We’re upgrading to king size, who is DUSK, and is an ottoman the way to go?

There are some house upgrades that feel sensible. A new light fitting. Better storage. Maybe a nice rug if you’re feeling fancy.

Then there are upgrades that feel like a full lifestyle change. Moving to a king size bed is absolutely one of those.

We recently upgraded our bed setup with the DUSK Ascot Ottoman Storage Bed in Natural, paired it with our new Simba Hybrid Pro mattress, and finished everything off with a DUSK Portofino Waffle Duvet Cover.

The short version? We are very happy. The slightly longer version? It looks great, feels far more expensive than it is, the ottoman storage is brilliant, and yes, assembly did involve one classic “we should have read the sticker first” moment.

Who is DUSK?

DUSK is a UK homeware and furniture brand focused on the whole “luxury for less” idea. The brand sells bedding, beds, mattresses, sofas, bathroom bits and other homeware, with a big emphasis on hotel-style comfort without the hotel-style price tag.

Their beds and bedding often have that calm, hotel-at-home look, but without the price tag you might expect from more traditional bedroom furniture brands. That was exactly what caught our attention in the first place.

The pricing looked almost suspiciously good.

Why we chose the DUSK Ascot Ottoman Bed

The main reason was simple: price and recommendations.

The Ascot Ottoman Storage Bed looked smart, had proper under-bed storage, came in a neutral fabric, and was available in the size we wanted.

We went for the natural/oatmeal-style look because it felt calm, warm and easy to match with the rest of the room. In real life, the fabric is really nice. It has that soft neutral look that makes the room feel more finished, without shouting for attention.

The headboard is also comfortable to lean against, which sounds like a small thing until you spend half your evening propped up scrolling, reading, watching TV or pretending you are about to go to sleep.

First impressions: is the quality any good?

Honestly, this was the big question.

When something is priced as competitively as DUSK often is, you do wonder whether the quality might be where the compromise appears. We were initially unsure, but the bed has been fantastic so far.

The frame feels solid, the fabric finish looks lovely, and once built, it does not have that cheap, wobbly flat-pack feeling.

It looks much more expensive than it was, which is exactly what you want from a bedroom upgrade.

Is it easy to put together?

Mostly, yes. But it is a little fiddly.

To be fair to DUSK, a lot of the fiddliness was our fault. We were rushing. Rushing makes you ignore instructions. Ignoring instructions makes you do silly things.

Silly things include carrying the whole headboard awkwardly upstairs before noticing a sticker that literally tells you to unzip the cover and remove the heavy items before moving it.

Doh.

Once we actually slowed down and followed the instructions properly, everything made a lot more sense. There is definitely a “do this in the right order” element to it.

A few assembly tips from our experience:

• Read the instructions before enthusiastically guessing.
• Check the headboard before carrying it upstairs.
• A decent set of Allen keys will make life easier.
• An electric screwdriver with hex bits and a spanner set would make it much faster.
• A second pair of hands is very helpful for attaching the base bed Velcro cover.
• One person could probably do most of the build, but two people makes it far less annoying.

It is not impossible. It is just one of those jobs where taking your time at the start saves you time later.

The ottoman storage: absolute game changer

This is the bit that has made the biggest day-to-day difference.

An ottoman bed looks like a normal bed, but the mattress base lifts up to reveal a large storage compartment underneath.

In real life, it is brilliant.

There is loads of room under there. Bedding, random bags, spare cushions, seasonal bits, things you do not know where else to put but also do not want visible — it all disappears.

The room instantly feels tidier because the mess is technically still there, just hidden in a more socially acceptable way.

The lift mechanism is easy to use, although it is still a big bed with a heavy mattress on top, so you are aware of the weight. Once lifted, it feels practical and easy enough to access.

Would we buy an ottoman bed again? Yes. Absolutely.

Paired with our Simba Hybrid Pro mattress

We paired the DUSK bed frame with our new Simba Hybrid Pro mattress, and the combination has been an absolute dream.

The bigger bed size is the real win here. Moving up to king size makes everything feel more spacious and comfortable. Add in a good mattress and suddenly your old bed setup starts to feel like something you survived rather than enjoyed.

The DUSK frame gives the room the look we wanted, while the Simba mattress brings the comfort. Together, it feels like a proper grown-up bed setup.

The bedding: DUSK Portofino Waffle Duvet Cover

To finish it off, we added the DUSK Portofino Waffle Duvet Cover in White.

This was a great finishing touch. The waffle texture gives the whole bed that hotel-style, soft, clean look. It makes the bed feel more luxurious than a plain duvet cover, without being overly fussy.

The bed frame, mattress and waffle duvet together have made the room feel properly finished.

Is a DUSK ottoman bed worth it?

For us, yes.

The DUSK Ascot Ottoman Bed has been one of those purchases where the value feels obvious every day. It looks good, the fabric feels nice, the headboard is comfortable, the storage is genuinely useful, and the price is very hard to argue with.

The only real downside was assembly being a little fiddly, but that was partly because we rushed and partly because ottoman beds are naturally more involved than a basic frame.

Things we liked

• The price is excellent for the overall look and functionality.
• The oatmeal/natural fabric has a lovely soft finish.
• The headboard is comfortable to lean against.
• The ottoman storage makes the room feel much less cluttered.
• It pairs really well with a quality mattress.
• It looks more expensive than it is, really good value for money.

Things to know before buying

• Assembly takes a bit of patience, but isn't groundbreaking.
• Two people will make the build much easier.
• Use proper tools if you have them.
• Read the instructions before moving anything!
• The ottoman lift is easy to use, but remember it is still lifting a mattress and frame.

Final verdict

We are super happy with the upgrade.

The DUSK Ascot Ottoman Bed has made the bedroom look better, feel calmer and function much more practically. The storage is the real game changer, but the quality and finish have also impressed us more than expected.

Would we recommend it? Yes.

Especially if you want a stylish king size bed, hidden storage and a more luxurious bedroom setup without spending silly money.

Shop the bed here: DUSK Ascot Ottoman Storage Bed

Shop the bedding here: DUSK Portofino Waffle Duvet Cover