by A comfortable bed is an essential piece of furniture, but it usually takes up lots of space, making it hard to use or decorate the rest of your bedroom, especially if you live in a small apartment or a house with small rooms. You can, however, open up floor space and make your room spacious by using a slide-away bed. There are many slide-away bed ideas you can implement in your interior decor and so we will take a look at some of the best options to help you better understand how these beds work and which one is right for you.
Slide-away bed ideas for a small room include a daybed or trundle daybed, a slide-away platform bed, a Murphy bed, a sofa chair bed, and a trundle sofa bed in a guest room. Use a slide-away bed to free up limited floor space in a studio apartment, child’s room, and guest bedroom that doubles as home office space.
Slide-away beds can easily be hidden when they are not in use. This allows you to have some extra floor space during the day and makes your room feel bigger. Our article about slide-away bed mechanisms is a handy resource to help you learn more about these space-saving beds.
A slide-away bed is a great way to maximize your space while providing you with extra sleeping space. Image source: Amazon.How To Hide A Bed In The Living Room
If your living room is also used as a bedroom and you don’t have enough space for a full-size bed, you should consider purchasing a slide-away bed. Slide-away beds are suitable for small living rooms because they can easily be hidden when not in use. This helps you to maximize your living room floor space during the day. And your guests may not even notice that there is a bed hidden in the living room.
To hide a bed in the living room use a trundle daybed, a slide-away platform bed, a trundle sofa, a sofa bed, a sofa chair bed, or a Murphy bed.
Trundle Daybed
If you live in a studio apartment—or your living room doubles as a bedroom—consider getting a trundle daybed instead of a regular bed. A trundle daybed is a 2-in-1 piece of furniture that saves ample floor space.
While the daybed on top allows you to take a nap or relax during the day, you have an additional bed hidden underneath for extra sleeping space at night. If you are not sure whether a trundle bed would be the right choice for you, read our trundle bed pros and cons guide with some tips and tricks to get the most out of your bed.
Regular Daybed
If you use your living room as a bedroom and need to free up floor space, consider purchasing a regular daybed with a single sleeping surface. Regular daybeds are great if you’re on a budget because they typically cost less than a trundle daybed. You can add a few throw pillows so that your living room doesn’t look like a bedroom during the day.
While you might think that daybeds are solely for naps and not for everyday use, that’s not the case. This daybed is a regular single bed with a frame on 3 sides. As long as you use the right mattress or mattress topper, your daybed will work wonderfully as a regular bed. If you want to learn more about mattress toppers then read our mattress topper guide.
The benefit of a standard daybed like this one in your studio apartment or small living room, is that it looks like a stylish couch and allows you to match it with the overall aesthetics of your living room.
If you need a hidden bed for a single person, consider getting a regular daybed as a more affordable alternative to a trundle daybed. Image Source: Amazon.Trundle Sofa
A trundle sofa like this is another alternative to regular trundle beds or daybeds. When the lower slide-away bed is not in use and hidden, it looks like a regular sofa. That makes this type of slide-away bed ideal for studio apartments and tiny living rooms.
A big benefit of a trundle sofa is that it can accommodate up to 2 sleepers. The only issue is that the upper sofa part of the bed might not always be as comfortable as the lower bed that slides in and out. However, you can always add a suitable mattress topper like this.
A trundle sofa is similar to a trundle daybed and is an ideal slide-away bed option for small apartments and living rooms. Image Source: Amazon.Sofa Bed
If you are looking for a hidden bed for your studio apartment or living room, a sofa bed like this should definitely be on your list. Sofa beds are aesthetically pleasing and can be integrated into your overall living room design. They are also affordable and easy to use.
Whenever you want to take a nap or go to sleep, you can just remove sofa cushions and pull the front of the frame up and out. While some sleeper sofas come with a built-in mattress, others only include a metal bed frame. In this case, you just put the sofa cushions on top. However, sofa cushions are not designed for comfort throughout the night, so consider adding a mattress topper for sufficient support while sleeping. If you need help selecting the right type of mattress topper for a sofa bed then our article is just for you.
While sofa beds offer an additional sleeping spot in small living rooms, they may also provide extra storage space underneath. Image Source: Amazon.Slide-Away Platform Bed
If you want to use a platform bed in your studio apartment or living room, but don’t have enough floor space, consider installing a slide-away bed under a platform floor. While this trick allows you to hide the bed when not in use, it is also visually pleasing.
You can put a sofa or other pieces of furniture on the upper platform surface, while the slide-away platform bed is hidden underneath. If building a platform floor seems a bit challenging, our step-by-step guide on how to turn a platform bed into a Murphy bed could prove to be quite helpful. This is another way to hide your platform bed in a small living room.
