Why our sleep experts loved it
The Amarilla Bouclé Ottoman Bed Frame is one of those rare designs that made me stop mid-walk in store and go back for a second look. I’ve been reviewing beds and mattresses in the UK for the better part of a decade, and I’ll be honest: I’m usually cautious when a frame tries to “reinvent” the classic silhouette. Rounded headboards, oversized curves, and winged sides can look brilliant in staged photography and then feel oddly bulky (or even a bit cartoonish) in real life.
Amarilla is the outlier. In person, the unique rounded headboard genuinely looks really good. It doesn’t feel like change-for-the-sake-of-change; it feels intentional, cosy, and properly considered. The bouclé upholstery plays a huge part in that, because it softens the whole structure visually and physically. This isn’t a sharp, tailored, ultra-modern bed. It’s a warm, cocooning one. The “wrap you up” description isn’t marketing fluff here - you do get that sense of being enclosed by the winged sides and the softly curved padding.
That said, let’s not pretend it’s perfect. My biggest reservation is the price. Ottoman beds are often expensive, yes, but close to a grand is still toppy in my book - especially if you’re shopping for value rather than pure aesthetic. If you catch it on sale, I can absolutely see it becoming a smart purchase. At full price, I think you need to be sure you’re buying it because you genuinely love it, not because you feel you “should” upgrade your bedroom.
Important context before we get into the details: my testing was done in store and in person. I examined the upholstery, storage mechanism, padding, and overall stability as far as you reasonably can in a showroom environment, but I have not lived with this bed at home. That means I’m going to be a bit more sceptical about long-term performance, because ottoman mechanisms and fabric finishes can behave differently after months of daily use.
Design and features
This is a bed frame that leads with design. The first thing you notice is the headboard: plush, padded, and softly curved, with statement winged sides. On many beds, wings feel like an afterthought - bolted-on panels that are more about visual drama than comfort. On the Amarilla, the wings feel integrated into the shape, like they’re part of the same “swoop” of the headboard rather than a separate component.
In store, I spent a good few minutes leaning back against it because that’s where a padded headboard either proves itself or completely falls apart. The padding here feels genuinely inviting: not overly firm, not too sinky, and importantly, not lumpy. You can imagine sitting up with a book, laptop, or breakfast tray without instantly needing extra cushions. The curve also helps - straight headboards can feel like a flat wall behind you, while this one has a more lounge-like vibe.
The bouclé is the other major design statement. Bouclé can be gorgeous, but it’s also one of those fabrics I’ll praise and criticise in the same breath. The upside is obvious: it looks “buttery soft” and cosy, and it gives a modern, textured finish that instantly makes a room feel more considered. The downside: bouclé can be a bit of a commitment if you have pets, if you’re prone to spills, or if you’re expecting your bed to look pristine with minimal effort. The looped texture is exactly what makes it interesting, but it can also be what snags. In store, the upholstery looked and felt high-end, but I always advise buyers to think realistically about their lifestyle.
Colour-wise, the Amarilla comes in two soothing variants - latte and chocolate. I’m going to be quite blunt here: both of these are safe choices in the best possible way. They sit comfortably in that neutral family that works with most UK bedroom palettes. The latte is the “airy, calming, Scandi-adjacent” option, and the chocolate gives you a richer, cosier tone without tipping into overly dark or heavy. If you’re someone who likes redecorating, swapping bedding seasonally, or changing accent colours, both shades will play nicely rather than fighting for attention.
Then there’s the feature that makes this more than just a pretty frame: the built-in ottoman storage. The lift-from-the-end access is exactly what most people want, because it’s simple and doesn’t require you to shuffle around at the side of the bed. The promise here is straightforward: keep the bedroom looking beautiful by hiding the chaos - spare bedding, blankets, seasonal duvets, kids’ extra pillows, and all the bits you don’t want stacked on a chair. For most households, that’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity.
From a practical point of view, ottoman storage is the best “space hack” you can buy for a bedroom. Divan drawers are fine, but they’re fiddly, they can be blocked by bedside tables, and they never quite hold as much as you expect. An ottoman, when done properly, gives you that big open cavity that’s genuinely useful. The Amarilla is clearly positioned as a style-forward storage bed, and that’s a niche I actually like - because too many storage beds look purely functional and forget that a bed frame is the visual anchor of the room.
