Dillon Captain’s Beds & Storage Beds: A Complete Buying Guide

A bed can do much more than provide a place to sleep. In bedrooms where storage space is limited, the right bed can provide drawers for clothing and bedding, an additional sleeping surface for guests, or even open space beneath the bed for everyday storage.

The Dillon collection offers two distinctly different ways to accomplish this: the Bookcase Captain’s Bed and the Beadboard Bed.

Both are constructed from solid hardwood and designed for everyday use, but the way they use the space beneath the mattress is quite different. The Bookcase Captain’s Bed features a dual-height design that allows you to choose between different under-bed configurations, while the Beadboard Bed uses a single fixed-height design with optional drawers or a trundle.

Understanding those differences before choosing your bed size can help you select the configuration that works best for your room.

Two Dillon Bed Styles

Dillon Bookcase Captain’s Bed

The Dillon Bookcase Captain’s Bed is designed for customers who want maximum storage flexibility.

Available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL and Queen, the bed features a bookcase headboard with open compartments for books, electronics, décor and other items you may want within easy reach.

The most important feature, however, is underneath the bed.

Unlike a conventional captain’s bed with a fixed rail position, the Dillon Bookcase Captain’s Bed is dual height. The side rails can be installed at two different heights depending on how you want to use the space below.

At the lower setting, the bed can accommodate a trundle or a single-height storage drawer unit.

At the higher setting, the additional clearance allows stacked drawer storage, or the space can simply be left open.

This gives you the flexibility to decide whether additional sleeping space, drawer storage or open under-bed space is most important for the room.

Dillon Beadboard Bed

The Dillon Beadboard Bed takes a more traditional approach.

Also available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL and Queen, it features a high beadboard headboard and lower footboard, giving it the appearance of a substantial traditional bed rather than a captain’s bed.

Unlike the Bookcase Captain’s Bed, the Beadboard Bed has a single-height configuration.

Optional storage drawers or a trundle can be installed beneath the bed, but the side rails cannot be raised to accommodate stacked drawer storage.

For customers who prefer a more traditional bed appearance while still wanting useful storage or an additional sleeping surface underneath, this is often the better choice.

Understanding the Dual-Height Bookcase Captain’s Bed

The dual-height feature is what makes the Dillon Bookcase Captain’s Bed unusual. Rather than forcing every customer into the same under-bed configuration, the bed can be assembled at one of two heights.

Lower Setting – Trundle or Single-Height Storage

At the lower setting, the bed maintains a more conventional bed height while providing enough room underneath for either a trundle or a single-height storage unit.

Depending on the bed size, this may include:

• A trundle for an additional sleeping surface
• A single-height storage unit with two independently operated drawers
• Storage units on both sides of larger beds when the room layout permits

This setting is usually the best choice when you want the bed to remain lower or when an additional sleeping surface is more important than maximum drawer capacity.

Higher Setting – Maximum Storage or Open Space

The higher setting creates substantially more usable space underneath the bed.

Instead of a single row of drawers, the Bookcase Captain’s Bed can accommodate stacked storage drawers, providing considerably more storage without increasing the bed's footprint.

Depending on the size and room configuration, storage units may also be installed on both sides of the bed.

You do not have to fill the space with drawers.

The higher setting can also be used with the area beneath the bed left open. This can be useful when you want flexible storage space for bins, luggage, seasonal items or other belongings.

That flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of the dual-height design.

XL vs. Standard Sizes: Why It Matters Under the Bed

Choosing between a standard and XL Dillon bed affects more than mattress length.

It also affects the under-bed storage and trundle options.

The Twin XL, Full XL and Queen configurations use the longer XL under-bed components. Depending on the bed, these can include Twin XL and Full XL trundles as well as longer storage units.

The XL storage units incorporate an open storage cubbie in addition to the drawers.

By comparison, the standard Twin and Full models use non-XL under-bed components. Their storage units feature drawers without the center cubbie, and their trundle options use standard Twin or Full mattresses.

This is an important consideration if you are deciding between, for example, a Full and a Full XL bed.

The additional five inches of mattress length provided by a Full XL may be useful for a taller sleeper, but choosing the XL platform can also change the storage and guest-bed possibilities underneath.

Choosing Between Drawers and a Trundle

One of the first decisions to make is whether the space beneath your bed will primarily be used for storage or sleeping.

A trundle is an excellent choice for guest rooms, vacation homes or bedrooms where friends and family occasionally stay overnight. When needed, the trundle pulls out to provide an additional sleeping surface and stores beneath the main bed when not in use.

The Dillon trundles also include removable dividers. When a mattress is not installed, the trundle can therefore serve as a large under-bed storage compartment.

Storage drawers are usually the better choice when additional sleeping space is not necessary.

They provide convenient everyday storage for clothing, bedding, blankets, toys and other bedroom items without requiring additional floor space for a dresser or chest.

With the dual-height Bookcase Captain’s Bed, customers who need even more storage can choose the higher rail setting and stacked drawers.

Storage on One Side or Both Sides?

Room layout matters.

On the larger Dillon beds, storage can be configured on one or both sides where the particular model allows it.