Adding a platform to your living room and hiding a slide-away bed underneath it can help you save space while making the room more aesthetically pleasing. Image Source: homedit.com.Murphy Bed
A Murphy bed like this, also referred to as a wall bed, fold-down bed, or pull-down bed, is a slide-away bed that can be stored vertically against the wall. While Murphy beds are ideal for small bedrooms, they are also perfect for studio apartments and tiny living rooms. By simply folding up against the wall, you can conceal the bed and free up floor space in a few seconds.
What makes Murphy beds so popular is that they can be folded into closets, cabinets, TV sets, and more, so incorporating a wall bed in your living room design is a straightforward job. Before purchasing a Murphy bed, explore these 15 Murphy bed ideas for studio apartments, campers, and RVs. Be mindful of these safety tips as discussed by Stuart David Furniture, if you are planning to install a Murphy bed.
Sofa Chair Bed
If your studio apartment or living room is not large enough to accommodate a trundle day bed or sofa bed, consider a sofa chair bed instead. You can even purchase a couple of armchair beds so that you get extra seats and sleeping space at the same time.
A tri-fold sofa chair bed is a convertible sofa that functions as a regular armchair and a single bed, an ideal bed option for small living rooms. This sofa chair bed can be unfolded in a couple of ways, making them comfortable while sleeping or resting. For extra support for different areas of your body, consider adding a mattress topper like this once the chair bed is unfolded. This will ensure that you get a comfortable night’s sleep.
This tri-fold sofa chair bed for a living room comes with removable pillows and can be converted into a single bed when needed. Image Source: Amazon.The Versatility Of A Pull-Out Bed Under A Platform Floor
Whether you live in a studio apartment or have a relatively small bedroom, using a platform floor to hide the bed underneath is an ideal option. This allows you to save some floor space when the bed is not in use. While the area can be used for an array of activities, this will also make the room look much more spacious.
The versatility of a pull-out bed under a platform floor is noteworthy but it requires a bit of design and planning. It is a great way to save floor space and make a room feel larger. The platform space can be used for a variety of purposes, including office space and a play area for kids.
Use a Pull-Out Bed Under a Platform Floor For A Convertible Office Space
To convert your desk/office area into bedroom space, you could build a platform floor and hide a pull-out bed underneath. This is an excellent way to make the room serve as a bedroom and a home office at the same time.
When the pull-out bed is not in use, it will not be noticeable. The room will look like a regular home office. Whenever you pull the beds out, the area will be converted into a cozy bedroom. This article shares the list of materials you will need to build a pull-out bed under a platform floor.
If your bedroom doubles as your home office, you can use a pull-out bed under a platform floor to maximize space. Image Source: homedit.com.Hide a Pull-Out Bed Under a Platform in A Kids’ Room For More Play Space
While pull-out beds offer a variety of perks in small apartments and bedrooms, they are especially useful when it comes to a kids’ room. Children need plenty of space to play and have fun during the day. Having enough space ensures that your children are involved in various fun activities essential for their development. It is also important to consider how safe a child’s room is generally as explained in this article from Make Safe Happen (a website by the Nationwide Children’s Hospital).
By using a pull-out bed under a platform in your kids’ room, you can give them some extra space to play around during the day. Image Source: Contemporist. Install a Hidden Pull-Out Bed Under the Stairs
One of the best ways to utilize the extra space under your stairs is to install a pull-out bed. While building a hidden bed under the platform floor gives you additional space to accommodate your guests, the structure also makes the area look more aesthetically pleasing. You can put cabinets above the pull-out bed as well to fill in any extra space.
You can utilize space under the stairs by adding a closet and a pull-out bed underneath. Image Source: dwell.Guest Bed Ideas For Small Spaces
Although some people prefer using full-size beds in guest rooms, others want to maximize space and use slide-away beds instead. These beds not only make the guest room look larger but also give you plenty of free floor space when they are not being used.
A slide-away bed is a great choice for a small guest room. A trundle or slide-away bed can also be placed in the living room tucked out of the way until it is needed as a guest bed.
Trundle Bed In A Guest Room
If you want your guest room to look more like a regular bedroom but still sleep two people, consider a trundle bed. This is great if your guests are staying over frequently because it’s easy to slide in and out. By using a trundle bed like this you can easily accommodate two people without wasting floor space by adding a separate bed to the room.
Slide-Away Hidden Guest Bed
You can also use a slide-away bed in your guest room to maximize floor space when the bed is not in use. Slide-away beds like these are ideal for those who want to accommodate guests in a living room.
A slide-away bed can easily be hidden under the platform floor or folded up against the wall. In this way, the bed occupies your floor space only when it is being used by the guests. If you want to use a Murphy bed like this in a guest room that will also be used as a playroom for kids, check out our article that discusses Murphy bed child safety tips.
