Fabric and electric lift are not really rivals. Fabric describes what the bed is covered in, while an electric TV lift describes how the television rises from the footboard, and most TV beds have both. The real choice is which to prioritise. If the look, softness and feel of the bedroom matter most, start with the fabric and choose a lift that meets your screen size. If you use the television every night and want the smoothest, most capable mechanism, start with the lift and then pick the upholstery that suits it. Getting the order right makes the rest of the decision much simpler.
In this guide we untangle the two terms, explain when each should lead your choice and show how they work together across our TV beds UK sale range.
Shopping for a TV bed can be confusing because listings describe beds in different ways. One might lead with the material, such as grey velvet or oatmeal boucle. Another might lead with the mechanism, such as an electric TV lift with remote control.
A fabric TV bed is simply a TV bed upholstered in a textile rather than leather or faux leather. Velvet, chenille, linen look weaves, boucle and textured blends all fall under this heading.
An electric TV lift bed is any TV bed where a motor raises and lowers the screen. Most TV beds work this way, whatever they are covered in.
So a grey fabric TV bed with an electric lift is both. When you compare them, you are really asking which feature you care about more. Both sit within our wider modern bedroom furniture UK collection, so whichever leads, you can coordinate the rest of the room around it.
For many people, the bed is the centrepiece of the bedroom and its appearance matters most. In that case, choose the fabric first.
Fabric absorbs light and softens the large footboard of a TV bed. It feels warm to the touch and makes the room feel calm.
Fabric headboards feel neutral in temperature all year, so they are comfortable for long evenings reading or watching.
Fabric comes in a much wider range of colours and textures than leather. If you are matching curtains, a rug or a painted wall, fabric gives you more options.
If the screen comes up once or twice a week, a standard electric lift will serve you well and you can put more attention into the finish.
Our modern fabric beds UK collection shows how different textiles look on a bed frame and is a helpful place to narrow down colour and texture.
For others, the television is the main reason for buying a TV bed. In that case, choose the lift first.
Daily use puts more demands on the mechanism. A smoother, steadier lift with a soft start and stop is something you will notice every evening.
Screen capacity varies between lifts. If your television is on the larger side, the lift’s maximum width, height and weight will narrow the field quickly.
Some lifts offer a remote and a wired hand control, which helps if the remote tends to disappear into the bedding.
Some lift beds include USB charging, speakers or LED lighting. If those matter to you, they may decide which bed you choose before the upholstery does.
The two meet at the footboard opening. When the screen rises, a hinged lid lifts with it. When it lowers, the lid closes over the cavity. On a fabric bed, the upholstery wraps around this opening and the lid.
A well made fabric TV bed has neat edges around the opening, so the material does not fray or bunch with repeated movement. Thicker fabrics such as boucle and chenille need careful finishing at this point. It is worth checking photographs closely, or asking us, if you want reassurance about how a specific design is finished.
Keep the lid clear. Throws, cushions and clothes left on top can catch as the lid lifts, which strains the fabric and the lift.
Vacuum weekly with a soft brush attachment. Blot spills straight away and follow the care label for any spot cleaning. Drawing blinds or curtains during the brightest hours helps protect deep colours from fading.
Keep the area around the lid clear. Do not place heavy items on the closed lid. Check that cables move freely as the screen rises and falls. If the lift sounds different from normal, stop using it and check the guidance for that bed.
| If this matters most | Start with |
|---|---|
| A soft, colourful, tactile bedroom | Fabric |
| Nightly television in bed | Lift |
| Matching an existing scheme | Fabric |
| A larger or heavier screen | Lift |
| Comfort sitting up | Fabric |
| Built in charging and lighting | Lift |
Size affects both decisions. A wider frame gives the lift more room for a wider screen and shows more of the fabric. In smaller rooms, a double size fabric TV bed often feels better balanced than a large king. Our double fabric beds UK sale range is a useful reference for compact bedrooms.
Whichever size you choose, think about what will sit beside it. Our practical checklist on what to look for in a bedside table for UK bedrooms helps you pick cabinets that suit the bed’s height and the space either side.
Once you know that fabric matters to you, the next step is choosing one that suits the people and pets in your home.
Busy family homes benefit from tight textured weaves and chenille, which cope with daily use and hide small marks. Mid tones such as stone, grey and taupe are forgiving.
Homes with pets should avoid loose loops such as boucle if cats or dogs jump on the bed, as claws can pull the fibres. A tight weave is the safer option.
Adult bedrooms can take velvet and boucle comfortably. These fabrics bring depth and softness and repay a little regular care.
Allergy conscious households should vacuum fabric frames weekly and choose a smoother weave that releases dust easily.
Whichever feature leads your choice, a few questions help confirm the bed will work in practice.
Having clear answers to these questions avoids surprises on delivery day and makes sure the fabric and lift both meet your expectations. If any detail is unclear in a listing, our team is happy to help.
A TV bed quickly becomes part of your evening routine. Within a few weeks, you will notice whether you raise the screen more or less than you expected and how the fabric is wearing where people sit. If you find you watch more than planned, a few simple habits help the lift: keep the lid clear, lower the screen before making the bed and check cables now and then. If the fabric sees more use than expected, a throw at the foot of the bed protects the area that takes the most contact.
Most of the time, you will not have to choose one over the other. A fabric TV bed with a reliable electric lift gives you a soft bedroom and a hidden screen. The key is deciding which feature should guide your shortlist, then making sure the other meets your needs.
You can compare fabrics, lift features and sizes across our full bedroom range at Furniture in Fashion. We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days.
Most do. Fabric refers to the upholstery, and most TV beds use an electric lift whatever they are covered in.
It needs more regular care than leather. Weekly vacuuming and prompt attention to spills keep it looking fresh.
The lift raises the screen and lid, not the upholstered frame, so fabric choice does not usually affect the mechanism. Keep the lid clear of throws and cushions.
Tight textured weaves and chenille tend to be hard wearing. Velvet and boucle look luxurious but need more care.
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…
Country cottages are full of character, but they are rarely generous with storage, and their…
This website uses cookies.