If one side of the bed will be positioned against a wall, adding drawers to that side may provide little practical benefit. A single storage unit on the accessible side may make considerably more sense.

If the bed will be centered in the room with access from both sides, installing storage on each side can dramatically increase drawer capacity.

This is particularly useful in shared bedrooms, where each sleeper can have storage accessible from their own side of the bed.

Before ordering, consider not only whether the components physically fit beneath the bed, but whether you will have enough room to open the drawers comfortably.

Don't Choose Your Bed Size Before Choosing What Goes Under It

It is natural to begin by deciding whether you want a Twin, Full or Queen mattress.

With a storage bed, however, it can be helpful to think about the space underneath at the same time.

Ask yourself:

• Do I need additional drawer storage?
• Would an extra sleeping surface be more useful?
• Do I want the option of stacked drawers?
• Will the bed be against a wall or accessible from both sides?
• Would the additional five inches of an XL mattress be beneficial?
• Do I want the area beneath the bed enclosed with storage, or would open space be more useful?

Answering these questions first can make choosing the correct bed considerably easier.

Bookcase Captain’s Bed vs. Beadboard Bed

Although the two Dillon bed families share similar construction and under-bed accessories, they serve somewhat different needs.

 Feature                             Bookcase Captain’s Bed                   Beadboard Bed

 Available sizes                   Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen         Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen

 Headboard                         Bookcase with open storage                  Traditional beadboard

 Bed height                         Dual height                                          Single height

 Trundle available                Yes                                                      Yes

 Single-height drawers         Yes                                                      Yes

 Stacked drawer storage       Yes                                                      No

 Open space at higher setting Yes                                                     No height adjustment

 Storage on both sides          Available on applicable sizes                   Available on applicable sizes

 Best suited for                    Maximum storage flexibility              Traditional bed appearance with under-bed options

Which Dillon Bed Is Right for You?

Choose the Dillon Bookcase Captain’s Bed if maximizing storage and flexibility is your priority.

The bookcase headboard provides additional storage without requiring another piece of furniture, while the dual-height design gives you considerably more control over how the area beneath the bed is used.

It is particularly useful for smaller bedrooms, shared rooms and spaces where every square foot matters.

Choose the Dillon Beadboard Bed if you prefer the appearance and simplicity of a traditional bed but still want useful under-bed storage or the convenience of a trundle.

Its high beadboard headboard and lower footboard create a more conventional bedroom-furniture appearance while retaining many of the practical advantages of a storage bed.

Neither design is necessarily better than the other.

The better choice depends on how you intend to use the space around and underneath the bed.

Plan the Room Before You Order

Before selecting your final configuration, measure more than the space occupied by the bed itself.

A trundle requires sufficient floor space beside the bed to pull completely outward. Storage drawers also require clearance to open comfortably.

Consider doors, nightstands, dressers, closet doors and other furniture that could interfere with either one.

If you are planning storage on both sides of a larger bed, make sure both sides will remain accessible after the room is furnished.

A few minutes spent planning the room before ordering can make a major difference in how useful the storage or trundle will be once the bed is assembled.

A Bed That Can Do More With the Same Space

The main advantage of a captain’s bed or storage bed is simple: it uses space that would otherwise often go unused.

The Dillon Bookcase Captain’s Bed takes that concept further with its bookcase headboard and dual-height configuration, allowing the bed to adapt to different storage needs.

The Dillon Beadboard Bed offers many of the same practical under-bed possibilities in a more traditional fixed-height design.

Whether you need everyday drawer storage, an occasional guest bed, additional space for a taller sleeper or simply want to make better use of a smaller bedroom, understanding the available configurations before ordering will help you build the bed around the way the room will actually be used.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Dillon Bookcase Captain’s Bed and the Dillon Beadboard Bed?

The Dillon Bookcase Captain’s Bed features a bookcase headboard and a dual-height design, allowing the side rails to be installed at different heights depending on the under-bed configuration. The Dillon Beadboard Bed has a traditional beadboard headboard and a single fixed-height configuration. Both styles are available with optional storage drawers or trundles.

Which Dillon beds are dual height?

The Dillon Bookcase Captain’s Bed is dual height. The lower setting can accommodate a trundle or single-height storage drawers, while the higher setting provides room for stacked storage drawers or can be left open underneath. The Dillon Beadboard Bed is not dual height.

Can I use a trundle instead of storage drawers?

Yes. Both Dillon bed styles offer trundle options as an alternative to under-bed drawers. The appropriate trundle depends on the size of the bed. XL configurations can accommodate XL trundle options where applicable, while standard Twin and Full configurations use standard-length trundles.

What is the difference between XL and non-XL Dillon storage options?

XL configurations use longer under-bed components and can accommodate XL trundle options where applicable. XL storage units also include an open storage cubbie in addition to the drawers. Standard Twin and Full storage units do not include the cubbie and use standard-length under-bed components.

Can storage drawers be installed on both sides of a Dillon bed?

On applicable larger sizes, storage units can be installed on both sides of the bed. This can provide significantly more storage when both sides of the bed are accessible. If one side will be positioned against a wall, a storage unit on the accessible side may be the more practical configuration.