A slide-away guest bed can be easily hidden during the day or when you do not have any guests over. Image Source: Interiorzine.com. Slide-Away Bed Ideas
| Slide-Away Bed Design | Purpose & Use | Example Product |
| Living Room Trundle Daybed | A living room trundle daybed serves as a daybed during the day and a trundle bed at night. It can accommodate up to two sleepers at a time. | Upholstered Daybed and Trundle, Sofa Bed Fits Twin Size Mattress of 6-Inches |
| Living Room Daybed | A living room daybed is a budget-friendly alternative to trundle daybeds. This type of bed is useful for single sleepers. | Novogratz Brittany Upholstered Bed Daybed, Twin |
| Living Room Trundle Sofa | A living room trundle sofa is an excellent option that adds aesthetic value to a room while saving floor space. The bed can accommodate two people. | Baxton Studio Trundle Sofa, Queen, Light blue |
| Living Room Sofa Bed | A living room convertible sofa bed can be transformed into a bed in a studio apartment and living room that doubles as a bedroom. | DynastyMattress 4-inch Cool Gel Memory Foam Mattress for Convertible Sofa |
| Living Room Platform Bed | You can hide a platform bed under a platform floor in your living room. This creates an elevated area for your couch or TV set while having a sleeping space hidden during the day. | These are usually custom built |
| Living Room Murphy Bed | A Murphy bed is a bed that can be folded up against the wall when not in use. The wall bed saves floor space and you just fold it out whenever you need to use it. | Mounting Wall Bed Spring Mechanism Heavy Duty Bed Support Hardware Kit |
| Living Room Sofa Chair Bed | A tri-fold sofa chair bed is an armchair and single bed in one. It could be very handy in a studio apartment or living room. | Sofa Bed, Convertible Chair Bed Multi-Function Sleeper Chair |
| Office Space Bed Under a Platform | An office space bed under a platform is an optimal solution for those who use their bedrooms as a home office. You can hide the bed under the platform floor during the day and pull it out at night. | These are usually custom built |
| Kids’ Room Bed Under a Platform | A kid’s room bed under a platform floor gives your children extra space to be involved in an array of fun activities Space above the platform floor can be used for storing toys or adding a desk for kids to study. | These are usually custom built |
| Hidden Pull-Out Bed Under the Stairs | A pull-out bed under the stairs can make the area look more aesthetically pleasing while adding an extra sleeping area. This bed is suitable for everyday use and guests. | These are usually custom built |
| Guest Room Trundle Bed | A trundle bed makes a guest room look like a regular bedroom. The bed can accommodate up to two people and saves floor space when you have a single guest staying over. | Merax Solid Wood Twin Size Platform Bed Frame |
| Hidden Platform Guest Bed | A hidden platform guest bed is ideal for those who do not have a separate guest room as it can be installed in a living room without taking up any floor space. | These are usually custom built |
Key Takeaways
Optimized Space Utilization
Slide-away beds are a boon for those residing in small apartments or houses with limited space. They are designed to be tucked away when not in use, thereby freeing up floor space which can be repurposed for other activities during the day. This feature is particularly beneficial in multi-functional spaces like a living room that doubles as a bedroom, or a child’s room which also serves as a play area.
Variety and Versatility
The market is rich with a variety of slide-away bed designs catering to different needs and room setups. Whether it’s a trundle daybed, a sofa bed, a Murphy bed, or a slide-away platform bed, each design brings a unique flavor of versatility to the room, all the while ensuring that the aesthetic appeal of the space is not compromised.
Guest Accommodation
For homes that frequently host guests, slide-away beds are a perfect choice. They can be pulled out to accommodate the guests and tucked away post their departure, reverting the room back to its original setup. The ease of transitioning between the two setups makes slide-away beds a convenient choice for guest accommodation.
Enhanced Aesthetics
Apart from being functional, slide-away beds contribute to the aesthetic appeal of a room. Especially designs like the Murphy bed or beds hidden under a platform or staircase, which when tucked away, blend seamlessly with the room decor, making the space look organized and clutter-free.
Cost Efficiency
Slide-away beds are often more affordable compared to traditional bed setups. Additionally, they offer the benefit of reducing the need for extra furniture or room expansions to accommodate sleeping arrangements, thereby presenting a cost-effective solution for space management in small living conditions.
Easy Transition and Usability
The ease of transition between a seating area and a sleeping area with minimal effort makes slide-away beds a practical choice. The user-friendly mechanism of most slide-away beds ensures that the transition can be done by anyone, adding to the usability factor of these beds.
Enhanced Comfort with Additional Accessories
While some slide-away beds come with built-in mattresses, others can be paired with comfortable mattress toppers to enhance the sleeping experience. The option to customize the comfort level makes slide-away beds a preferred choice for many.