I Test Furniture for a Living and This Storage Bed from West Elm Is the Best I’ve Found (It’s on Sale!)

Written by

Nikol SlatinskaCommerce Shopping Writer
Nikol SlatinskaCommerce Shopping Writer
I write home shopping content for Apartment Therapy. My job entails product testing and reviewing, as well as writing serviceable shopping guides for furniture and home decor. I received my undergraduate journalism degree at the University of Missouri and wrote for local publications in my college town.
published Jan 16, 2025
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Natural light-filled bedroom with orange and white bedding in a neutral painted room.
Credit: Erin Derby

Although living in a small space forces you to be creative with how you furnish your home, there are some pieces you simply cannot have, and a platform bed frame is one of them. I mean, you technically could put one in your bedroom, but any small-space dweller will tell you that you’d be sacrificing some of the most valuable hidden storage space in your apartment. Luckily, there are great alternatives out there, namely in the form of bed frames with built-in drawer storage.

I’ve seen a couple of them when testing furniture at Pottery Barn and West Elm for AT’s Personal Shopper series, and I definitely have a favorite. If I were to recommend one bed frame, it would be West Elm’s Emmett tufted side storage bed. It’s beautiful, functional, and great for any home — small or large. Plus, it’s currently on sale in an easy-to-style gray performance fabric! But allow me to elaborate on my reasoning.

What Is the Emmett Tufted Side Storage Bed?

At first glance, the Emmett bed looks like your typical stylish West Elm platform bed. Look closer, though, and you’ll see that it boasts four roomy side drawers (two on each side) at its base. Each drawer measures 28 inches wide and 21 inches deep and extends 19 inches. When I tested the bed in West Elm’s showroom, I found that the drawers slid open and closed seamlessly, without catching or snagging. They also stayed open on their own and offered more than enough space each for two stacks of clothing.

The Emmett bed is also highly customizable. It’s available in five sizes and in more than 50 upholstery fabrics — including low-maintenance performance fabrics — and colors. (Currently, the Frost Gray performance chenille tweed is on sale.) You can also customize its headboard by choosing between a grid- or diamond-tufted design and between a standard or tall height. And you can even add legs in one of three different finishes, or just stick with the no-show legs for that sleek platform look.

Credit: West Elm

Why I Love the Emmett Tufted Side Storage Bed

I’ll admit that I had long been skeptical of the idea of a bed frame with drawer storage before viewing the Emmett. I thought, How much can four drawers really hold? Turns out, a lot. Each drawer on this bed is wide, tall, and deep, so whether you need to put away out-of-season clothes, pet accessories, or extra magazines, this frame has you covered.

Personally, I bought a bed frame with extra-tall legs precisely so I could shove a bunch of junk under it. Although this method is effective for the most part, I find that I forget about the hard-to-reach boxes because I can’t constantly see what’s in them. With a drawer storage bed like the Emmett model, you’ll always have easy access to your belongings, which will help you stay organized in the long run.

In my initial review, I also praised the Emmett’s modern, elegant appearance. Storage pieces don’t always make the most beautiful home additions, but this one is an obvious exception. In the store, it had a grid-tufted headboard, so although the overall vibe is contemporary, you still get a touch of coziness that makes you want to snuggle up on the bed that much more. But no matter which design you go with, the Emmett will only add to your bedroom — both in terms of looks and storage.

Buy: Emmett Tufted Side Storage Bed, Queen, $1,679.20 (normally $2,099)

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