In most city flats, a double or small double TV bed fits best, placed with its headboard against the longest solid wall and the footboard facing away from the window. Choose a frame with built in storage, a mid height headboard and a calm colour, and you gain a place to sleep, watch and store in one piece of furniture, without giving up wall space to a separate TV stand.
Flat living brings particular challenges: compact rooms, shared walls, awkward stairwells and lifts, and often limited control over decoration if you rent. Our range of modern TV beds UK includes sizes and finishes that suit these constraints. This guide looks at size, style and placement with real urban flats in mind, from converted Victorian terraces to newer apartment blocks.
City flats vary widely. A purpose built apartment may have a regular, rectangular bedroom with a large window. A converted period flat might have a high ceiling, a bay window and a chimney breast. A studio might combine bedroom and living space in one room.
Measure the bedroom carefully before choosing a bed. Note doors, windows, radiators, sockets and any built in cupboards. In a converted flat, check for alcoves and uneven walls. In a newer block, check where the developer positioned sockets and television points, as these often hint at the intended bed position.
Planning the bed alongside the rest of the room helps avoid overcrowding. Our bedroom furniture UK sale collections include compact pieces that work in flats, so you can picture the whole layout before committing.
A UK double mattress measures 135 x 190 cm and a small double measures 120 x 190 cm. Remember that a TV bed is larger than its mattress, especially in length, because the footboard houses the television lift.
In many city flat bedrooms, a double fits comfortably with space for slim bedside tables. In smaller second bedrooms, a small double often works better. A king size can suit a larger main bedroom, but check that you can still walk around the bed and open wardrobe doors.
Leave around 50 to 60 cm on each side you use for getting in and out. At the foot, allow enough space to pass and to view the screen comfortably once raised.
City flats tend to suit clean, uncluttered styles. A TV bed already reduces clutter by hiding the television, so the frame can carry the room’s character.
Fabric frames in warm grey, oatmeal or soft taupe feel calm and relaxed. They work well in flats with plenty of light. Velvet in deeper shades, such as navy or forest green, gives a richer, more boutique feel, which suits period conversions with high ceilings and original details. Faux leather in black, grey or tan suits a sleek, modern apartment.
Keep headboard height in proportion to the room. In a flat with lower ceilings, a mid height headboard keeps the room feeling open. In a period flat with tall ceilings, a taller headboard can balance the height.
City light can be limited. Neighbouring buildings, narrow streets and north facing windows often mean a flat bedroom receives less daylight than a house of the same size. Colour choices should account for this.
In a darker room, warm neutrals such as oatmeal, mushroom and soft clay feel more welcoming than cool greys, which can turn flat and heavy in dim light. Keep the walls close in tone to the bed frame so the room reads as one calm space rather than a collection of separate pieces.
Texture adds interest where space for accessories is limited. A woven headboard, linen bedding and a wool throw create depth without clutter. In a brighter flat with large windows, you have more freedom: a deeper frame colour or a richer velvet can stand out confidently against pale walls.
Whatever the palette, limit the number of finishes in the room. Two wood or metal tones and one main fabric colour are usually enough to keep a compact bedroom feeling ordered.
Place the headboard against the longest wall without a window or door. This usually gives the most even space on either side and a clear sightline from the pillows to the raised screen.
Avoid placing the footboard directly in front of a large window. When the screen rises, light behind it can make daytime viewing difficult. A window to the side is usually fine, especially with blinds.
In a flat, at least one bedroom wall may be shared with a neighbour. A headboard against a shared wall is common and usually fine, but the television lift and speakers will face the opposite way, which helps keep sound in your own space. Keep volume moderate late at night.
A TV bed needs mains power. Position it near a socket where possible, and route any extension lead neatly along the skirting. In rented flats, avoid running cables under rugs, where they can be damaged or become a trip hazard.
Storage is often the biggest challenge in a city flat. A TV bed with an ottoman base or side drawers can hold bedding, seasonal clothes and luggage, keeping wardrobes free for daily wear.
Ottoman bases need space to lift the mattress platform, usually from the foot end. Drawers need clear floor space at the side. Choose whichever suits the free space around your bed.
Wardrobes deserve careful thought too. In a narrow room, sliding doors save swing space. Our modern wardrobes UK include compact and sliding designs that sit comfortably beside a TV bed.
Slim bedside cabinets, around 35 to 45 cm wide, suit most flat bedrooms. Choose designs with drawers to keep remotes, chargers and glasses out of sight. In very tight rooms, a single bedside table on one side, or a wall shelf at mattress height, can be enough.
Our bedside cabinets UK come in a range of widths and finishes. For help with sizing, our article on bedside table measurements for UK bedrooms explains heights and depths in simple terms.
Many city flats are rented, which limits changes to walls, lighting and fixtures. A TV bed is a practical choice here because it needs no wall mounting. The television sits inside the bed, so there are no brackets to drill and no holes to fill when you move out.
Choose plug in wall lights or bedside lamps instead of hardwired fittings. Freestanding mirrors avoid drilling. A large rug can cover a dated carpet or protect a wooden floor.
When you move, a TV bed dismantles into sections, which makes it easier to transport than a bulky TV unit and separate bed. For more ideas suited to renters, our guide to TV unit ideas for a rented UK flat covers related layout and storage tips.
Getting furniture into a flat can be the trickiest part. Measure the building entrance, any communal stairwells, lift doors and internal lift dimensions, and your own front door and hallway.
Most TV beds arrive flat packed in several boxes. The footboard section with the lift is usually the largest and heaviest piece. Check its dimensions against your narrowest access point. If you live several floors up without a lift, plan the delivery carefully.
Check whether your building has rules about deliveries, such as booking the lift or using a service entrance.
City bedrooms often have streetlights outside. Blackout blinds or lined curtains help with sleep and make daytime viewing easier on the television. A sheer curtain adds privacy during the day if you are overlooked.
Inside, layer warm light near the headboard and avoid bright overhead light while watching. A small lamp on a chest of drawers adds a soft glow in the evening.
In a studio flat, the bed often shares space with the living area. A TV bed can be especially useful here, as it serves both sleeping and relaxing without a separate television on the wall. Position the bed so the screen faces away from the kitchen area, and use a rug or a low shelf to suggest a boundary between zones.
When the screen is lowered, the bed looks like an ordinary upholstered frame, so the room feels calmer when friends visit.
You can browse TV beds, wardrobes and bedside storage for compact homes at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
A double usually fits most main bedrooms in flats, while a small double suits smaller second bedrooms. Always check the external dimensions of the frame, as TV beds are longer than their mattress size.
Yes. The television sits inside the bed, so there is no wall bracket to fit. It dismantles into sections for moving, which is helpful if you change flats.
Usually with the headboard against the longest solid wall, away from windows and doors, with a socket nearby and the footboard facing away from strong light.
Most TV beds arrive flat packed in several boxes. Measure your stairwell and lift, then compare them with the largest box, usually the footboard section, before ordering.
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