Making Ottoman TV Beds Work in South-Facing Rooms

An ottoman TV bed works well in a south facing room when it is placed with the footboard at a right angle to the window, upholstered in a light, fade resistant fabric, and paired with window dressings that control strong afternoon sun. Those three decisions reduce glare on the screen, protect the frame and keep the storage space beneath the mattress cool and dry.

A south facing bedroom receives the most direct sunlight of any orientation in Britain, which is a real asset through autumn and winter. Our modern TV beds UK sale collection includes ottoman designs that combine a lifting screen in the footboard with a gas lift storage base, giving a bright room both entertainment and generous storage.

What Makes South Facing Rooms Different

Sunlight enters a south facing room for much of the day, moving from the left side of the window in the morning to the right in the afternoon. In summer, the sun is high and the light falls steeply. In winter, it is lower and reaches further into the room, often landing directly on the bed.

This brings warmth and brightness, but it also means the bed, the screen and anything stored inside the base are exposed to sun and heat more than they would be in a north or east facing room. Planning for this from the start avoids problems later.

Placing the Bed in Relation to the Window

Position matters more than anything else. If the footboard faces the window, the raised screen will sit with its back to the light, which is helpful for glare, but you will be looking towards the window when watching. Bright sky behind a screen strains the eyes and washes out the picture. If the headboard sits under the window, the screen will face the glass directly and catch reflections.

The most comfortable arrangement is usually with the bed running parallel to the window wall, so the screen faces a side wall and daylight falls across the room rather than straight onto or behind the television. Where the room shape does not allow this, good blinds become essential.

Leave space around the base. Ottoman beds lift from the foot end or the side, so check there is room to raise the platform fully without the mattress catching a window sill, radiator or curtain.

Choosing Fabric and Colour

All upholstery can fade with long exposure to direct sunlight, and strongly saturated colours tend to show it most. In a south facing room, light and mid tones such as stone, oatmeal, soft grey and pale sage are more forgiving. Small changes in shade are much harder to see on these colours than on navy, emerald or deep red.

Woven polyester and blended fabrics often hold colour better than natural fibres in bright conditions, and many are treated to resist fading. Faux leather is another option, though dark finishes can feel warm to the touch on hot afternoons. Whatever you choose, check the care information for your fabric.

Cooler colours also help the room feel fresher. Soft blue greys, sage and warm whites temper the warmth of the light, whereas rich, warm tones can make a sunny room feel hotter in summer.

Window Dressings That Help

A layered approach gives the most control. Sheer or voile curtains soften light during the day while keeping the room bright. Blackout or thermal lined curtains, or a blackout blind behind them, cut glare when you want to watch television and keep the room cooler on hot days.

Roller blinds with a light reflective backing are particularly useful in south facing rooms. They bounce some of the heat back out through the glass. Shutters are another option, allowing you to angle the louvres so light reaches the ceiling rather than the screen.

Keeping the Ottoman Storage Cool and Dry

The space beneath the mattress is enclosed, and in a warm room it can hold heat. That is rarely a problem for most stored items, but a few habits help. Store bedding, towels and seasonal clothing in breathable cotton bags rather than sealed plastic, which can trap moisture as temperatures change between day and night.

Lift the base from time to time to let air circulate, especially after a run of hot weather. A few cedar blocks or lavender sachets keep textiles fresh and deter moths. Avoid storing anything sensitive to heat, such as candles, photographs, cosmetics or electronics, in the base of a bed that sits in strong sun.

Planning What Goes Where

An ottoman base often holds more than people expect, which can reduce the need for other storage. Spare duvets, winter throws and pillows are natural candidates, freeing wardrobe space for clothes. That can mean choosing a smaller wardrobe or fewer drawers, which keeps a bright room feeling open.

Our modern bedroom furniture UK sale range includes compact wardrobes, chests and bedside pieces that complement an ottoman bed, and our dedicated modern ottomans UK sale section is worth browsing if you want extra storage seating at the foot of a window or beside a dressing table.

Using the Gas Lift Safely and Easily

Ottoman bases rise on gas struts, which support the weight of the mattress as you lift. In warm rooms, it is worth knowing that gas struts are designed to work across normal household temperatures, so everyday sunshine will not affect them. What matters more is choosing a mattress that sits within the weight range the base is designed for. A very heavy mattress can make the platform harder to raise, while a very light one may cause it to rise too quickly.

Check which end the base lifts from before deciding on placement. End lift designs need clear space at the foot of the bed, which in a TV bed is also where the screen sits, so the two functions share that area. Side lift designs need a clear walkway along one side instead. Either way, keep the lifting area free of rugs with raised edges, baskets and other obstructions.

Choosing Bedside Furniture for a Bright Room

Bedside tables in a south facing room catch the light too. Pale timber, painted finishes and light stone tops tend to age gracefully in sun, while very dark gloss surfaces can show dust and fingerprints more clearly in strong daylight. Simple shapes keep the room feeling open and help the bed remain the focus.

Because the ottoman base takes care of bulky items, bedside pieces can be smaller than usual. A single drawer for everyday essentials and an open shelf for a book is often enough.

Keeping the Room Comfortable in Summer

South facing bedrooms can become warm on summer evenings. Breathable bedding in cotton percale or linen makes a noticeable difference. Keep curtains or blinds closed during the hottest part of the afternoon and open the window once the air outside is cooler.

A fan placed away from the screen lift can help on very warm nights. Lighter rugs reflect heat better than dark ones, and limiting soft furnishings in the summer months keeps the room feeling airy.

Making the Most of Winter Light

The same orientation becomes a real advantage in the colder months. Low winter sun warms the room naturally and lifts the mood on short days. Open the curtains fully in the morning and let the light reach the bed. Heavier throws and brushed cotton bedding, taken from the ottoman base as the weather turns, make the room feel cosy by evening.

Because the screen sits inside the footboard when lowered, the bed reads as a calm piece of furniture throughout the day, leaving the light and the view to take centre stage.

Lighting for Evenings

A bright room in daylight can feel flat at night if it relies on a single ceiling light. Bedside lamps with warm bulbs, along with a soft light placed away from the screen, create a relaxed atmosphere for watching television and reduce eye strain. Keep lamps positioned so they do not reflect in the screen when it is raised.

Further Reading

If you are still deciding on colour, our article on bedroom colour trends for UK homes looks at how different shades behave in different rooms. For advice on keeping storage organised in compact spaces, our guide to fitting a chest of drawers in a small UK room is a practical companion.

You can explore ottoman TV beds and matching bedroom furniture at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should a TV bed go in a south facing room?

Ideally parallel to the window wall, so the screen faces a side wall and avoids both direct reflections and bright sky behind it.

Will sunlight fade my bed?

Any fabric can fade with long exposure. Light and mid tones disguise it best, and blinds or lined curtains reduce exposure during the brightest hours.

Is it safe to store bedding in an ottoman bed in a warm room?

Yes. Use breathable cotton bags, air the base occasionally and avoid storing heat sensitive items such as candles or electronics.

How do I reduce glare on the screen?

Angle the bed so the screen does not face the window, and use blackout blinds or curtains when watching during the day.