Hideaway Beds: Types, Benefits, and Top Recommendations for Every Home

Solo living in a small apartment or any other limited space calls for a hideaway bed that can be used in more than one way. This kind of bed can provide the space you need to do all the essential chores.

The hideaway bed can be used for different purposes in modern homes. Its space-saving design allows comfortable sleep while maintaining ample floor space. Whether you’re living in a small apartment or want to provide visitors with a guest bed, hideaway beds help you maximize space for better home functionality.

This guide will explore different types of hideaway beds, why they're a good option for your main or guest room, and how you can blend them into your home décor. Whether you want a comfortable sleep or added convenience, learn how hideaway beds can fit into your home.

Key Takeaways:

• Hideaway beds ensure efficient use of every inch of space in small homes and apartments without sacrificing comfort and style.
• Murphy beds, trundle beds, and sofa beds can accommodate your specific sleeping needs.
• Many hideaway beds have multiple functions, such as cabinets and desks.
• You should choose the bed that fits your comfort needs, available space, and budget.

Save more with our Murphy bed as you transform your home!

BUY MURPHY BED

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Top Hideaway Bed Picks for 2026
What Is a Hideaway Bed?
What Is the Best Hideaway Bed?
Different Types of Space-Saving Beds for Small Apartments
Hideaway Beds by Use Case
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hideaway Bed
Styling and Maintenance Tips for Hideaway Beds
Final Thoughts

Top Hideaway Bed Picks for 2026

These are the best-performing options across the most common use cases.

The Lori Bed and YouLift 2.0 are both backed by a Lifetime Warranty.

What Is a Hideaway Bed?

A hideaway bed is a foldable bed when not in use. If your home or room has limited space, it can be hidden in sofas, cabinets, walls, or other furniture .

This space-saving solution includes the versatile Murphy bed, which you can fold vertically into a wall. Another option is the sofa bed, which can be a seating or sleeping surface at any time. These designs let you use your living space as efficiently as possible.

What Is the Best Hideaway Bed?

If you're researching hideaway beds because you want the best long-term solution for a primary sleep space or a dedicated guest room, a Murphy bed is the right answer.

Here's why it stands out from every other type:

It disappears completely

Unlike a sofa bed (which still occupies the room as a sofa) or a trundle (which requires another bed to be present), a Murphy bed folds flush into a wall cabinet. Your room is fully reclaimed. A home office becomes a home office again. A living room looks like a living room.

It supports a real mattress

Murphy beds are designed with a platform or slatted base that holds innerspring or memory foam mattresses — the same quality you'd have in a conventional bed. Most alternatives compromise on this.

It lasts

Quality Murphy bed hardware is built for thousands of open-and-close cycles. The mechanism is engineered for daily use, not occasional guest hosting.

It adds to your home, not just your bedroom

Modern Murphy bed cabinets integrate open shelving, desks, wardrobes, and storage. The unit functions as furniture all day and a bed at night. That dual utility makes it the strongest value per square foot of any hideaway option.

The investment pays off

Murphy beds have a higher upfront cost than folding beds or trundles, but the per-use cost over years of daily or weekly use is lower than any portable alternative. If you're furnishing a rental property, a studio apartment, or a guest room that also serves another purpose, Murphy beds are the clear return-on-investment choice.

Different Types of Space-Saving Beds for Small Apartments

Consider these hideaway beds as a room addition:

Murphy Beds (Wall Beds)

When folded into a wall or a custom cabinet, Murphy beds give your room a clean and streamlined look. They often have a platform or a slatted base that supports the mattress, so you can fold and unfold them without exerting too much effort. These beds are perfect for home offices, guest rooms, and apartments with their blend of style and functionality.

Sofa Beds

These beds bring seating and sleeping into one piece of furniture. Quickly use a stylish couch and a pull-out bed within a few seconds. Sofa beds have single to queen options and are best used for living rooms and studio apartments. Use sofa beds if you plan to host overnight guests or if you want a simple sleeping area.

Daybeds

Daybeds, like sofa beds, can be used for seating during the day and a bed at night. They’re perfect for home offices and reading nooks since they usually come with a twin-sized mattress and even a trundle bed for additional sleeping space.

