TV beds with ottoman storage make everyday living easier by combining three jobs in one piece of furniture: a place to sleep, a hidden television and a large storage compartment under the mattress. The mattress platform lifts on gas struts to reveal space for bedding, out of season clothes and bulky items, while the screen rises from the footboard only when you want it. In a typical UK bedroom, that can free up both a wall and a corner that would otherwise be taken by a television stand and an extra chest of drawers.
Space is one of the most common frustrations in British homes, and bedrooms often bear the brunt. A bed that works harder helps the rest of the room stay calm. Our collection of modern TV beds UK includes designs that pair the footboard television with practical storage, and below we look at how that combination changes the way a bedroom works day to day.
An ottoman bed has a hinged platform beneath the mattress. When you lift the foot end or side, gas assisted struts take most of the weight and hold the platform open, exposing a deep storage well that runs the length and width of the bed.
On a TV bed, this storage sits alongside a footboard that houses a motorised television lift. The two systems are designed to work independently, so you can open the storage without disturbing the screen and raise the television without touching the base. Some designs lift from the side rather than the foot end, which can be useful where the footboard is particularly deep.
Spare duvets, pillows and sets of sheets take up a surprising amount of room. In many homes they end up in an airing cupboard, a loft or the top of a wardrobe. An ottoman base keeps them exactly where you need them, so changing the bed becomes a quicker, simpler job.
The UK climate means most of us switch between summer and winter wardrobes. Heavy jumpers, coats and thick throws can be stored under the mattress during warmer months, then swapped for light linens when the weather turns. Vacuum bags make the most of the space and protect fabrics.
With the television hidden in the footboard and extra belongings out of sight, there is less to clutter the tops of drawers and bedside cabinets. A clearer room is quicker to clean and tends to feel more restful at the end of the day.
Traditional underbed storage relies on boxes pushed into a gap where dust gathers. An enclosed ottoman base keeps belongings protected and makes vacuuming the floor around the bed straightforward.
Ottoman TV beds suit a wide range of households, but some will notice the difference more than others.
The ottoman base is best suited to items you need occasionally rather than daily. Lifting the mattress platform is easy, but it is not something most people want to do every morning.
Good candidates include spare bedding, seasonal clothing, luggage, sports kit, gift wrap, keepsakes and important documents in a sealed box. Everyday clothes and items you reach for regularly are better kept in a wardrobe or drawers.
Because the bed now carries so much of the storage load, it is worth looking at how it fits with the rest of the room. Browsing bedroom furniture UK sale collections helps you find wardrobes, drawers and cabinets in finishes that sit comfortably with the upholstery of your TV bed.
For smaller items, a separate storage piece still has a role. Our modern ottomans UK range includes pieces that add seating and storage at the same time, while blanket boxes UK offer a handsome spot at the side of the room for throws and cushions you use most evenings. Just make sure anything placed near the footboard leaves the television free to rise.
Foot lift ottomans are the most common, but on a TV bed a side lift can be more convenient. Think about where you will stand to open the base and whether furniture or walls will be in the way.
When the platform is raised, the mattress and base tilt upwards. Make sure there is nothing above the bed, such as shelving or a low pendant light, that could catch on it. Leave enough floor space on the opening side to stand comfortably.
Gas struts are matched to typical mattress weights. A very heavy mattress may make the base harder to lift or cause it to close more quickly than expected. Check the guidance for the bed and choose a mattress that falls within it.
The television lift needs a socket. Route cables so they do not interfere with the hinge or get trapped when the ottoman closes. Many TV beds include cable management for this reason.
A large storage well can quickly become a jumble if everything is dropped in loose. A little organisation makes it far more useful.
When the bed takes on more storage, other furniture can be smaller or removed altogether. That might mean choosing a narrower chest of drawers, swapping a wide wardrobe for a slimmer one, or freeing a corner for a reading chair. In a small double bedroom, those changes can make the difference between a room that feels cramped and one that feels calm.
With fewer pieces, each one can also be chosen with more care. If you are deciding how much drawer storage you still need, our guide to choosing a chest of drawers for UK bedrooms explains the different designs and how they suit different routines.
It helps to picture how the bed fits into a normal routine. On a weekday evening, the television rises from the footboard for an hour before sleep, then lowers again so the room feels restful. At the weekend, the base lifts to swap in clean sheets from the storage well, and the used set goes straight into the wash without a trip to the airing cupboard. When visitors are expected, spare pillows and a duvet come out from under the mattress in moments.
Over a season, the change is more noticeable. Winter coats and heavy knits move into the base in spring, and summer linens take their place in autumn. The wardrobe stays manageable all year, and the room no longer needs boxes stacked on top of furniture. None of this is dramatic, but small time savings and a clearer room add up to a noticeably easier daily life.
Ottoman bases and television lifts both need minimal care, but a few habits help them last.
Open and close the base gently rather than letting it drop. Avoid overfilling the storage well so the platform closes flush. Keep the television lift area clear of objects, and wipe the footboard regularly so dust does not build up around the opening. If the gas struts start to feel weaker after many years, they can often be replaced rather than replacing the whole bed.
An ottoman TV bed is a practical answer to a common problem: too many belongings and not enough room. By hiding the television and absorbing bulky items, it lets the bedroom feel like a place to rest rather than a storage room. You can explore storage beds and the furniture that goes with them at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
No. Gas struts take most of the weight, so the platform lifts smoothly with moderate effort, provided the mattress falls within the recommended weight.
This depends on the design. Many models work independently, but it is sensible to lower the screen before lifting the base to avoid strain on either mechanism.
Items you need occasionally, such as spare bedding, seasonal clothes, luggage and keepsakes. Everyday items are better kept in drawers or a wardrobe.
Yes, and they often help most in small rooms because they reduce the need for extra storage furniture. Check you have space to stand on the opening side.
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.