand with incredible pride.
These craftsmen use traditional methods like mortise and tenon joinery, which creates an unbelievably strong bond without relying on just screws. A beautifully carved wooden peg fits snugly into a corresponding hole, locking the frame together. We invite you to learn more about what makes mortise and tenon joinery so special in our other blog post. This is the kind of detail that ensures your bed frame and drawers will feel sturdy for decades.
Since we first opened our doors in 1928, our family has stood for quality. We’re committed to offering furniture that provides genuine value, and that starts with using better materials and time-tested construction.
Heavy-Duty Options for Every Family
We know furniture has to work for real life, not just look pretty in a catalog. That's why we always carry heavy-duty options designed to stand up to anything and everything.
Whether it’s for a bustling home with kids, for seniors who need extra stability getting in and out of bed, or simply for anyone who appreciates furniture that feels solid and robust, our heavy-duty pieces deliver.
When you shop for a queen size storage bed, look for these signs of true quality:
- Drawer Construction: Feel for English dovetail joints. The drawers should have smooth, full-extension glides so you can easily reach things in the very back.
- Lift Mechanisms: A good lift-up bed will use strong, smooth hydraulic pistons. Lifting the mattress should feel easy and controlled, not like a workout.
- Frame Integrity: Give it a little shake. A solid wood frame will feel substantial. It won't wobble, creak, or feel flimsy.
The best way to feel the difference is to experience it for yourself. Come on down to our showroom! We’d love for you to open the drawers, test the lifts, and see the craftsmanship up close. Our team has over 400 years of combined experience, and we’re here to help you find a great fit, no pressure.
Customizing Your Bed and Our Delivery Service
Your home should be a true reflection of you, and the furniture you choose is a huge part of that story. One of the best things about shopping at a local, family-owned store like ours is the freedom to get exactly what you want, not just what comes in a box. We love helping our friends and neighbors create pieces that feel truly special.
That’s why we’re so proud that many of our USA-made and Amish-made storage beds queen size come with affordable custom options. Think of it as being your own furniture designer!
Make It Uniquely Yours
Instead of settling for a "one-size-fits-all" bed from a big-box store, you can create something that beautifully matches your bedroom's style. Our knowledgeable team, with over 400 years of combined experience, is here to walk you through the fun and easy process.
Depending on the bed you fall in love with, you can often select:
- The Wood Species: From the classic warmth of oak to the rich, deep tones of cherry, the choice of wood sets the entire mood for the room.
- The Finish or Stain: Go light and airy, dark and dramatic, or find that ideal shade in between. We have a huge variety of finishes to complement any color palette you have in mind.
- The Hardware: It’s amazing what a difference hardware makes. Simply changing the drawer pulls can completely transform a bed's look, taking it from rustic to modern in an instant.
Customizing your bed means it’s not just another piece of furniture—it’s a part of your home you’ll cherish for years. We make it simple and affordable to get started, and you can learn more about our simple process on our website.
Our White-Glove Delivery Service
Once you’ve found a wonderful bed, getting it home and set up should be the easiest part of the whole process. Since our family first opened our doors in 1928, we've always believed in taking care of our customers from start to finish. That’s where our friendly, professional white-glove delivery service comes in.
We handle everything so you don't have to lift a finger. Our own delivery team will carefully bring your new queen size storage bed into the right room, assemble it correctly, and haul away all the packaging. This isn't just a curbside drop-off; it’s about providing a complete, stress-free experience from our store to your home.
We know that furniture is a growing industry, with the global adult bedroom furniture market now valued at over USD 150 billion due to the demand for functional pieces. Our personal, hands-on service is what sets us apart. We don't sell online, because we focus on the in-store experience.
Designed for Milwaukee Homes
We get it. Many homes in our community, from apartments in New Berlin to older houses in Oak Creek, can have tight stairwells or narrow hallways. It's a common challenge around here.
That’s exactly why we specialize in furniture with "come-apart" designs. Many of our storage beds are engineered to be delivered in smaller, manageable sections, making it a breeze for our team to navigate those tricky spaces.
As part of our commitment to our neighbors, we also offer removal of your old mattress if it’s in a donatable condition. It's just one more way we try to make the whole process simple and genuinely helpful.
Ready to find—and customize—your dream bed? Come on down to our showroom in Greenfield! We'd love to see you and help you find a fantastic piece for your home.
Come Visit Our Showroom in Greenfield
Reading about furniture online is a great place to start, but we’ve always told our friends and neighbors there’s just no substitute for seeing it in person. That’s why we’d love for you and your family to come down to our showroom. We truly believe the best way to choose a queen size storage bed is to experience it for yourself.
