Space is tight in many London homes. A spare room that hosts guests a few times a year might be more useful as a study or a playroom the rest of the time. A wall bed, also called a fold-down or Murphy bed, lets the room do both. The bed lowers from a cabinet at night and folds back up in the morning.
Wall beds suit some rooms and some people better than others. This guide explains how they work, what to check, and when another option might suit you better.
How a wall bed works
A wall bed has a frame that holds the mattress and a mechanism that lets it pivot down from an upright cabinet. When it’s folded away, the front of the bed looks like a set of cupboard doors or a panel. When it’s lowered, it stands on legs or a frame on the floor.
The mechanism and bed must be fixed securely, as the maker specifies. That usually means a firm fixing to the wall and floor. We build the fitted cabinets around the bed and fix the mechanism as its maker sets out.
Space in front of the bed
The most important measurement is the clear floor space in front of the cabinet. The bed needs room to come down fully, and you need room to walk round it once it’s down. Furniture in that space, such as a desk, a sofa or a rug that catches, will get in the way every time.
Some designs put a desk or shelf on the front of the bed that stays level as it folds down. Others place shelves and cupboards either side, so the bed sits in the middle of a run of storage. Either way, plan the room as it will be with the bed down, not just with it up.
Walls and fixings
Because a wall bed puts loads on its fixings every time it moves, the wall matters. Victorian and Edwardian houses often have solid brick external walls and lath-and-plaster internal walls. Newer homes and conversions often have stud walls with plasterboard. Fixings must suit the wall, and some walls need extra support. We look at the wall at the design visit before recommending a position.
If you live in a leasehold flat, fixing heavy furniture to walls may need permission. See our guide to fitted furniture in a leasehold flat.
Thinking about fitted furniture? We design, make and fit it across London: we visit, measure and talk through the design, then send a written quote. Arrange a design visit.
Who a wall bed suits
A wall bed is a good fit when:
- the room is used for something else most of the time
- you want a proper mattress for guests rather than a sofa bed
- you’re happy to fold the bed away each morning
- there’s enough clear floor space to lower it.
It may not suit a bed that’s used every night by someone who would rather not fold it up, or a room too narrow to lower it. In those cases a standard bed with fitted storage around it may work better. See storage ideas for small bedrooms.
Bedding and everyday use
Ask how the bedding stays in place when the bed is folded. Most wall beds have straps to hold the mattress and covers. Lighter bedding makes folding easier. Shelves or bedside lights fixed above the bed must be clear of the bed’s path as it moves.
Think about where sockets and switches are. If you want a light or socket near the bed, your electrician should fit it. We don’t do electrical work.
Designing the cabinets
The cabinets around a wall bed are where fitted furniture adds most. Shelves, a desk, wardrobe space or a run of cupboards can all sit alongside the bed. We make them from moisture-resistant MDF and birch plywood and finish them by spray painting or hand painting, so the bed blends into the room. See our wall beds page.
Quick answers
Are wall beds comfortable?
A wall bed holds a normal mattress, so comfort depends mostly on the mattress you choose. Check the mattress depth the mechanism allows.
Can a wall bed go on any wall?
Not always. The wall must be able to take the fixings the maker specifies, and there must be clear floor space in front.
Can you combine a wall bed with a desk?
Yes. Desks, shelves and cupboards around or on the front of a wall bed are common. See our guide to built-in home offices.
Do I need to empty the shelves to lower the bed?
Not if the design keeps them clear of the bed’s path. That’s something we plan from the start.
Related services
More advice
- Designing a Built-in Home Office
- Storage Ideas for Small Bedrooms
- Fitted Furniture in a Leasehold Flat: Check Your Lease
- Adding Storage to a New-Build Flat
- All advice
This guide is general information about fitted furniture. It isn’t legal, planning or building advice; for those, speak to the council, your landlord or managing agent, or a suitably qualified professional.