Interior Designer Tips for Styling Small Double TV Beds

Interior designers style small double TV beds by keeping the surrounding furniture slim, lifting storage and lighting off the floor, and using a light, consistent palette so the room reads as one calm space. A small double gives two people or one generous sleeper a comfortable bed in a room where a full double would feel tight, and with a television tucked into the footboard it frees up the wall a TV stand would otherwise take.

The UK small double mattress measures 120 x 190 cm, making it a sensible choice for second bedrooms, guest rooms, teenagers’ rooms and compact flats. Our range of small double TV beds UK covers fabric, velvet and faux leather finishes. Here is how designers approach styling them so the room feels considered rather than squeezed.

Think of the Room as a Whole

In a smaller bedroom, every piece of furniture is visible from the doorway. Designers start by deciding how the room will be used. Is it a guest room that needs to feel welcoming but rarely holds much? A teenager’s room that doubles as a den? A main bedroom in a city flat? The answer shapes how much storage, seating and surface you actually need.

Planning the bed together with the rest of the room is easier when you can see the options side by side. Our modern bedroom furniture UK sale collections include compact bedside tables, slim drawers and narrow wardrobes that suit the scale of a small double.

Pick a Frame With a Lighter Footprint

TV beds carry more visual weight than ordinary frames because of the footboard that houses the lift. In a small room, designers look for designs that soften this. A headboard of moderate height, clean side rails and a footboard with simple lines all help.

Colour has a big effect. Pale grey, oatmeal, stone and soft sage make the frame recede, while very dark shades draw attention. That does not mean dark colours are off limits. A charcoal or navy small double can look striking in a room with white walls and pale bedding, as long as the rest of the furniture stays light.

If you are comparing upholstered options, our small double fabric beds UK sale range shows how different fabrics and headboard shapes change the feel of a compact frame.

Keep Bedside Storage Slim or Floating

Bedside tables are often the first thing to crowd a small room. Designers usually choose one of three approaches:

• Slim bedside cabinets around 35 to 45 cm wide, with a drawer to hide remotes and chargers.
• Wall mounted shelves at mattress height, which keep the floor clear and make the room feel larger.
• A single bedside table on one side only, where the other side sits close to a wall.

Whichever you choose, keep the top clear apart from a lamp, a book and perhaps a small plant. A cleared surface makes the whole bed area look more spacious than it is.

Lift Lighting Off the Surfaces

Table lamps take up space on already small bedside tops. Wall lights mounted either side of the headboard free that surface and create a neat, hotel style look. Plug in wall lights with a neat cable cover are a good option in rented homes where hardwiring is not possible.

Choose warm bulbs and fittings with a directional head so you can read in bed without lighting the whole room. When the television is up, a dim, low light near the headboard reduces glare on the screen.

For the ceiling, a simple pendant or flush fitting in a pale finish keeps the room feeling airy. Avoid heavy chandeliers or large drums that visually lower the ceiling.

Use Mirrors With Care

Mirrors are a designer’s favourite trick for small rooms. They bounce light and make a space feel deeper. A tall mirror on a side wall or a round mirror above a chest of drawers works well. Our modern bedroom mirrors UK include wall hung and freestanding designs that suit compact rooms.

Avoid placing a large mirror directly opposite the footboard. When the television rises, the mirror would sit behind it and could reflect light into your eyes or show the back of the screen. Side walls are usually a better position.

Bedding That Makes the Bed Look Bigger

Designers often dress a small double with bedding that slightly exceeds the mattress, such as a double duvet that drapes generously over the sides. This makes the bed look more inviting and softens the frame’s edges. Keep the duvet clear of the footboard opening so it does not catch on the lift.

Stick to a restrained palette. Two or three tones that relate to the frame and walls look calm. A white or ivory base with a textured throw in a deeper shade adds interest without clutter. Two sleeping pillows and one or two decorative cushions are enough.

Choose Colours That Expand the Room

Light walls make a small bedroom feel larger, but stark white can feel cold in a north facing room. Warm whites, soft greys and pale earthy tones are more forgiving. Painting the walls and ceiling in similar shades blurs the edges of the room and makes it feel taller.

If you prefer colour, try a deeper shade on the wall behind the headboard only. This creates a focal point and makes the bed feel deliberately placed. Keep the other walls lighter so the space does not close in.

Smart Storage Beyond the Bed

Many small double TV beds include drawers or an ottoman base. Use this for bedding, out of season clothes and spare towels. Keeping these items out of sight leaves room in wardrobes and drawers for daily wear.

A tall, narrow chest of drawers uses vertical space more efficiently than a wide, low one. Place it on a side wall where it does not block the view of the screen. If you need help deciding whether a chest of drawers will fit, our guide on fitting a chest of drawers in a small UK room is a practical starting point, and our article on choosing a bedside cabinet for a small UK room covers bedside sizes and placement in more detail.

Above head height, a shelf running around part of the room can hold books and baskets without using any floor space.

Plan Clearances Carefully

Designers always measure clearances before choosing furniture. In a small bedroom, aim for at least 50 to 60 cm of floor on any side used for getting in and out. Allow space at the foot of the bed to walk past comfortably and to view the screen once it rises.

Check door swings, wardrobe doors and drawer depths. A drawer that cannot open fully because it hits the bed frame quickly becomes frustrating. Sliding wardrobe doors are a sensible choice where space is tight.

Add Personality in Small Doses

A small room still benefits from character. Designers add it through a few chosen details rather than many small accessories. A single large print above the headboard, a woven basket for throws, a plant on a windowsill or a textured lampshade can each bring warmth.

Keep the area around the footboard clear of décor so the television can rise freely. Avoid tall vases, stacked books or plants on the footboard top.

Window Treatments

Curtains hung close to the ceiling and slightly wider than the window frame make a small room feel taller and the window larger. Choose fabrics in a similar tone to the walls for a seamless look.

Blackout lining or a separate blackout blind helps with sleep and makes daytime viewing easier on the television. In a room that faces a street, a sheer curtain gives privacy during the day without blocking light.

Bringing the Look Together

Styling a small double TV bed is about restraint. Choose a frame with gentle lines, keep surrounding furniture slim, raise lighting onto the walls and use colour to open the room. The result is a bedroom that feels calm and generous, even when the floor area is modest.

You can explore small double beds, bedside storage and mirrors in one place at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a small double TV bed big enough for two people?

A small double, with a 120 x 190 cm mattress, can sleep two people who do not mind a cosier bed. Many couples use one in a guest room, while single sleepers enjoy the extra space it offers over a single.

How much space do I need around a small double TV bed?

Allow at least 50 to 60 cm on any side you use to get in and out, plus enough room at the foot to walk past and view the screen comfortably.

What colour TV bed suits a small bedroom?

Light and mid tones such as pale grey, oatmeal and sage help the bed blend with the room. Darker shades can work with light walls and bedding to balance them.

Can I use wall lights instead of bedside lamps?

Yes. Wall lights free up bedside surfaces and keep the room feeling uncluttered. Plug in versions with neat cable covers suit rented homes.