Construction
Ottoman beds live or die on construction. I can forgive a slightly higher price if the mechanism feels dependable and the frame feels stable, because nothing is more annoying than a storage bed that creaks, shifts, or feels fragile every time you lift it. In store, I focused on three things: the feel of the lift action, the overall stability of the frame when pressure is applied, and the finish quality around seams, upholstery, and edges.
The lift mechanism is designed to be operated from the end of the bed, which is the most user-friendly orientation for day-to-day life. You don’t want a bed that makes you feel like you’re doing a deadlift every time you grab a spare duvet. In the showroom, the lift felt straightforward and controlled - more “smooth hinge” than “clunky slam.” Now, I want to be careful here: in-store mechanisms are typically brand-new, well-adjusted, and not yet subjected to the reality of daily handling. My scepticism with any ottoman is long-term: will it stay smooth, will it remain aligned, and will it feel sturdy after repeated use? Those are the questions you can’t fully answer without living with it.
Still, first impressions matter, and Amarilla’s mechanism did not give me immediate red flags. It didn’t feel flimsy. It didn’t feel like it was straining. And that’s more than I can say for some ottoman beds I’ve tested where the lift felt uneven, or where you could sense the frame twisting slightly when raised. That twisting is the early warning sign I’m always watching for.
On stability: the headboard felt solidly anchored when I pressed against it and shifted my weight as if sitting up in bed. With upholstered frames, especially those with a lot of padding, it’s easy for a headboard to feel plush but poorly supported. Amarilla didn’t feel like that. The wings, too, felt like they were part of the structure rather than decorative “flaps.” If you’re buying this because you want that enveloping headboard experience, you don’t want it wobbling every time you move.
The bouclé finish looked neatly done in store. I checked the general uniformity of the upholstery, how the fabric sat around curves (curves show mistakes more than straight edges), and whether the padding looked consistent. The rounded headboard is a bold shape, so if the upholstery work is sloppy you’d spot it instantly - wrinkles, puckering, uneven tension. What I saw looked well executed.
Now for the negativity I think buyers deserve to hear: bouclé is not the most forgiving fabric in the world. It hides minor marks better than some flat weaves, but it can also trap dust and lint, and it can catch if you’ve got sharp jewellery, rough clothing fasteners, or pets who like to knead. If you’re the sort of person who likes a bed that stays “hotel crisp,” bouclé will feel a bit more relaxed and lived-in by nature. That can be charming, but it can also annoy you if you’re expecting it to look pristine forever.
Also, with any highly padded, sculptural frame, you need to accept that it will visually take up space. The Amarilla doesn’t read as minimal. It reads as cosy and substantial. If your bedroom is small, that can either feel like a luxurious statement or like the bed is dominating the room. In store, I could easily imagine it being perfect in an average-to-large main bedroom, but I’d be more cautious in a tight box room where you need the bed to disappear rather than be the main character.
Suitability
This bed suits a very specific type of buyer, and I mean that as a compliment. If you love soft, tactile interiors - layered bedding, textured throws, warm lighting, and a bedroom that feels like a retreat - Amarilla makes immediate sense. It’s designed to create a “sink into it” mood, even before you’ve chosen the mattress.
The winged headboard is especially suited to people who actually use their headboard. If you read in bed, scroll in bed, watch telly in bed, or work from bed occasionally, you’ll appreciate the cushioning and the wraparound sides. I’ve tested plenty of beds where the headboard is technically padded but still feels upright and unsympathetic. This one is softer and more lounge-like, which I personally prefer. A bedroom should be functional, yes - but I’m firmly of the opinion that it should also feel comforting.
The ottoman storage makes it a strong choice for:
Homes where linen storage is limited (a very common UK reality)
People who rotate duvets seasonally and need somewhere to put the spare
Anyone trying to declutter and keep surfaces clear
Guest bedding storage if you don’t have a dedicated cupboard
If you’re living in a flat, a terrace with small bedrooms, or anywhere without built-in wardrobes, this feature isn’t just “nice to have” - it can genuinely change how calm and tidy your room feels day-to-day.
However, I don’t think this is the best fit for everyone. If you’re extremely budget-conscious, I’d encourage you to pause. Ottoman beds at this price point are competing not only with other storage beds, but also with well-made non-storage frames that may offer better value in materials for the money. You’re paying here for the combination of storage plus a premium, trend-forward fabric finish and sculptural headboard design.
