Clever Places for Murphy Beds

Living Room

• Guests frequently sleep on the sofa in the living room, but a Murphy bed gives them extra comfort, and easily sleeps two adults. There are models that hide inside built-in cabinets and shelves, with rolling bookshelves that make the most use of the space when guests are not in town. For a bit more expense, there are models that hide in the ceiling and can be lowered to your desired height, so you can keep a sofa and coffee table below.

Home Office

• Some Murphy beds include tables that extend from the face, adding a bit of day-to-day functionality in a home office. Use the table to collate papers, as a writing desk, or to hold your printer. When guests come, rearrange the items on the extended table and pull the bed out into the room to convert your workspace into a restful guest room.

Side Fold for a Single Bed

• A small single bed can fold on its side into the wall, perhaps beneath storage cabinets in a child's room. This solution is good for everyday use, as your child can fold the bed into the wall to maximize the play space in her room. Use this design idea in other rooms of the house for single adult, or child-sized guests.

Foyer

• A handsome Murphy bed in the foyer of your house looks like a nice piece of wood furniture, but can convert into a comfortable bed for overnight guests. Since there often isn't much space in a foyer, a single-size Murphy bed is a good choice. Put your friend's child to sleep here, since he will need less privacy. For more functionality, there are Murphy beds that conceal bunk beds behind an unassuming facade.