If you share your home with a dog or cat, the TV bed to look for has three qualities: upholstery that resists claws and releases hair easily, a closed base that stops pets crawling underneath the lift mechanism, and a cable route that curious teeth cannot reach. Colour matters too, because a shade close to your pet’s coat will hide the hair that inevitably gathers on the frame.
Our TV beds UK sale collection includes fabric and faux leather frames in a wide spread of colours, so it is usually possible to find one that suits both your bedroom and your animals. This guide sets out what to check, starting with the material you will touch and clean most often.
A TV bed has moving parts that an ordinary frame does not. The screen rises and lowers from the footboard on a motorised lift, and many models include a storage base that opens on gas struts. Pets are drawn to warm, enclosed spaces and to anything that moves, so the practical details deserve more thought than they would in a pet free home.
There is also the wear and tear of daily life. Dogs jump on and off beds, cats knead and scratch, and both shed. A bed that handles that well will look better for longer and need less effort to keep clean. Thinking about the whole room helps as well, and our modern bedroom furniture UK range includes wipeable and hard wearing finishes that sit comfortably alongside a TV bed.
The fabric of the frame is the single biggest factor. Some materials hold up well to pets, while others show damage quickly.
Faux leather is generally the easiest to live with. Hair does not cling to it, muddy paw prints wipe away with a damp cloth and spills do not soak in. It can be marked by sharp claws, so it suits dogs that are trimmed regularly and cats that have their own scratching post. Our modern leather beds UK range shows how smooth upholstered finishes look in a bedroom setting.
Tightly woven fabrics are a good second choice. A dense, flat weave gives claws little to catch on and releases hair with a quick pass of a lint roller or a vacuum brush.
Loop weaves and bouclé are best avoided. Their raised loops are easily snagged by claws, and once a loop is pulled it is hard to repair invisibly.
Velvet resists snagging better than many expect because it has no loops, but its soft pile attracts hair and holds it. If you love velvet, choose a shade close to your pet’s coat and keep a velvet brush nearby.
No upholstery is entirely hair free in a home with animals, so colour is your quiet ally. A pale grey or oatmeal frame suits a light coated dog, while charcoal or deep brown suits a dark coated cat. Mid tones such as taupe and stone are forgiving of most coats and of the small marks that come with everyday life.
Pure black and bright white are the least forgiving. Black shows light hair and dust, and white shows paw prints and any dirt brought in from outside. Small patterns and flecked weaves also help, because they break up the surface so stray hairs blend in.
Many pets like to hide under beds. With an ordinary frame, that is harmless. With a TV bed, the space beneath the footboard houses the lift, and an open base gives curious animals access to it. A frame with a closed ottoman base or upholstered sides that reach the floor removes the problem entirely, because there is simply no gap to squeeze into.
If you prefer a frame on legs, look for one with a solid panel enclosing the footboard section. Either way, get into the habit of glancing at the foot of the bed before you raise or lower the screen.
TV lifts are designed for everyday use, but pets add a few considerations. Never raise the screen while a cat is sitting on top of the footboard, and keep the remote somewhere a dog cannot step on it. Some models stop automatically if they meet resistance, so check the product information to see whether yours does. If it does not, it simply means being a little more watchful.
It also helps to keep the area around the footboard clear of pet beds, toys and blankets. Anything that slides into the opening as the screen lowers could be pinched or could stop the mechanism closing fully.
Gas lift storage is useful for spare bedding, but cats are notorious for climbing into open spaces. Before you lower the base, always check that nothing has crept inside. Closing the base slowly gives you a moment to notice if something is not right.
It is also sensible to avoid storing anything a pet might want to investigate, such as treats or catnip toys. Keep those in a separate cupboard so the storage well is not an attraction.
Puppies and young cats often chew cables. The TV lift and the television both need power, so plan a route that keeps every lead out of reach. Run the cable beneath the frame and along the skirting board inside a rigid cable cover. Plastic or metal covers are much harder to chew than the cable itself.
Keep the extension lead behind a piece of furniture rather than on the open floor, and switch it off at the wall when you go out if your pet is still young and inquisitive.
Leads, blankets, grooming brushes and spare towels quickly spread around a bedroom. Giving them a home keeps the room calm. A blanket box placed under a window or along a side wall, rather than at the foot where the screen rises, is a tidy option. Our blanket boxes UK sale include upholstered and wooden designs that double as a seat for putting on shoes.
Keep a lint roller and a microfibre cloth in a bedside drawer. A quick wipe of the footboard every few days stops hair building up where the screen emerges.
Regular light cleaning is far easier than an occasional deep clean. A routine many pet owners find manageable looks like this:
Always follow the care instructions for your particular upholstery. Spot test any cleaner in a hidden area first, especially on fabrics with a pile.
If your pet sleeps on the bed, a washable throw across the lower half of the mattress protects the duvet and catches most of the hair. Choose a throw that stays put rather than draping over the footboard. Cotton and linen release hair more easily in the wash than fleece. A mattress protector is also worthwhile, as it guards against accidents and makes the mattress easier to keep fresh.
Coordinating bedding with the frame and your pet’s coat keeps the room looking calm between washes. For palette ideas, our piece on bedroom furniture colour trends in UK homes is a helpful starting point.
Elderly dogs and cats often find a high bed harder to reach. Ottoman TV beds tend to sit higher than frames on legs because of the storage well, so if your pet sleeps with you, a sturdy pet step or a low padded stool beside the bed can save their joints. Place it at the side rather than the foot, so it never sits in the path of the rising screen.
Older pets may also have the occasional accident. A waterproof mattress protector and a washable throw make cleaning up straightforward, and faux leather upholstery can simply be wiped down. If your pet prefers its own bed on the floor, position it along a side wall where it will not be disturbed when the lift moves.
Pets and TV beds can live together very happily with a little planning. Choose a hard wearing upholstery, pick a colour close to your pet’s coat, favour a closed base and keep cables protected. With those details in place, you can enjoy a hidden screen without worrying about the household’s four legged members. You can see our complete bedroom range at Furniture in Fashion.
Faux leather and tightly woven fabrics are the easiest to keep clean. Faux leather wipes clean quickly, while dense weaves resist snagging better than loose or looped textures.
Yes, with sensible habits. Choose a closed base, keep the footboard area clear and check that pets are not on or near the footboard before raising or lowering the screen.
Close the base slowly and look inside before it shuts. Avoid storing treats or toys in the bed, so the space holds no particular interest.
Choose a shade close to your pet’s coat. Mid tones such as taupe, stone and soft grey are the most forgiving in homes with more than one animal.
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