As space is becoming an ever valuable commodity, many clients are considering what to do with that extra bedroom. They want to have a place for friends or relatives to sleep but are tired of seeing a room only being used a few days every year. They dream of what they would do with the room if they didn’t need the bed. Could it be converted into an office? A workout room? A playroom for the kids? The question remains: “But where would our guests sleep when they came to visit if we made this room work for us?”

The answer is simple: have the guest room serve two purposes. Imagine if the there was a bed for guests AND it was an office. The room would be for guests on the occasional weekend or holiday visit but the other 350 days of the year it would be useful for you. Putting a wall bed in a room automatically leaves space open for the room to serve another purpose.

The style you choose depends on the purpose for the bed. Murphy Bed Lifestyles by Closet Factory has several options to choose from:

• Murphy Bed – This options a flat panel that acts as a platform. You can use any mattress that fits the size of the bed. This is a comfortable option for a night or two but in not generally recommended for guests who will be staying for long periods of time.
• Sico Bed – This option has a slated platform that acts as the base of the bed. Add your own mattress and you have a very comfortable option. This is one of the most popular selections for that reason.
• Roommaker – The third type of bed accommodates both a box spring and a mattress. This is a regular bed that can be hidden away. Many clients will choose this option if this bed is going to be used every night. The best application for this wall bed is a bed that is going to be used daily.

Once the bed is designed to be out of the way, the rest of the room can be designed to serve its second purpose. Office furniture can be built in very easily and give the room an open feel. Workout equipment can be used in the space as long as it can easily be moved out of the way when a guest needs to use the room. If a playroom is in order, shelves and bins can be designed to hold toys and books as the room serves a dual purpose.

No matter what option works best for you, an investment in a wall bed can make your guest room a much more efficient use of space. Now who wouldn’t want that?

As soon as I saw this photograph, I knew that I had to share it! 

It is a simple and elegant design for a child’s room, utilizing decorative crown moulding mounted all the way to the ceiling to give the unit that much desired, built-in look.  The open shelving keeps the unit feeling light and airy. 

The small and large arched handles in brushed chrome add to the simplicity theme.  The star-shaped and knobs on the drawers are “oh-so-cute” and add a sense of fun for this kids.

By using a beautiful bright white melamine to hold the queen sized wall bed, it makes cleaning up after the little one much easier too. 

What is “flex space”?  It is space that can be used for multiple purposes – like a room that is an office during the day and a bedroom at night.  Flex space is a key concept being utilized in many of today’s new and existing homes. 

For example, as children grow up and leave the nest, the parents typically no longer devote the use of whole rooms to their children and end up reapportioning their abode. They use the emptied spaces for hobbies, a home office, a study or any number of other uses.

But what happens when the kids come home for the holidays?  Are the kids expected to sleep on the couch, the floor, or some local hotel?  Not when the parents planned ahead and embraced the flex-space concept when they remodeled the room.  By including a Murphy wall bed in the re-design of the room, this type of situation is very conveniently handled. 

The “empty nest” situation is not a requirement to take advantage of flex space either.  You might be single with limited living space or a couple that likes to entertain friends and have them stay overnight just so that they can make the long trip home refreshed from a good night’s sleep.  The reasons and situations that can benefit from owning a Murphy bed are as varied and unique as there are people.

The Murphy bed is not a new solution, but an older one reborn.  Wall beds can be hidden away when not in use, and can drop down to convert the room into spare bedroom when needed.  Modern technology and custom design techniques make aesthetically integrating the Murphy bed into the room not only attractive, but functional as well.

So, if you’re thinking about ways to take advantage of the available space in your home, consider flex space – and Murphy beds!