The Best Ottoman TV Beds for Bedsits

For a bedsit, the most useful ottoman TV bed is one that combines a gas lift storage base with a television that hides in the footboard, in a size that still leaves a clear walkway through the room. A small double or double usually strikes the right balance, and a hard wearing fabric in a calm mid tone keeps the bed from dominating a space that also serves as your living room, study and dining area.

When one room has to do everything, every piece of furniture earns its place or goes. An ottoman TV bed works harder than most: it is where you sleep, where you watch television and where you keep the things that would otherwise crowd the floor. You will find a range of designs among our modern ottoman TV beds UK, and the guidance below will help you narrow the choice for a single room home.

What an ottoman TV bed actually does

An ottoman bed has a base that lifts on gas struts, revealing a large storage well underneath the mattress. A TV bed adds a powered lift in the footboard that raises a flat screen when you want to watch and lowers it out of sight when you do not. Combining the two gives you hidden storage and a hidden screen in one footprint.

Not every TV bed includes ottoman storage, so read the product details carefully. Some designs offer drawers instead, and some have no storage at all. In a bedsit, the ottoman version usually wins because it uses the full area under the mattress rather than just the edges.

Why this combination suits a bedsit

Bedsits are typically short on two things: wall space and cupboard space. A kitchenette, a window and a door can take up most of the walls, leaving nowhere sensible to mount a television. At the same time there is rarely a proper wardrobe, let alone a linen cupboard.

An ottoman TV bed tackles both. Spare bedding, winter coats, suitcases and seasonal clothes go into the base. The television disappears when friends come round, so the room feels like a sitting room rather than a bedroom. Removing a separate TV stand also frees floor space for a small table or a second chair, and leaves more room for the rest of your modern bedroom furniture UK.

Features worth looking for

A smooth, well supported gas lift

The base should rise easily and stay open without you holding it. Good struts are matched to the weight of the mattress, so check whether the bed specifies a suitable mattress weight or depth. A base that rises too sharply or sinks slowly soon becomes a nuisance when you are reaching for something at the back.

Clear screen limits

Every TV lift has a maximum screen size and weight. In a bedsit you will be sitting fairly close to the screen, so a modest size is usually comfortable. Measure the depth of your television as well as its diagonal, since thick sets may not sit flush in the footboard.

A footboard that is not too tall

The housing for the screen raises the height of the foot end. In a small room, a lower footboard keeps sightlines open across the space. Look at the stated footboard height and picture it against the window or kitchenette beyond.

Hard wearing upholstery

In a single room, the bed often doubles as a sofa during the day. Tightly woven fabrics stand up to that use better than loose weaves, and they hold their appearance longer. Plush velvet looks soft and inviting but may show pressure marks where people sit regularly.

Getting the size right

The temptation in a bedsit is to go large, because the bed is also your main seat. Resist it until you have measured. A TV bed is longer than a standard frame because of the footboard housing, and an ottoman base needs clear space above it to lift without catching a shelf or windowsill.

A small double suits one person who wants a little extra space without losing the walkway. A double gives two people a comfortable night but needs careful planning in a compact room. Mark the full footprint on the floor with tape and walk around it. If you have to turn sideways to pass, the bed is too big for the room.

Ottoman bases lift from the foot end or the side depending on the design. Make sure you can stand where you need to when the base is open, without your back pressed against the kitchenette worktop.

Zoning a single room around the bed

The difficulty with a bedsit is that the bed tends to take over. A few simple moves give each part of the room its own role.

• Place the headboard against the wall farthest from the entrance so the bed feels tucked away rather than the first thing you see.
• Use a rug to define the sitting or dining area separately from the sleeping area.
• Consider an open screen to suggest a boundary without blocking light. Our modern room dividers UK are freestanding, so they suit rented rooms and can be repositioned as your needs change.
• Dress the bed with a throw and cushions during the day so it reads as seating.

Storage beyond the base

Even a generous ottoman base will not hold everything. Daily clothes need somewhere easier to reach than underneath a mattress, so plan for a compact hanging solution as well. Our clothes storage UK range includes slim options that fit into alcoves and corners.

Use the ottoman for things you reach for weekly or seasonally: spare duvets, guest towels, luggage and out of season clothing. Keep everyday items closer to hand. That way you are not lifting the bed every morning.

A small bedside surface is worth squeezing in too, because a lamp, phone and the TV handset all need a home. Our guide on choosing a bedside cabinet for small UK rooms covers slim widths and clearances that work in tight layouts.

Colour and style choices that keep the room calm

In a single room, the bed is a large block of colour that you see from every angle. Mid greys, soft taupes and mink tones tend to blend into the background, which helps the room feel bigger. Charcoal and navy add depth if the walls are pale and the room gets good light.

Headboard design matters too. A simple panelled or plain headboard looks tidier in a small space than a heavily buttoned or winged design, which can feel bulky. If you love a statement look, keep everything else in the room quiet so the headboard has space to breathe.

Practical points for everyday use

Plan the power supply before the bed arrives. The TV lift needs a socket, and in many bedsits the sockets cluster around the kitchenette. A surge protected extension lead run along the skirting is a safe, neat solution. Keep cables well clear of the gas lift hinges.

Ventilation is worth a thought as well. Storage bases can trap moisture, particularly in single rooms where cooking and drying clothes happen in the same space. Opening the base now and then to air the contents helps, and breathable storage bags are better than sealed plastic for textiles.

Finally, think about the mattress. An ottoman base works best with a mattress of the weight and depth it was designed for. A very heavy mattress can make the lift harder to use, and a very light one can make it spring up too quickly.

Living with the bed day to day

A few habits make an ottoman TV bed easier to live with in a single room. Make the bed each morning so it reads as seating, lower the screen when you are not watching, and keep the area around the foot end clear so the lift and the storage base can both open freely. Every few weeks, check that the gas struts and the lift still move smoothly and that no cables have crept towards the mechanism.

Bringing it together

The right ottoman TV bed for a bedsit is less about the largest size or the boldest headboard and more about fit and function. Measure the room, check the lift and screen limits, choose upholstery that copes with daytime sitting, and plan storage beyond the base. With those decisions made, a single room can feel organised and restful rather than crowded. Browse the wider bedroom collection at Furniture in Fashion to find pieces that work alongside it.

Frequently asked questions

Can an ottoman TV bed fit in a small bedsit?

Yes, if you choose the size carefully. A small double is often the most comfortable fit for one person, leaving room to walk around the frame and open the base fully.

Is the storage base still usable with the TV mechanism?

In most ottoman TV beds, the lift mechanism sits in the footboard while the storage well sits under the mattress. Check the product details, as the usable storage depth can vary between designs.

What size television works best in a bedsit?

Because you sit close to the screen, a modest size is usually comfortable. Stay within the maximum size and weight stated for the lift, and check the depth of the set.

Will the bed work as a sofa during the day?

It can. Add a firm row of cushions against the headboard and a throw over the duvet. A tightly woven fabric copes better with regular sitting than a loose weave.