If storage is your biggest problem, choose an ottoman TV bed. If floor space is your biggest problem, choose a small double TV bed. An ottoman base lifts on gas struts to reveal a deep storage well under the mattress, which can replace a chest of drawers or a blanket box. A small double reduces the bed’s width so a smaller room still has space to move. The two are not mutually exclusive: some designs combine both, so the real question is which constraint you need to solve first.<\/p>\n
You can compare both types side by side in our modern TV beds UK<\/a> range. This guide explains how each one works, what it asks of your room and how to choose with confidence.<\/p>\n An ottoman TV bed combines two mechanisms. At the foot, an electric lift raises and lowers the television from inside the footboard. Under the mattress, a hinged platform lifts on gas struts, usually from the foot end or the side, to give access to a storage compartment that runs the full length of the base.<\/p>\n The space inside is generous because it uses the whole area beneath the mattress rather than a pair of drawers. Duvets, spare pillows, out of season clothes, luggage and bulky items such as sleeping bags all fit comfortably. The base also closes fully, so dust stays out and the floor around the bed looks clear.<\/p>\n The trade off is weight and complexity. An ottoman TV bed has more moving parts, needs care during assembly and is heavier than a frame on legs. Lifting the platform also requires the mattress to move with it, which is why gas struts are used to make it light to open.<\/p>\n A small double TV bed takes a 120cm by 190cm mattress, which is 15cm narrower than a standard UK double. It has the same TV lift in the footboard and can come on legs, on a plinth, with drawers or with an ottoman base.<\/p>\n Choosing a small double is mainly about space. Those 15cm make a real difference in a narrow room, often enough to fit a bedside cabinet on both sides or to keep a clear path from the door to the window. For one sleeper it feels roomy. For two it is snug but workable for occasional sharing.<\/p>\n Most people who are torn between the two have a room that is short of something. Work out which shortage matters more.<\/p>\n Signs include a wardrobe that will not close, bedding stored in a hallway cupboard, suitcases on top of furniture and boxes under a bed on legs. If this sounds like your home, an ottoman base will probably make the bigger difference. It turns the whole footprint of the bed into storage without adding a single piece of furniture.<\/p>\n Signs include having to edge past the bed sideways, a door that hits the frame and no room for a bedside table. If this sounds familiar, a smaller bed is the better fix. Even the best storage will not help if you cannot move comfortably around the room.<\/p>\n Many UK box rooms and second bedrooms are short of everything. In that case a small double with an ottoman base gives you both benefits. Check that the specific design you like is available in that combination.<\/p>\n Whichever direction you lean, measure the room first. Note its length and width, the door swing, the window position and where the sockets are. Then mark the external frame dimensions on the floor with masking tape. TV beds are longer than standard beds because of the lift in the footboard, so it is important to use the full frame size.<\/p>\n Check you have around 60cm of clear space at the foot for the screen and for walking past. For an ottoman that lifts from the foot end, you also need room to stand there and open the base. For a side opening ottoman, keep space clear along the opening side.<\/p>\n Our full range of modern bedroom furniture UK<\/a> also helps balance the decision. If you choose a small double without storage, slim chests and tall wardrobes can make up the difference.<\/p>\n A good way to judge an ottoman base is to list what it could replace. If it holds your spare bedding, you may not need a blanket box. If it holds seasonal clothes, one chest of drawers might be enough rather than two. Each piece you remove frees floor and wall space.<\/p>\n Our ottoman storage UK<\/a> pieces show how much a lift up storage design can hold, which helps you picture the capacity under a bed. Store items you use weekly at the opening end and those you use once a season further in.<\/p>\n There are good reasons to choose a small double without an ottoman base. If you already have enough wardrobe space, a frame on legs keeps the room feeling airy. Light passes underneath, which makes a small room look larger. It is also simpler to assemble and lighter to move.<\/p>\n Browsing our small double fabric beds UK sale<\/a> gives a good sense of how a four foot frame looks in a room. The proportions are noticeably neater than a double, which suits cottages, terraced houses and flats.<\/p>\n The lift matters regardless of base type. A small double has a slightly narrower footboard, so its maximum screen size may be lower than on a larger bed. Check the screen size and weight limit against your television, and confirm the mounting holes match the bracket.<\/p>\n On an ottoman TV bed, make sure the two mechanisms do not interfere with each other. Well designed models keep the TV lift housing separate from the storage platform, so opening one does not disturb the other.<\/p>\nHow an Ottoman TV Bed Works<\/h3>\n
How a Small Double TV Bed Works<\/h3>\n
Which Problem Are You Solving?<\/h3>\n
Short of Storage<\/h3>\n
Short of Floor<\/h3>\n
Short of Both<\/h3>\n
Measuring Up<\/h3>\n
Comparing Day to Day Use<\/h3>\n
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Using an Ottoman to Replace Other Furniture<\/h3>\n
When a Small Double on Legs Makes More Sense<\/h3>\n
Checking the TV Lift<\/h3>\n
Choosing Bedside Furniture to Match<\/h3>\n