10 Slide-Away Bed Decorating Ideas

A bed takes up a lot of floor space no matter how sleek and refined its design may be. In fact, it doesn’t offer you many options when decorating the remainder of the room. A slide-away bed is the ideal answer for those with limited space in their bedrooms. As the name implies, a slide-away bed is a type of bed that glides into a wall or a platform to create extra space while keeping the room uncluttered and functional. If you’re looking for slide-away bed decorating ideas this article will show you how to pick the right design for your space and how to coordinate the bed’s style with your decor.  

Some slide-away bed decorating ideas include using a boxy bed frame with straight lines for sleek styling, keeping the bed hidden in the floor, putting the bed in the living room so it can double as a sofa, using the bed in a kid’s room to create more space for playing, and hoisting it up to the ceiling for a truly modern look. 

If you have decided to downscale as discussed in this article from Smart Design, you may be looking for clever ways to use your limited space wisely. If so, our article that discusses 7 popular slide-away bed designs lists the most popular space-saving beds. 

1. Use A Boxy Bed Frame For A Modern Feel

A boxy slide-away bed like this has straight sides that give it a cube-like appearance. It can be pulled out from under the main bed or slid back under it when not in use. You can conceal the bed beneath a sofa or a bench to increase the functionality of your living room. 

When going for this type of look choose high-quality upholstery for added comfort and solid-colored bedding. Try neutral patterned throw pillows as a decor element. These decorative accent pillows match well with various color palettes. 

This slide-away bed has high-quality upholstery with a padded back and sides which offers increased comfort. Image Source Amazon.

What You Need To Create This Look:

Modern Trundle Bed	Frank Modern and Contemporary daybed with trundle	~ $500
Sophisticated Bedding	Egyptian Cotton Sheets	~ $25
Lightweight Blanket	Easeland Microplush Blanket	~ $30
Throw pillows	Ambesonne Grey and White Throw Pillow Cushion Cover	~ $30

2. Keep The Bed Hidden In The Floor

Building a platform to hide a bed has many perks like additional storage and floor space. During the day, you can use the platform as a living room or an office when the trundle bed is hidden underneath it. Try to match the platform with the rest of the room’s color scheme. Another way to make the space look neat is to match the texture of the platform to the floor. If your floor is wooden, then make sure the platform is the same. If you are building a custom platform then our article about slide-away bed measurements will help you determine the correct size for your platform. 

This slide-away trundle bed nests underneath a platform sitting area when not needed. Image Source: Domino.

What You Need To Create This Look:

Platform For Bed To Be Stored In	Example From Amazon	Price
Wood panel tiles	Peel & Stick Real Wood Wall Plank or Panel	~ $25
Bedding	Egyptian Cotton Sheets	~ $25
Floor seats	Thicken Tufted Cushion	~ $40

3. Put Your Slide-Away Bed In The Living Room 

When it comes to studio flats or other compact living spaces, having a slide-away bed in the living room might be a lifesaver. During the day, you can simply slide your bed under a couch or daybed, then pull it out at night to sleep on. Our article about how to make a trundle bed look like a couch will help you create a cohesive look in your living room. 

A daybed can look stark and out of place if it doesn’t match the rest of the decor in the room. Pillows are a great way to make a daybed seem complete. Start by putting a large wedge pillow against the back of the daybed to replicate the feel of a comfortable sofa. Three to five accent pillows in front of the large pillow will complete the look. For an extra cozy look, finish it off with a throw blanket that goes well with your color scheme. 

What You Need To Create This Look:

Sofa Trundle Bed	MarKim Daybed with Trundle Upholstered Tufted Sofa Bed, Twin Size	$430
Large wedge pillow	Large Wedge Pillow	$140
Decorative throw pillows	Decorative Throw Pillow	~ $30
Throw blanket	Knitted Throw Blanket	~ $25

4. Use A Slide-Away Bed In A Kids’ Room

If you have children and live in a small space, a trundle is a cost-effective method to accommodate them without taking up valuable floor space. You can put it against a wall or beneath a bed on one side of the room and then slide it out at night. This will leave the rest of the floor clear so that the kids can have more room to play. If your children share a room, two beds, each stored beneath a separate workstation, is another practical and space-saving design solution. If you want to install a DIY slide-away bed then our article about what a slide-away bed is would be a good resource. 

These trundle beds are a cost-effective way to accommodate two sleepers without using up too much floor space. Image Source: Homedit.

What You Need To Create This Look:

Kids’ Trundle Bed	Example from Amazon	Price
Bedding set	Wildkin Kids Microfiber Bedding Set	~$80
Metal trundle bed	Roll Out Trundle Bed Frame for DayBed	~$90

5. Put Your Slide-Away Bed Under A Window Nook

If you have a window nook in your apartment or house, you can save space by positioning your slide-away bed underneath it. This may or may not necessitate further contracting work, but it will undoubtedly save space and open up the area. The nook can be constructed in either the living room or the bedroom. To set the tone, choose light bed linens and brightly colored pillows.

