Why our sleep experts loved it
The Sulivan TV Ottoman Bed Frame with Dolby Atmos made a strong first impression in the showroom. The headboard has real padding, the chenille feels soft under the hand, and the built-in entertainment package is far less throwaway than some TV beds I have seen. Then you remember the starting price is around £2,500. That changes the conversation quickly.
I liked using it more than I expected. I also think it is too much money for a lot of buyers, especially with only Beige or Mid Grey fabric choices and a 5 year frame guarantee. At this level, nice is not enough.
Design, controls and screen
The deep cushioned headboard is the most convincing part of the furniture side. Sitting against it felt comfortable, with enough depth to support your back while watching television or reading. It has that padded hotel-bed look, especially in Beige, although the size and bulk will suit a generous bedroom far better than a tight terrace-box room. Mid Grey is more practical for marks, less airy visually.
The Sharp 43" 4K UHD TV is built into the footend and rises to a sensible height for bed viewing. It includes Dolby sound and vision and access to the Freely streaming service. In store, the picture looked clean and sharp enough, though showroom lighting flatters some screens and hides other weaknesses. I would not buy this without checking the TV movement and viewing angle in person.
The audio system is where the Sulivan feels more serious than the cheaper TV-bed idea. It uses a 3.1.2 Dolby sound system with 60W front-facing speakers, 2 x 15W uplifting speakers and 2 x 30W subwoofer. The sound had more body than I expected from a bed frame, with decent weight for films and sport. A proper soundbar set-up still gives more adjustment, especially in a larger room. Fair play, though. This did not sound like a token extra.
USB and USB-C charging points are fitted on either side of the headboard, so both sleepers get usable access. The dimmable ambient white LED lighting also sits on each side, with simple touch on and off control. Handy details, no doubt, though plenty of modern beds now offer ports and lighting for much less money.
Frame build and ottoman access
The showroom model felt well assembled. Pressing across the base and leaning into the headboard did not produce the hollow wobble I have found on some oversized media beds. The fully boarded sleeping base is a sensible choice for stability and mattress support. It may make an already firm mattress feel firmer, so I would test your intended mattress pairing before ordering.
The side-lifting ottoman is properly useful. You can choose whether it lifts from the left or right side, and there is an upgrade available to auto lift. Side access can be much easier than a foot-lift ottoman where space at the end of the bed is limited. The lift on the display model moved smoothly, though long-term gas strut behaviour is something a showroom visit cannot settle.
Self-assembly is offered, along with Bensons' expert assembly service at checkout. I would be wary of doing this one alone. It is an upholstered ottoman frame with wiring, speakers and a 43" TV involved, so a poor build could spoil the whole point of buying a premium product. Compared with the Dreams Seoul TV Bed, the Sulivan feels plusher and more audio-focused, while asking for a much bigger spend.
Who should consider it
The Sulivan suits a main bedroom where the bed is meant to act as the room's centrepiece. Regular TV-in-bed users will get the most from the Sharp 43" screen, Dolby audio and headboard controls. Occasional viewers are paying heavily for kit that may spend most of its life hidden in the footboard.
The guarantee position is the part I found hardest to accept. The bed frame comes with a 5 year guarantee, and the TV has a 1 year manufacturer's guarantee. For a standard ottoman, 5 years can feel acceptable. Around £2,500 for a TV ottoman bed with electronics built in should bring stronger reassurance. I wanted 10 years on the frame. No question.
The two-colour range also feels narrow. Beige and Mid Grey are safe commercial choices, but a premium upholstered bed should give buyers more room to match existing furniture. For renters or first-home buyers, the price alone probably ends the discussion.
Limits of this showroom test
A showroom visit only goes so far. I could not check fabric wear after months of leaning against the headboard, ottoman mechanism reliability over repeated use, partner disturbance with a mattress fitted, or delivery and assembly quality in a real home. The Sharp TV also needs longer use than a shop-floor test can provide, especially given its 1 year cover.
Verdict after trying it in store
The Sulivan is attractive, comfortable to sit against and better built than many TV beds I have handled. The side-lifting ottoman makes sense, the fully boarded base feels stable, and the 3.1.2 Dolby system gives the 43" 4K TV more credibility than expected.
The price remains the barrier. Around £2,500 to start, two fabric colours, a 5 year frame guarantee and a 1 year TV guarantee make it hard to recommend to anyone watching their budget. Lovely bed. Expensive decision. The TV cover is the detail I would be staring at on the order page.
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