The best TV beds with built in speakers combine a quiet, reliable television lift with speakers positioned in the headboard or the sides of the frame, Bluetooth connectivity so you can play music or route the television sound through them, and simple controls within reach of the pillow. Look for a frame that clearly states its maximum screen size, offers separate volume control for the speakers, and keeps cabling hidden inside the base. Upholstery, size and storage then come down to the room and your own taste.
Built in speakers address a real weakness of modern televisions. As screens have become thinner, the space for speakers inside them has shrunk, and the sound often suffers. In a bedroom, where you want clear dialogue at low volume, that matters. You can see the frames that include integrated audio in our range of modern TV beds UK sale, alongside the rest of our modern bedroom furniture UK.
The television in a TV bed sits in the footboard, facing the headboard. Its own speakers point forward or downward, and the sound has to travel the length of the mattress to reach you. Speakers in the headboard reverse that, placing the sound close to your ears. The practical result is that you can keep the volume lower and still follow dialogue clearly, which is a genuine benefit if someone else in the house is asleep.
A separate soundbar is the usual alternative, but in a bedroom it needs a surface and another set of cables. With a TV bed, the soundbar would have to sit on the footboard lid, which blocks the television lift. Integrated speakers avoid that problem entirely.
Not all integrated audio is the same. A few features separate a well designed system from a basic one.
Speakers set into the headboard, on either side of where your head rests, give the most natural stereo effect. Some frames place speakers in the side rails instead, which still improves on television sound but can feel less immersive. Check where the speakers sit and whether pillows are likely to cover them.
Bluetooth allows you to pair the bed speakers with your television, phone or tablet. This is useful well beyond watching television: you can play a podcast before sleep, set a gentle morning playlist or listen to the radio without a separate device on the bedside table. Check the pairing process is straightforward and that the system reconnects automatically.
A good system lets you adjust the speaker volume independently of the television. That gives you more control in the evening and avoids fiddling with two remotes.
Bedroom listening is mostly quiet listening. Speakers that sound clear at low levels are more useful here than ones that go very loud. If you can hear a frame in person, listen at the volume you would actually use at night.
Speakers are only part of what makes a TV bed worth having. The lift mechanism is the core of the design, and it deserves careful attention.
Every TV bed has a limit on the size of television it can house. This depends on the width of the footboard and the travel of the lift. Measure your existing television, or decide on a size, before choosing a frame. Remember that the screen size quoted for televisions is measured diagonally, so check the actual width and height against the frame’s stated limits.
A good lift rises and lowers smoothly without jolting. Quiet operation matters if you share the room, because a loud motor at night can disturb a sleeping partner.
Some TV beds include a swivel bracket that lets the screen turn towards another part of the room, such as a seating area. If your bedroom has a reading chair, this can be useful.
With audio and lift requirements settled, the rest of the choice is about style and practicality.
Smooth upholstery suits a contemporary room and is easy to wipe clean. It also allows speaker grilles to be set into the headboard neatly. Our modern leather beds UK show the clean lines this finish offers.
Fabric frames feel softer to lean against and absorb some reflected sound, which can make audio feel slightly warmer. Choose a tight weave around the speaker area so that the grille openings stay neat.
Doubles, kings and super kings are all available with integrated audio. A wider frame gives more space between the headboard speakers, which improves the stereo effect, but the room must be large enough to accommodate it comfortably.
Many TV beds with speakers also include gas lift storage beneath the mattress. This is a practical addition that uses the base space the frame already occupies.
A TV bed with speakers is only as good as its controls. In daily use, you want to raise the television, adjust the volume and switch between television and music without hunting for different remotes. Some frames use a single remote for the lift and the speakers, while others place a small control panel on the side of the frame. Both approaches work, but the controls should be reachable from the pillow without stretching.
Think about how you will actually use the bed. If you mainly watch late in the evening, low volume clarity and a quiet lift matter most. If you also want music while getting ready in the morning, quick Bluetooth pairing with your phone is more important. If two people use the bed, consider whether each can reach the controls easily from their side.
It is also worth checking whether the speakers switch off automatically when the television is lowered, or whether they need to be turned off separately. Small details like this shape how pleasant the bed is to live with.
Built in speakers are particularly useful in a few situations. Couples where one partner sleeps earlier benefit from clearer sound at lower volume. People with mild hearing difficulties often find that sound closer to the ears makes dialogue easier to follow. Those in flats with thin walls or shared ceilings can keep the volume down and reduce disturbance to neighbours.
They also suit people who like to listen to audio in bed more than they watch television. A podcast, an audiobook or a calm playlist sounds far better through headboard speakers than through a phone left on the bedside table.
A TV bed is used for sitting as well as sleeping. If you plan to watch in the evening, the mattress should support you comfortably when you are propped up against the headboard. A mattress that is too soft along the head end will leave you slumping; one that is very firm may feel uncomfortable for long periods. A medium or medium firm mattress tends to work well for both sitting and sleeping. Our mattresses UK sale include options in a range of tensions and depths.
Check that the mattress depth suits the frame. A very deep mattress raises your head position and can change how the headboard speakers sit relative to your ears.
Once the bed is in place, a few simple steps improve how it sounds.
A TV bed with speakers is a substantial piece of furniture, and it shapes the rest of the room. Because the bed takes care of both television and audio, you can often leave out a separate TV unit, freeing up wall space for a chest of drawers, a dressing table or a reading chair.
If you do want additional media furniture elsewhere in the bedroom, such as for a games console or a collection of films, our article on how to style TV units with bedroom furniture in UK homes offers practical ideas.
Integrated speakers and lift mechanisms are designed to be low maintenance. Keep drinks away from the headboard area, dust the speaker grilles gently with a soft brush, and avoid pulling on cables. If the lift stops working, check the power supply and remote batteries before assuming a fault. Store the instructions somewhere safe, as they usually include pairing steps for the speakers.
To compare frames with integrated audio and other features, browse our full bedroom range at Furniture in Fashion.
For many people, yes. Speakers in the headboard bring the sound closer, so you can follow dialogue at a lower volume, and there is no need for a separate soundbar.
Most integrated systems include Bluetooth, so you can play music, podcasts or radio from a phone or tablet as well as television sound.
They are usually built into the headboard on either side of the pillows. Some designs place them in the side rails of the frame.
Each frame has a stated maximum screen size. Check this against the actual width and height of your television, not just the diagonal measurement.
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