Some people also think of a captain bed as one that has raised sides all around, as if you are sleeping in a box. But this additional definition is not always used. Most have a tall headboard and footboard, but others only have a headboard.

It is considered a type of platform bed, which simply means a raised bed that has room underneath it. But unlike a loft bed, which has enough room under it for a desk, for instance, the captain bed generally has only enough room under it for storage.

The advantage of a captain’s bed is the extra storage space. You can store things without taking up room space with a chest of drawers or bureau. But one disadvantage is that box springs aren’t normally used because the bed is already raised up. For this reason, many people get thick foam mattresses so they can still be comfortable.

Futons are also often used since they also don’t require a box spring, sometimes along with a Japanese tatami mat. And of course, there are always those who prefer a regular mattress.

Captain beds come in a variety of sizes, just like traditional beds, such as queen, full, and twin.

Here are a few variations on the general theme of a bed with storage:

• Flip up Bed

  Some captains beds don’t have drawers in the side. Instead the entire bed flips up to reveal storage space. Normally lifting a bed would be extremely difficult, especially for one person. But these beds are counterweighted so that they lift easily.

• Captain Bed Trundle

  Normally you think of a bed either having storage drawers in the side or another bed that pulls out, called a trundle bed. But a captain bed trundle actually has both. The trundle bed sits on top of a level of drawers, and both drawers and bed push in under the main captain bed.

• Build Your Own

  You can buy captain bed plans which will let you build your own. This is great if you’re handy because you’ll save a lot of money this way.

So if you like the idea of having extra storage without taking up a lot of space, a captain bed is definitely one way to go.