Ever since our family opened BILTRITE Furniture back in 1928, our mission has been simple: help our Metro Milwaukee community find affordable, better-quality furniture that makes life a little easier. We’ve built our name on being honest and genuinely helpful, and that’s exactly what you’ll find when you walk through our doors.
Feel the Quality for Yourself
In our showroom, you can do all the things you can’t do online—you can touch and test everything. Go ahead, pull out the drawers on a solid wood storage bed to feel just how smoothly they glide. Try out the easy-to-use hydraulic system on a lift-up ottoman bed to see the massive amount of storage hidden inside. You can see the rich, deep finish of an Amish-made piece and feel the incredible sturdiness that only comes from real craftsmanship.
Our friendly team is here to answer your questions, never to pressure you. With a combined 400+ years of furniture experience, we’re here to be your resource. We can talk about your room’s layout, show you different custom options, and help you find a storage bed that actually works for your family’s needs and budget.
We’re Proud to Be Your Local Furniture Store
We are a 4th generation, family-owned business, and we cherish the relationships we’ve built with our customers over the decades. We aren’t some faceless corporation, and we don’t sell online. Instead, we put all our energy into providing a personal, in-store experience that you just can’t get anywhere else. For us, it’s about building trust and being a reliable part of the community we call home.
At BILTRITE, we're proud of our "buy local" values. We’re closed on Sundays so our team can be with their families, a tradition we’ve held for years. This commitment to family is at the heart of everything we do, from the furniture we select to the way we treat our customers.
We can’t wait to meet you and help you find a fantastic piece for your home. Come say hi, explore our huge selection of USA and Amish-made furniture, and see for yourself what makes BILTRITE different. We look forward to welcoming you to the BILTRITE family!
Your Storage Bed Questions, Answered
In the showroom, we hear a lot of fantastic questions about queen size storage beds. It's what we love to do! Our family started BILTRITE back in 1928, and our whole mission has been to be a helpful, friendly guide for our Metro Milwaukee neighbors. Here are a few common questions we can clear up for you.
Can I Use My Existing Queen Mattress on a Storage Bed?
That's a popular question, and in most cases, the answer is a definite yes. A standard queen mattress is made to fit a standard queen frame, storage or not. The real thing to pay attention to is the support system underneath. Some storage beds have a solid platform, while others use wood slats.
If you have an especially heavy mattress, like some of the thicker memory foam or hybrid models, it might have specific support needs. It's always a good idea to just make sure. Our sleep specialists over in the BILTRITE Mattress Center can look at the specs for both your mattress and the bed you're eyeing to confirm they’ll work great together.
And if you’re thinking it might be time for a mattress upgrade anyway, we’ve got over 60 models to try, including our exclusive two-sided, flippable mattresses that are a fantastic match for storage beds queen size.
How Durable Are the Drawers and Lift Mechanisms?
Durability is what we're all about at BILTRITE. We believe in affordable furniture that’s genuinely better-quality and built to last. For a storage bed, the moving parts are where you can really see and feel that quality.
- For Drawer Storage Beds: We always look for proven construction, like English dovetail joints in the drawers. You'll also want to check the glides—the beds we carry have smooth, full-extension glides that let you easily get to everything, even what's stored way in the back.
- For Lift-Up Ottoman Beds: The hydraulic gas-lift is the heart of the bed. The mechanisms you'll find in our showroom are tough and designed for easy, repeated use without you having to strain.
We’re especially proud of our USA and Amish-made collections, where the craftsmanship is just on another level. We always encourage visitors to open the drawers and work the lifts themselves—you will absolutely feel the difference.
Are Storage Beds Hard to Assemble or Move?
This is a great question, and one we hear all the time. Some models from other places can be a real puzzle, which is exactly why we recommend our professional white-glove delivery and assembly service.
Our own delivery team puts these beds together day in and day out. They know how to do it right so your bed is sturdy, safe, and ready for you. Plus, being a local business for nearly a century, we know all about the charming but tricky layouts in many Milwaukee-area homes.
We specialize in "come-apart" furniture that’s designed for easy delivery into apartments, older homes with tight stairwells, and condos. We take all the hassle and worry out of the equation so you can just enjoy your beautiful, organized new bedroom.
Ready to find the storage bed that fits your home and your life? We'd love to see you in our store! Come say hi to our team at BILTRITE Furniture in our Greenfield showroom and let us help you find an awesome piece for your home.