Folding Beds

These lightweight and portable beds can be collapsed and set aside when you’re out and about. Their foldable metal frames and thin mattresses make them easy to carry around.

Folding beds are ideal for traveling or hosting guests in your home. If you live in a small house, having a folding bed is convenient if your bed needs repair or replacement.

Trundle Beds

A trundle bed has a secondary bed that slides out from under the main bed, serving as an extra sleeping spot without occupying too much space. You can use them in children’s rooms, sleepovers, or shared spaces so more people can sleep comfortably.

Cabinet Beds

Cabinet beds combine functionality and decoration. They have a fold-out bed inside a furniture cabinet, which can easily be stored and set up. These beds can be used in offices, living areas, and dens to style your space.

If you're looking for multifunctional furniture for a compact bedroom, a Murphy Bed Dresser Combo can offer both sleeping space and built-in storage.

Loft Beds with Fold-Out Options

Some loft beds have space underneath for fold-out desks, sofas, and secondary beds. They help maximize vertical space, especially when using them in small rooms. Loft beds are particularly handy in dormitories, compact apartments, and children’s rooms to save space.

BUY MURPHY BED

Hideaway Beds for Small Spaces

Hideaway Beds for Small Spaces

In rooms under 300 square feet, the only hideaway bed that gives you the full room back is a Murphy bed. Sofa beds still occupy floor space as sofas. Trundles require a host bed. Folding beds need storage. A Murphy folds flush into the wall and disappears.

Size guidance by room:

• Twin Murphy: ~42"W x 84"H closed. Extends 78" into the room.
• Full Murphy: ~58"W x 84"H closed. Extends 75" into the room.
• Queen Murphy: ~68"W x 84"H closed. Extends 80" into the room.

Measure with the bed fully extended before buying. Allow 12 to 18 inches of clearance on each side. In very tight rooms, a horizontal Murphy bed — which folds sideways rather than upward — is worth considering for spaces with low ceilings or under-window placements. The Lori Bed is available in both vertical and horizontal orientations for exactly this reason.

Browse Murphy beds for small spaces. Filter by size and orientation to match your room dimensions.

Single and Twin Hideaway Beds

At 38 inches wide, a twin Murphy bed is the most space-efficient hideaway bed available. It suits solo sleepers, children's rooms, and home offices that need an occasional guest bed without giving up the room permanently. A twin Murphy with a desk cabinet below handles both functions without compromise.

Skip trundles and folding cots for regular use. The trundle's low height is uncomfortable for adults, and thin-mattress folding beds are not built for nightly sleep. A twin Murphy with a quality mattress is the only compact hideaway bed suited to daily use. For a budget-friendly entry point, the Lori YouLift 2.0 is available in twin and delivers the same wall-bed functionality at a lower price.

See twin Murphy bed options at Lori Beds, vertical and horizontal, with desk and shelf add-ons available.

Hideaway Guest Beds

Most guest bed mistakes come down to mattress compromise. A folding cot or thin sofa pull-out signals to a guest that they're sleeping on a temporary fix. A Murphy or quality cabinet bed gives them a proper room.

Guests need a full or queen mattress (twin works for a solo adult, not a couple), at least 75 inches of sleeping length, and a base firm enough that the mattress doesn't sag. Murphy beds meet all three. Most mid-range sofa pull-outs do not.

If you host more than four times a year, budget for a guest bed the same way you would a primary bed. Mattress quality is what guests remember. The Lori Bed queen ships next business day and typically arrives within 3 to 7 days — no professional assembly required.

Explore the Lori Bed for guest rooms, queen vertical and horizontal, with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Hideaway Bed Mattress

Not every mattress works in a fold-down system. Thickness is the first filter: Murphy beds need 10 to 12 inches. Under 8 inches lacks support; over 12 inches, and the cabinet may not close cleanly. Sofa pull-outs are limited to 4 to 5 inches by their fold-in-three geometry, which is why sofa bed comfort has a ceiling.