It’s also not my first recommendation for homes with very active pets that jump on the bed constantly, or for families where spills are a weekly event. That’s not me being dramatic - it’s simply recognising that bouclé, while lovely, is not the easiest fabric in the world to keep immaculate. If you’re already side-eyeing your lifestyle and thinking, “This will be a nightmare to keep clean,” trust that instinct. You’ll enjoy your bed more if you aren’t anxious about it.
And a small but important consideration: if you like to change your bedroom look often and you tend to follow trends, bouclé is having a moment now, but it may not feel as “timeless” as a classic woven upholstery or a simple wooden frame in five or ten years. Personally, I think the Amarilla’s shape is strong enough that it will outlast the trend cycle better than some other bouclé pieces - but it’s still a style-led choice.
Finally, mattress pairing. In store, I always mentally pair frames with the kinds of mattresses people typically buy. A plush, cocooning bed frame like this works beautifully with a mattress that has good edge support and a stable feel - particularly if you sit on the edge a lot. If you choose a very soft mattress with weak edge support, the overall “sink” effect can be a bit too much, especially if you’re getting in and out frequently. I’d lean toward a medium to medium-firm mattress for most sleepers, unless you already know you love a softer feel.
What customers thought
The customer feedback we have is short, but it’s telling - and it matches what I experienced in store. The standout theme is that the Amarilla hits the sweet spot of storage without sacrificing style. That’s exactly the promise of this frame, and it’s not as common as it should be. Many ottoman beds look practical but bland, or stylish but not particularly functional. Customers are essentially saying: this one does both.
One review specifically highlights the curved headboard with winged sides, describing it as thoughtfully designed and instantly cosy. I agree with that wording more than I expected to. “Thoughtfully designed” can be an empty phrase, but in this case it fits: the wings don’t look tacked on, the curve feels deliberate, and the padding has that inviting softness that makes a bedroom feel warmer.
It’s also worth pointing out what customers didn’t say, because gaps can matter. There’s no mention in the feedback provided about the ottoman mechanism being difficult, or the bed feeling unstable, or delivery and assembly problems. That doesn’t mean those issues never happen, of course. But when an ottoman bed has a genuinely annoying lifting action, customers tend to complain loudly and quickly - because it’s the entire point of the purchase. The absence of that complaint here is reassuring, even if it’s not definitive.
If I were to be extra critical (as I always try to be when people are spending serious money), I’d say I’d like to see more long-term customer commentary around how the bouclé wears and how easy it is to keep looking fresh. Texture fabrics can age beautifully or they can start to look tired if they’re constantly rubbed in the same places. In a showroom, everything looks perfect. At home, the reality can be different. So while the early style-and-storage praise makes sense, I still encourage buyers to think about real-life maintenance.
The verdict
I like the Amarilla Bouclé Ottoman Bed Frame more than I expected to. The rounded headboard could have been a design risk, but in person it works - and it works confidently. The winged sides add genuine cosiness rather than just taking up space, and the bouclé upholstery delivers that “scrumptiously” soft, comforting look that makes a bedroom feel more like a retreat.
If you’re shopping specifically for an ottoman bed, this is absolutely one of the more stylish options I’ve tested in store. It doesn’t scream “storage bed,” and I mean that as a big compliment. The storage feature feels like a hidden superpower rather than the whole personality of the frame. For anyone trying to keep a bedroom tidy without compromising on aesthetics, that’s exactly what you want.
Now the part where I’m not going to sit on the fence: at close to a grand, it is expensive. Not “shockingly unheard of” in the ottoman category, but still expensive enough that you should be picky. If you’re paying full price, you need to be fully committed to bouclé and fully committed to the sculptural headboard style. This is not the kind of bed you buy because it’s “fine.” It’s the kind you buy because you genuinely want that cosy, curved, statement look every single day.
My personal stance is simple. If you can get it on sale, I’d seriously consider it - and I’d feel good recommending it to someone who wants storage plus a warm, design-led finish. At full price, I’d still recommend it, but only to the buyer who values the look and feel enough to justify the premium, and who understands the real-world considerations of bouclé. If that’s you, Amarilla is one of the few modern ottoman frames that feels like it’s doing something different without being weird for the sake of it.
In short: a genuinely beautiful, cosy storage bed with a standout headboard, a very liveable neutral colour offering, and a premium price tag that makes it best bought with a discount rather than on impulse.
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