How to Measure Up for Faux Leather TV Beds: A Simple Sizing Guide

To measure up for a faux leather TV bed, record the full length and width of your room, the clear wall space where the headboard will go, the distance from the foot of the bed position to the nearest obstacle, and the width of every doorway and turn on the route in. Then compare those figures with the external frame dimensions of the bed, not the mattress size, and allow comfortable walkways on each side and at the foot.

Faux leather beds tend to have firm, defined edges, so there is less give than with padded fabric if the fit is tight. Taking a few careful measurements before you browse our modern TV beds UK sale range saves a great deal of frustration on delivery day.

What you will need

• A metal tape measure, ideally five metres or longer
• A notepad, or the notes app on your phone
• Masking tape for marking the floor
• A second pair of hands for longer measurements

Measure in centimetres. Bed listings in the UK almost always give dimensions in centimetres, and converting from feet and inches introduces small errors that add up.

Step one: measure the room

Measure the length and width of the room at floor level, from skirting board to skirting board. Do it in two or three places along each wall, because older UK homes in particular are rarely truly square. Use the smallest figure.

Next, note the position of everything fixed: doors, windows, radiators, plug sockets, fitted wardrobes and any chimney breast. Sketch a simple plan on paper and write each distance on it. This plan is the most useful thing you will produce, because it lets you test different bed positions without moving anything.

Step two: measure the headboard wall

Decide which wall the headboard will sit against and measure the usable width. Usable means the space between obstacles, not the full wall. If there is a radiator on that wall, measure from its edge rather than from the corner.

Measure the height too. Note the height of any window sill on that wall and any wall lights or shelves you want to keep. Faux leather headboards are often quite tall and structured, and you will want to know whether a particular design clears the sill.

Step three: measure the space at the foot

This is the measurement that matters most for a TV bed. The television rises from the footboard, and the housing makes the frame longer than a standard bed. Measure from the headboard wall to the opposite wall or the nearest obstacle in that direction, such as a wardrobe or chest of drawers.

From that figure, subtract the external length of the bed you are considering. What is left is your walkway at the foot. A commonly used guideline is to aim for at least 60cm of clear space around a bed for comfortable movement. If you plan to stand at the foot to make the bed or reach a wardrobe, more space will be welcome.

Check whether anything at the foot could interfere with the lift. Sloping ceilings, low shelves and wall mounted cabinets above the footboard all need to clear the screen at full height. Most listings give the height of the raised screen or the mechanism, so measure the ceiling or shelf height above the foot position and compare.

Step four: understand the frame dimensions

The size name tells you the mattress, not the bed. UK mattress sizes are standardised as follows:

• Single: 90cm by 190cm
• Small double: 120cm by 190cm
• Double: 135cm by 190cm
• King size: 150cm by 200cm
• Super king: 180cm by 200cm

The external frame will be wider and longer than these figures. With faux leather TV beds the extra comes from three places: the side rails, the headboard depth and the footboard housing that contains the lift. Always use the overall external dimensions in the product listing when you compare with your room. The same habit is worth applying to every large piece you choose from our modern bedroom furniture UK collection, from wardrobes to chests of drawers.

Faux leather frames often have a firm, squared off edge. Unlike a soft fabric rail that compresses slightly if you brush past it, a faux leather edge stays exactly where it is. If a fit is very close, leave a little extra margin rather than relying on the material to give.

Step five: plan for the cable and socket

The lift mechanism needs mains power. Find where the cable exits the frame on the model you like and measure the distance to your nearest plug socket. Avoid trailing an extension lead across a walkway. If the socket is on the wrong side, it is often easier to choose a different bed position than to fight the cable.

Step six: measure the route in

A TV bed arrives in several boxes, but the footboard housing and headboard are usually the largest parts. Measure every doorway on the route from the front door to the bedroom, including the width of the door frame with the door fully open. Note any tight turns on stairs and landings, and the height of the ceiling at the stair turn if your staircase has one.

Flats need extra attention. Check the lift dimensions if you have one, and the width of communal corridors and fire doors. Write these figures on your plan alongside the room measurements.

Step seven: tape it out

Using the external dimensions of the bed, mark the footprint on the floor with masking tape. Add a second line at the foot to show where the walkway ends. Walk around the outline, open the wardrobe doors, open the bedroom door and pull out any drawers in the room.

This step turns numbers into something you can feel. People often discover that a bed which fits on paper leaves the room feeling cramped, or that a slightly larger size is entirely comfortable. It is far easier to learn that with tape than with a delivered frame.

Common measuring mistakes to avoid

A handful of small errors account for most fitting problems. The first is measuring at waist height rather than floor level. Skirting boards, radiators and pipework all reduce the usable width at the bottom of the wall, which is where the frame actually sits.

The second is forgetting the door. Measure the arc of the bedroom door as it swings open, and check that it clears the corner of the footboard. The same applies to wardrobe doors, which often need more clearance than people expect.

The third is measuring only once. Take every key measurement twice, ideally on different days or with a different person reading the tape. If the two figures disagree, measure a third time and use the smaller one.

The last is ignoring the height of the room when the screen is raised. It is rarely an issue under a flat ceiling, but loft conversions, dormer rooms and bedrooms with low beams can catch people out. If in doubt, hold the tape vertically above the foot position and compare with the raised height in the listing.

Faux leather specific considerations

Faux leather is a practical upholstery for TV beds. It wipes clean, resists pressure marks and suits contemporary schemes. A few points are worth bearing in mind while you measure.

Keep the frame a little away from radiators. Constant direct heat can dry out faux leather over time, so allow a gap between the headboard or side rail and any radiator. Note this on your plan when you decide on position.

Think about light, too. Glossy faux leather reflects light from windows and lamps. If the bed sits directly opposite a bright window, the footboard may show more glare. That is not a reason to avoid it, but it can influence which wall you choose.

If you like the finish but are not sure you need the television mechanism, our leather beds UK sale range offers a direct comparison. Standard frames are shorter at the foot, which can make all the difference in a tight room.

Fitting the rest of the bedroom

Once the bed position is fixed, measure the space either side for bedside storage. Measure the height from the floor to the top of the mattress you intend to use, since cabinets look and work best at roughly the same height. Gloss, matt timber and mirrored finishes all sit comfortably alongside faux leather, so you have plenty of freedom when choosing cabinets to go either side.

Mattress depth affects that height and the look of the bed. Check the recommended mattress depth for the frame, then choose from our mattresses UK range with that figure in mind. A mattress that is much deeper than recommended can sit proud of the side rails and alter the proportions.

For more detail on bed sizes, our guide to UK king size bed dimensions explains how frame and room measurements relate. And if you are planning bedside storage at the same time, our piece on bedside table measurements for UK bedrooms covers heights and widths in detail.

With your measurements written down, you can browse with confidence at Furniture in Fashion. We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently asked questions

How much bigger is a TV bed than its mattress?

It varies by design. The side rails, headboard depth and footboard housing all add to the external size. Always check the overall dimensions in the listing rather than the mattress size.

Do I need to measure ceiling height for a TV bed?

Only if there is something above the foot of the bed, such as a sloping ceiling, a shelf or a cabinet. The raised screen needs to clear it fully.

Can faux leather TV beds go next to a radiator?

It is best to leave a gap. Constant direct heat can dry out faux leather over time, so position the frame a little away from radiators.

Should I measure doorways before ordering?

Yes. Measure every doorway, staircase turn and corridor on the route to the bedroom. The footboard housing and headboard are usually the largest pieces.