Choose a buttoned fabric bed if your bedroom is primarily a place to rest and you want the headboard to set a calm, tailored character. Choose a fabric TV bed if you regularly watch television in bed, want the screen out of sight when it is off, and have no good wall for a bracket. Some designs combine a buttoned headboard with a TV lift, so in many cases you can have both.
Our range of modern TV beds UK sale sits within our broader bedroom furniture UK collection, so it is easy to compare the two styles directly. Below we look at the differences that matter in daily use.
A buttoned bed has upholstery pulled into the frame at regular points and secured with fabric covered buttons. The result is a padded, quilted surface, most often on the headboard but sometimes running along the side rails and footboard too. Deep diamond buttoning is the most traditional pattern. Shallower buttoning in straight rows gives a more modern effect.
The look has roots in classic British upholstery, which is why it sits easily in period homes. It is equally at home in contemporary rooms when paired with a sleek frame and a modern fabric such as velvet or a fine weave.
A TV bed has a lift mechanism built into the footboard. At the touch of a remote, a bracket rises and brings the television up into view. When you are finished, it lowers back inside, leaving the footboard looking like any other upholstered bed end.
The footboard on a TV bed is necessarily taller and deeper than on a standard bed to house the mechanism. Many TV beds also include ottoman storage or drawers, which makes them particularly practical in rooms where every inch counts.
A buttoned bed gives a room immediate presence. The headboard becomes the focal point, and the texture of the buttoning adds depth and shadow. It works well when you want the bedroom to feel like a retreat with a slightly formal, hotel quality.
A TV bed is more about the clean surfaces it allows. With the screen hidden, there is no black rectangle on the wall or on a chest of drawers. The room can be styled around art, mirrors and lighting rather than around the television. That said, the taller footboard does add bulk at the end of the bed, so the bed takes up more visual space overall.
A buttoned bed has the same footprint as any upholstered bed of its size. The headboard may be thicker than a flat panel, adding a few centimetres to the length, but it places no special demands on the room.
A TV bed needs more careful planning. The footboard is deeper, so the overall length increases. You also need clear headroom above the footboard for the screen to rise, so avoid placing it beneath low shelves or a sloping ceiling. A power socket near the foot of the bed keeps cables tidy, and you should check the maximum screen size the mechanism supports before buying a television to go with it.
This is often the deciding question, and it is a personal one. Some people find that watching television in bed helps them unwind. Others prefer to keep screens out of the bedroom altogether. A TV bed sits in the middle: the screen is there when you want it but hidden when you do not, which can make it easier to keep the bedroom feeling restful.
If you already know that you rarely watch television in bed, a buttoned bed is the simpler and calmer choice. If you watch most evenings, a TV bed gives you a better viewing position than a screen balanced on a chest of drawers, and it keeps the wall free.
Buttoned upholstery collects dust in the creases around each button. A soft brush attachment on a vacuum, used regularly, keeps it fresh. Check buttons occasionally, as a loose one is far easier to secure early than after it has come away.
A TV bed has the same upholstery care needs as any fabric bed, plus a mechanism. Keep the lift area free of clutter, avoid placing anything on the footboard opening and follow the manufacturer's guidance on use. Motors are generally reliable, but they do need the opening kept clear to work smoothly.
The fabric you choose affects each style in a different way. Buttoning relies on the upholstery folding neatly into deep creases, so softer fabrics with a little give tend to look best. Velvet is the classic partner because it catches light on every tuft and shadow, making the pattern of the buttoning really stand out. Chenille also buttons well and is a touch more forgiving in everyday use.
Flat weaves and linen effect fabrics give buttoning a crisper, more understated look, which can suit contemporary rooms. Very textured fabrics such as bouclé can blur the pattern and are often better on plain or channelled headboards.
On a TV bed, the footboard is a large, broad surface that is touched often when the bed is made. A durable woven fabric or chenille is a sensible choice, as it handles contact well and hides small marks. Darker or mid tone colours help the footboard look tidy over time and reduce any reflection near the screen in the evening.
You do not always have to choose. Several TV bed designs feature a buttoned or tufted headboard, giving you the tailored look at the head and the hidden television at the foot. This combination suits people who want a bedroom that feels classic but works in a modern way. If you prefer to keep the bed simpler and place the television elsewhere, our fabric beds UK include plenty of buttoned designs without a lift.
A buttoned fabric bed tends to suit:
A fabric TV bed tends to suit:
With either bed, bedside storage makes a big difference to comfort. A TV bed's remote, a reading lamp and a glass of water all need a home. Our bedside cabinets UK sale include designs with drawers and shelves that keep these essentials close.
If you are deciding whether to keep a separate TV unit in the bedroom instead, our guide on how to style TV units with bedroom furniture in UK homes explores that approach in detail.
Lighting is worth thinking about too. With a buttoned headboard, wall lights placed either side create a lovely play of shadow across the tufting. With a TV bed, softer, indirect lighting reduces glare on the screen in the evening.
A little preparation avoids surprises when the bed arrives. For a buttoned bed, ask how the buttons are fixed and whether the headboard height suits your ceiling and any picture rail. Check the external length, as deep buttoned headboards add more depth than flat panels.
For a TV bed, the list is longer. Confirm the largest screen size and weight the lift supports, and check the mounting pattern on the back of your television against the bracket. Ask where the power cable exits the frame and how far it is from your nearest socket. Find out whether the mechanism has a safety stop if something blocks it, and whether the remote is wired or wireless.
For both styles, check delivery access. Headboards and TV bed footboards are often the largest components, and they need to pass through doors and around stair turns. Measuring the route in advance takes a few minutes and saves a frustrating afternoon.
Start by thinking honestly about how you use the room after dark. If the bedroom is a quiet space for sleep, a buttoned fabric bed gives you comfort and character with no extra demands. If the television is part of how you wind down, a TV bed keeps it tidy and well placed. And if you want a little of both, look for a combined design.
You can explore both styles in one place at Furniture in Fashion. Returns are available up to 30 days.
A motorised bracket inside the footboard raises the television when you press a remote and lowers it out of sight when you have finished. The bed itself works like any other.
No, but each mechanism supports a maximum screen size and weight. Check these limits before choosing your television.
Yes. The padding and gentle contours of buttoned upholstery make them comfortable for sitting up to read, particularly on deeper headboards.
Slightly. The footboard is taller and deeper to hold the lift mechanism, so the overall length is greater than a standard bed of the same mattress size.
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