For Murphy beds, memory foam is the most practical choice. It compresses without bunching, rebounds quickly, and handles repeated folding cycles without degrading. Look for a minimum density of 3 lb/ft³. Innerspring works but can creak over time. Hybrid foam-over-spring is a reasonable middle ground. Avoid pillow-top mattresses entirely — the extra layer compresses unevenly when stored vertically and develops permanent indentations.

The Lori Mattress is designed specifically for Murphy beds: pocketed coils over cooling foam, hand-tufted, with an organic cotton cover. Medium-firm feel, 10-year warranty, and available in queen and twin to match the Lori Bed frame. The Lori Beds collection also includes the YouLift Mattress and the Green Mattress for different priorities.

See the Lori Beds mattress collection, sized and tested specifically for Murphy bed use.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Hideaway Bed

Keep these in mind before splurging on the bed of your choice:

• Your Home’s Available Space
  You should know how much space you can spare for the hideaway bed and where to place it. Measure the bed’s dimensions when folded and fully extended to make sure it won’t obstruct movement or hit other furniture. Sofa beds and trundles work well in horizontal placements, while Murphy beds fit vertical spaces.
• Desired Comfort Level and Mattress Type
  If you’re going to use a hideaway bed frequently, you need to choose a comfortable one. Think about who will use the bed to get the best one. Some bed frames come with mattresses, while some have convenient features like built-in storage and USB ports for charging devices. Innerspring or memory foam mattresses can be suitable for the bed.
  
• Ease of Use and Setup
  Hideaway beds should be easy to use and set up when you need them. Sofa beds and trundles should be manageable and can be converted without heavy lifting. Choose a design that can be handled effortlessly, especially if you have last-minute guests.
  
• Aesthetic Design and Style Compatibility
  Get a bed with finishes, upholstery, and cabinetry that match your existing home’s design. A cabinet bed can serve as storage, while a sofa bed adds comfort to your home.
• Budget and Durability
  The amount you can spend on a hideaway bed is important in getting the most suitable model. Trundles and futons offer simple comfort and solutions. On the other hand, Murphy beds are worth investing in for their quality frames and mattresses. Balance the cost with your needs and the materials used for the bed.

Styling and Maintenance Tips for Hideaway Beds

Choose the Right Linens and Accessories

Using the best linens and accessories can make your hideaway bed look and feel comfortable. Use high-quality, lightweight bedding like microfiber sheets and breathable cotton to avoid bulkiness when folding the bed away.

Get a cozy mattress topper to ensure a comfortable sleep at night. Add decorative throw pillows and blankets to style your home by day. Go for neutral or versatile colors that blend with your room’s color scheme, or use bright ones to show your personality.

Select the Right Finish

Get the right finish for your Murphy hideaway beds that match your home’s colors. Laminate finishes usually match rustic homes, while neutral finishes go with minimalist home designs. Add wall art and shelves to your hideaway bed to give your home a personal touch.

Make It Cozy

You have all the freedom to make your space comfortable and practical. You should try:

• Use area rugs to define zones within your home, such as a clear boundary between the workspace and the sleeping area.
• Choose multifunctional furniture, like storage ottomans and foldable tables, to optimize your space.
• Add plants, mirrors, and LED lights in your home to make the space brighter and more welcoming.

Maintain the Bed

You should work on keeping the hideaway bed functional for a long time. Follow these tips:

• Inspect the mechanisms to see if they’re still working properly. Clean and lubricate all the bed’s moving parts to ensure smooth operation.
• Tighten the screws, bolts, and hinges of the bed periodically.
• Don’t exceed the recommended load for your bed.
• Make sure your room is well-ventilated to prevent moisture from ruining the bed’s quality.
• Clear the area where you use the bed of any obstructions.

These tips can help you use your bed comfortably and minimize the need for replacements.

Final Thoughts

Hideaway beds are the perfect solution for blending comfort, style, and functionality in everyday life. There’s a hideaway bed for every need, whether it’s maximizing space or making your room multifunctional. 

Different hideaway bed designs, such as Murphy beds, offer a myriad of options and possibilities for your living arrangements. Considering your home’s layout, bed preferences, and budget will lead you to the hideaway bed that will surely provide long-term value.

Shop Now