A double TV bed suits a modern townhouse well, provided you plan for three things: the route the bed takes up the stairs, the shape of a bedroom that is often narrow and tall, and the way sound travels between floors and through shared walls. Get those right and a double frame gives a townhouse bedroom a comfortable place to sleep and watch television without adding another piece of furniture to a room that rarely has floor space to spare.
Our modern double TV beds UK range includes upholstered, faux leather and storage designs in sizes that suit compact upper floor rooms. Below, we look at what makes townhouse bedrooms different and how to choose a frame that sits comfortably within them, alongside the rest of your bedroom furniture UK sale pieces.
Townhouses, whether Georgian terraces or recent three storey builds, share a vertical layout. Living space tends to sit on the lower floors, with bedrooms stacked above. That arrangement brings advantages, such as quieter sleeping areas away from the street, but it also creates specific constraints.
Rooms are often deeper than they are wide, with a window at one end and the door at the other. Upper floor bedrooms may have sloping ceilings or dormer windows. In newer townhouses, the main bedroom frequently has an en suite and fitted wardrobes that take up one wall. Each of these shapes where a TV bed can go and which size works.
Before thinking about the room itself, consider how the bed will reach it. Townhouse staircases are typically narrow and may turn sharply at a half landing. TV beds are usually delivered in sections, with the headboard, side rails, base and footboard packed separately, which helps. The footboard, which contains the lift mechanism, is generally the bulkiest single part.
Measure the narrowest point of the staircase, the tightest turn and the height clearance beneath any overhead beam or ceiling at the turn. Compare those figures with the packaging dimensions where they are given. Taking a few minutes to check this avoids an awkward moment on delivery day.
In a long, narrow bedroom, the bed usually works best with the headboard on one of the longer walls, so the foot of the bed faces across the room. This leaves walkways down both sides and keeps the space in front of the window clear. Placing the bed with its headboard against the end wall can make the room feel like a corridor and push the footboard close to the door.
The television rises from the footboard, so the view from the pillows is straight ahead. Think about what sits behind the screen when it is raised. A window directly behind it can cause glare during the day, so a blind or curtains you can close easily make viewing more comfortable.
Top floor bedrooms in many townhouses have pitched ceilings on one or both sides. The safest approach is to place the headboard against a full height wall and let the lower part of the room take the foot of the bed. This also gives the screen clearance as it rises, which matters because the television needs vertical space above the footboard.
Measure the ceiling height at the point where the screen will be at its highest. Our product pages list the overall height with the television raised, which helps you check this before ordering.
Many townhouses share walls with neighbours on one or both sides. Bedrooms stacked above living rooms also mean sound can travel between floors. A TV bed itself is quiet in use, since the lift motor runs only briefly. The television, however, can carry through a shared wall late at night.
Where possible, position the bed so the screen faces away from the party wall rather than towards it. A rug beneath the bed softens sound transfer to the floor below, and heavy curtains help absorb noise within the room. Wireless headphones are a simple solution if you watch after others have gone to bed.
Modern townhouses often have pale floors, white walls and clean architectural details. Upholstered frames in grey, charcoal or stone sit naturally in that setting, while faux leather gives a smoother, more structured look that suits a minimal scheme. If you want texture without a heavy pile, a tightly woven fabric is easy to keep clean and holds its shape well. Our double fabric beds UK collection shows the range of weaves and colours available in this size.
Period townhouses, with cornicing and tall sash windows, can take a little more character. A deeper headboard or a panelled design picks up on the proportions of the room without competing with original features.
In many townhouses, storage is spread across several floors, and bedrooms are smaller than the overall size of the house suggests. A double TV bed with a gas lift base adds a large, hidden compartment for bedding and seasonal clothes, which reduces trips to a loft or a cupboard on another floor.
If your bedroom already has fitted wardrobes, you may not need storage in the bed. In that case, a frame on visible legs keeps the room feeling lighter, which can help in a narrow space. Where wardrobes are freestanding, choosing ones that match the depth and finish of the bed helps the room look settled. Our modern wardrobes UK range includes sliding door designs that work well in rooms where a hinged door would clash with the bed.
A TV bed needs a power supply for the lift mechanism and the television. Check where the sockets are before deciding on the position of the bed. In newer townhouses, sockets are often placed either side of where the builder expected the bed to go, which may not suit a TV bed. A neat surface mounted cable cover along the skirting board keeps leads tidy if the nearest socket is a short distance away.
If you use a streaming device or aerial connection, think about where those cables will run too. Keeping them along the wall behind the headboard or under the frame avoids trip hazards on the walkway.
For most townhouse bedrooms, a double is a sensible choice. It gives two adults a comfortable sleeping area while leaving enough room for bedside storage and a walkway. In the smaller bedrooms of a townhouse, often on the top floor or at the rear, a double usually still fits if you choose a frame with slim side rails and a modest footboard.
If your main bedroom is particularly generous, a king size may be worth considering. For most narrow rooms, though, the extra width of a king size frame takes more from the walkways than it gives back in comfort.
Townhouse bedrooms often rely on a single central ceiling light, which is rarely comfortable for watching television in bed. Overhead light reflects off the screen and feels harsh late in the evening. Low, warm light from the sides works much better.
Wall lights or table lamps either side of the headboard give you control without leaving the bed. A dimmer on the main light is a simple upgrade that helps the room shift from getting ready in the morning to winding down at night. If the bedroom has a tall sash or a large modern window, layered curtains over a blackout blind let you control daylight for weekend viewing and keep the room dark for sleep.
Avoid placing a bright lamp directly behind the raised screen. Light from behind the television makes the picture harder to see and can cause eye strain over a long evening.
Once the bed is in place, keep the rest of the room simple. Matching bedside cabinets either side create symmetry, which suits the ordered feel of a townhouse. Wall lights free up bedside surfaces, and a single large rug anchors the bed. For broader inspiration, our look at bedroom furniture trends UK designers favour covers finishes and shapes that suit contemporary homes. If you also have a separate television elsewhere in the room, our guide to styling TV units with bedroom furniture in UK homes shows how to coordinate the two.
A well chosen double TV bed can make a townhouse bedroom feel complete, giving you a place to rest and unwind without carrying a television up and down the stairs. You can explore our full range at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Usually, yes, because TV beds are delivered in separate parts. Measure the narrowest point and tightest turn of your staircase and compare them with the packaging dimensions.
In most narrow rooms, the headboard works best against a long wall, leaving walkways on both sides and space at the foot for viewing.
It can, as long as there is enough height above the footboard for the screen to rise fully. Check the raised height on the product page.
Position the screen so it faces away from the shared wall, add a rug and heavy curtains, and consider wireless headphones for late viewing.
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