A TV bed is a bed frame with a motorised lift built into the footboard. The television sits hidden inside until you press a button, then rises to viewing height. Whether that is worth paying for depends on your room and how you use it. Here is the honest version.
What a TV bed does well
- No wall mounting. Nothing to drill, no bracket to hide, and no landlord to ask. Useful in rented homes, plasterboard walls, or rooms where the only free wall has a window in it.
- The screen disappears. When the lift is down you have a plain upholstered footboard. No black rectangle facing the bed while you sleep.
- It frees furniture. No chest of drawers or TV unit given over to a screen, which matters in a smaller bedroom.
- Storage underneath. Most of our TV beds are also ottoman beds, with a lift-up base for bedding and clothes.
- Better viewing angle. The screen rises from the foot of the bed, straight in front of you, rather than high on a wall.
Where it falls short
- Screen size is capped. The TV has to fit inside the footboard. Most of our frames take up to 43 inches; single beds take up to 32 inches. If you want a 55-inch screen, a TV bed is not the answer.
- Less storage than a plain ottoman. The lift housing uses part of the foot end, so there is less room underneath than in an ottoman storage bed without a TV.
- A longer frame. The footboard housing adds length. Check the bed's full length against your room, not just the mattress size.
- It needs a socket near the foot of the bed. One plug powers the lift and the television.
Who a TV bed suits
A TV bed makes most sense if you watch TV in bed regularly, cannot or would rather not mount a TV on the wall, and like a bedroom that looks tidy when the screen is off. It suits less well if you want a very large screen, need the maximum possible storage, or have a short room.
What to check before you buy
- The maximum screen size for that specific bed, and that your TV is no more than 9cm deep
- Your TV's VESA mounting pattern (our brackets take 100mm or 200mm)
- The full bed length against your room
- What the guarantee covers. Ours covers the frame and the lift for 5 years, and upholstery for 2 years
- Whether delivery includes assembly. Ours is free across mainland UK
Not sure yet? Read how a TV bed works or check what size TV fits. When you are ready, browse our TV beds.