When choosing an ottoman TV bed for a country cottage, begin with the beams. Low ceilings and exposed timbers decide where the screen can safely rise, so measure the lift height against the lowest beam before anything else. Then think about getting the bed up a narrow, winding staircase, keeping the storage base dry in an older building and choosing soft, natural upholstery that suits the character of the room.
Country cottages are full of charm, but they are rarely generous with storage. Fitted cupboards are often small or missing altogether, and bedrooms may sit under the eaves. An ottoman TV bed combines two valuable features: hidden storage in the base and a television that disappears into the footboard. Our TV beds UK sale collection includes designs with storage bases that suit smaller, characterful rooms.
Cottage bedrooms often have sloping ceilings, thick walls, deep window recesses and uneven floors. Freestanding wardrobes can be difficult to fit, and the space under the eaves is hard to use. An ottoman base turns the whole area beneath the mattress into storage for bedding, winter clothes, spare towels or luggage.
Hiding the television is equally useful. A screen on the wall can look out of place beside exposed brick, timber beams or a small cast iron fireplace. When the screen lowers into the footboard, the room keeps its traditional feel. Combining these features in one frame also means fewer pieces of furniture, which matters in a small room where every piece is noticed. Our bedroom furniture UK range includes pieces in scales and finishes that sit comfortably alongside a cottage bed.
This is the most important step. Many cottages have low ceilings, and exposed beams can sit lower still. The TV lift raises the screen vertically from the footboard, so it needs clear space above.
Check the product details for the height of the bed when the screen is fully raised. Then measure from the floor to the underside of the lowest beam in the area where the footboard will sit. Allow a comfortable margin. If a beam crosses the room at the foot of the bed, consider rotating the bed or moving it so the footboard sits beneath a higher section of ceiling.
Remember the headroom you need for yourself too. In bedrooms under the eaves, the ceiling may slope steeply. Position the headboard against the lower wall and let the foot of the bed extend into the room where the ceiling is highest.
Cottage staircases are often narrow, steep and winding. Doorways can be low, and some upstairs rooms are reached through another bedroom. Before ordering, measure every point on the route: the front door, hallway, staircase width, any turns and the bedroom door.
Most TV beds arrive flat packed in several boxes. The footboard section, which contains the lift mechanism, is usually the heaviest and largest. Check the box dimensions on the product page if they are listed. If the route is particularly tight, it is worth measuring with a piece of cardboard cut to the box size and carrying it up the stairs as a test.
Old cottage floors are rarely level. Wide floorboards, stone flags and settled timbers all bring character, but they can make a bed rock slightly or cause the lift mechanism to run unevenly.
A level frame helps the TV lift and the ottoman base work as intended. Use a spirit level on the side rails once the bed is assembled. If one corner sits low, small furniture shims or adjustable glides can correct it. Felt pads under the feet protect old floorboards from scratches.
Older buildings can be prone to damp, particularly on solid walls without a cavity. Ottoman storage is enclosed, so it is important to keep the air moving and the contents fresh.
Leave a small gap between the headboard and the wall so air can circulate. Avoid placing the bed tight against an external wall that feels cold or damp to the touch. Store textiles in breathable cotton bags rather than sealed plastic, which can trap moisture. Lift the ottoman lid every week or two to let the space air, especially in winter.
A few cedar blocks or lavender sachets inside the base help keep stored clothes and bedding smelling fresh and deter moths. Make sure everything is completely dry before it goes into storage.
Cottage interiors suit soft, natural materials and colours drawn from the countryside. Linen, cotton blends and textured weaves all feel at home. Velvet can work beautifully too, especially in deeper tones that echo the richness of old timber.
Think about colour in relation to the beams and walls. Whitewashed walls with dark beams suit frames in sage, soft blue, oatmeal or warm cream. Walls painted in heritage colours such as muted green or dusky pink may pair better with a neutral bed in stone or flax.
Avoid very glossy or highly modern finishes, which can look out of place against rough plaster and timber. Simple panelled headboards, gently scalloped shapes or plain upholstered designs tend to suit cottages better than tall, sharply angled headboards.
An ottoman base handles bulky items well, but you will still need somewhere for smaller everyday things. An upholstered ottoman or storage bench at the end of the room, rather than tight against the footboard, adds seating and a little extra storage. Our ottomans UK sale range includes designs that suit a cottage bedroom.
Bedside cabinets should be compact to suit smaller rooms and deep window recesses. Natural wood finishes such as oak or painted wood sit comfortably with exposed beams. Our wooden bedside cabinets UK range includes designs with drawers that keep the bedside surface clear.
When choosing bedside pieces, it is worth investing in quality, since a well made cabinet can last for many years in a cottage. Our article on bedside cabinets built to last in UK homes explains what to look for.
Cottage bedrooms often have small windows, so natural light can be limited. Layered lighting makes the room more comfortable for both reading and watching television.
Bedside lamps with fabric shades give a warm, soft light. Wall lights save space on smaller bedside cabinets. If the ceiling is low, avoid large pendants that hang into your line of sight or the path of the rising screen. Flush fittings or small pendants positioned away from the footboard are safer choices.
Ceiling height also affects how light spreads through the room. Our guide to ceiling heights in older UK properties explains how lighting choices change in rooms with lower ceilings.
The bedding is where a cottage bedroom can really come alive. Patchwork quilts, cotton bedspreads, woollen throws and linen pillowcases all suit the setting. Checks, small florals and simple stripes add pattern without overwhelming a small room.
Keep the foot of the bed free from heavy throws that hang over the footboard, so the screen can rise without catching fabric. A neatly folded quilt laid across the mattress gives the same layered look without getting in the way.
An ottoman TV bed can bring practical storage and modern comfort to a country cottage without disturbing its character. Measure carefully, protect the storage from damp and choose materials that suit the age of the building. To explore beds and bedroom furniture for characterful homes, visit Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Cottage bedrooms can be chilly, particularly where walls are solid stone and windows are small. Position the bed away from the coldest external wall where you can, and leave a small gap between the headboard and the wall so air can circulate. This helps prevent condensation forming behind the bed, which is a common cause of damp patches in older homes. If a radiator sits under the window, avoid blocking it with the footboard, as the bed will block the warmth from reaching the rest of the room.
Layered bedding does a lot of the work in a cold room. A wool blanket under the duvet, a heavier quilt for winter and a pair of thick curtains lined with thermal fabric will keep the space comfortable without overworking the heating. Thick rugs on stone or wooden floors add warmth underfoot and soften the sound in rooms with hard surfaces.
It can, but you must measure first. Compare the fully raised height of the bed and screen with the underside of the lowest beam above the footboard, and reposition the bed if needed.
Leave a gap between the bed and the wall, store items in breathable cotton bags, open the lid regularly to air the space and make sure everything is completely dry before storing it.
Linen, cotton blends, textured weaves and soft velvet all suit cottages. Sage, soft blue, oatmeal and warm cream sit well against whitewashed walls and timber beams.
Check the assembled frame with a spirit level. Small furniture shims or adjustable glides under the feet can level it, helping the lift and storage base work smoothly.
Lamps frame the bed, add warmth and shape the mood of a bedroom after dark,…
Ottoman TV beds and Chesterfield TV beds answer different questions. An ottoman TV bed is…
Ex council flats are often well built, with solid walls, sensible room shapes and generous…
A rug can transform a bedroom, softening hard floors, adding warmth and framing the bed…
In a studio flat the bed is always on show, so where you place it…
Smart TV beds and TV beds with storage both hide a television in the footboard,…
This website uses cookies.