Save space by positioning your slide-away bed under your window nook. Image Source: Homedit.

What You Need To Create This Look:

Window nook trundle bed	Example from Amazon	Price
Decorative pillows	Utopia Bedding Throw Pillows Insert (Pack of 4, White)	~ $30
Caster wheels	Low Profile Caster Wheels with Brake 8 Pack,	~$20

6. Put Your Slide-Away Bed Under Your Coffee Table

Sometimes, having a raised platform built into the floor of your living space is not practical, but there are several other ways that you can still have a slide-away bed. One effective way of doing this is to have a platform that also acts as a coffee table. You can simply slide the bed under it during the day, use the coffee table as you regularly would, and just roll the bed out at night. This will not only save space but will also add a sophisticated look to your room if arranged correctly. 

A good way to do this is to make sure that the color scheme blends in with the rest of the room and to use solid colors, as intricate patterns might detract from the style. Try decorating the room in shades of beige and black for a sophisticated look. So if the coffee table is black, the platform underneath it should be the same color and then the slide-away bed, along with its pillows and sheets should be beige.

A coffee table bed can either slide out from under the table or fold out to make a comfortable sleeping area for guests. Image Source: AtoZ Furniture.

7. A Slide-Away Bed In The Drawer of Your Dresser

If you live in a studio apartment you’ll want to find ways for your house to look less cluttered and more organized. Having spare mattresses resting against walls or behind doors creates visual clutter. This article from ProQuest explains how clearing physical clutter can have a calming mental effect. If you have a larger dresser, it would be a good idea to have a larger drawer built into the bottom, that could store your slide-away bed and other spare items. You could just slide the drawer out at night or whenever you need the extra bed. This would not only save space, but the dresser would also act as a functional headboard. 

8. Put a Slide-Away Bed Under Your Closet

Another great idea to save space and to make the room less cluttered is to have your closet resting on a higher platform. This platform should match the color scheme and decor of your room and of the closet. The slide-away bed can then be pulled out whenever it is needed. Our article about whether Murphy beds can fit in a closet will give you even more ideas on how to create this look. This video tutorial also explains more about how you can actually construct your own Murphy bed using a DIY kit.

A bed that is incorporated into a closet’s design frees up limited space in a small room. Image Source: California Closets.

9. Have A Slide-Away Bed Under Your Bed

Storing a slide-away bed under your bed is a great way to have a guest bed without it taking up too much space if your room or apartment is small. It means that when the guest bed is not in use it does not take up any of the floor space in your home. A trundle bed like this would be ideal for this purpose as long as your main bed is high enough for it to fit underneath.

10. Put Your Slide-Away Bed Under Your Stairway

The space under a staircase is often forgotten and under-utilized. But it is the perfect solution to store a hidden bed instead of having the mattress stuffed behind a hallway door. The bed beneath a stairway can either be a slide-away bed or a nook bed with an additional trundle bed drawer to double the sleeping area. You can place scatter cushions like these and luxurious throw blankets like these on the bed to create a welcoming reading or sleeping spot. 

A great way to utilize the wasted space under your staircase is to install a slide-away bed like this. Image Source: Pinterest.

Make sure to also read our related article about an additional 7 amazing slide-away bed ideas and how to use them. It will certainly give you more to think about before you start decorating!

Key Takeaways

1. Modern Aesthetics with Boxy Bed Frame

   Implementing a boxy bed frame for a slide-away bed provides a modern aesthetic while enabling easy concealment beneath sofas or benches, enhancing living room functionality.

2. Floor Concealment for Extra Space

   Building a platform to hide a slide-away bed grants additional storage, floor space, and a neat appearance, especially when the platform’s texture matches the floor.

3. Living Room Slide-Away Bed

   Placing a slide-away bed in the living room saves space in compact living areas, with options to disguise it as a sofa during the day for a cohesive decor.

4. Cost-effective Solution in Kids’ Rooms

   Slide-away beds in a kids’ room provide a cost-effective solution for accommodation, freeing up floor space for play during the day.

5. Window Nook Slide-Away Bed

   Utilizing a window nook to position a slide-away bed saves space and may require minor construction work, ensuring the bed seamlessly blends with the room’s decor.

6. Coffee Table Slide-Away Bed

   A slide-away bed under a coffee table provides a sophisticated look while saving space, especially when color schemes between the table, platform, and bed are harmoniously matched.

7. Dresser Drawer Slide-Away Bed

   Incorporating a slide-away bed in a dresser drawer declutters the space, especially in studio apartments, while providing a functional headboard.

8. Closet-Integrated Slide-Away Bed

   Elevating a closet on a platform to house a slide-away bed beneath optimizes space usage, keeping the room uncluttered.

9. Under-bed Storage for Guest Slide-Away Bed

   Storing a slide-away bed under another bed provides a convenient guest bed solution without occupying additional floor space.

10. Stairway Slide-Away Bed

    Utilizing the often under-utilized space under a staircase for a slide-away bed provides an ingenious solution for guest accommodation, especially with added comfort accessories.