When it comes to saving space, a multi-functional bed is the best solution. For those who live in a home with only one bedroom or a studio apartment, a bed that folds up during the day and pulls out at night is a great way to have friends and family stay with you.
If you’re trying to decide on purchasing a Murphy bed vs. a cabinet bed, how do you know which one is the better choice?
Answer: The Lori Bed. The Lori Bed is a modern Murphy bed with the features needed to meet the needs of both you and your guests - flawlessly designed, fully functional, sustainably sourced, can be placed anywhere, and is easy to assemble.
In this article, we’ll discuss in detail why the Lori Bed is the better option for hosting guests and saving space.
Key Takeaways:
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Cabinet beds are versatile furniture pieces that provide comfortable sleeping spaces for people living in small, multipurpose spaces.
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Most cabinet beds use memory foam mattresses for better support whenever you sleep.
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Cabinet beds are free-standing—you can move them anywhere without detaching the wall.
Take a look at our Murphy beds.
What Is a Cabinet Bed?
A cabinet bed is a space-saving furniture that turns into a comfortable bed after you fold it out of a cabinet. This cabinet sits directly on the floor, making it perfect for a guest bed or any space that serves many purposes.
What Is a Murphy Bed?
A Murphy bed maximizes space in a room, easily folding up and creating both flow and function while providing your guests with a comfortable place to sleep. The traditional Murphy bed was invented in 1908 by a man named William Lawrence Murphy and has continued to grow in popularity over the last century.
However, a lot has changed since the initial design. The Lori Bed is the perfect example of what a modern Murphy bed can be, giving you more space where you need it most and crafted for the ultimate level of efficiency with a contemporary aesthetic.
Are Cabinet Beds Comfortable?
Yes, most cabinet beds are comfortable. Many units use memory foam to provide support and help you sleep well.
However, cabinet beds might give slightly less depth than full-size wall beds since they fold into a compact shape. You can add a mattress topper to enhance comfort during sleep. These beds give you enough space in your small room when you fold them up during your waking hours.
What Could a Cabinet Bed Be Used For?
Cabinet beds are extremely versatile. Common use cases include:
Use the versatile cabinet beds when:
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Your visitors need a guest bed despite the limited floor space.
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You need an extra bed for Airbnb and vacation rentals.
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You live in a small apartment where every space is crucial.
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You have a home office that also functions as a guest room.
Some cabinet beds also have built-in storage for your extra bedding, making them a more practical addition to your home.
Cabinet Bed vs. Wall Bed
Here's how a cabinet bed and a wall bed differ from each other:
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Cabinet Beds: Free-standing and do not need wall attachment, providing greater flexibility and mobility.
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Wall Beds: Wall-mounted and vertically folded into a closet or cabinet, requiring a sturdier wall for installation.
To Sum It All Up: Murphy Bed vs. Cabinet Bed
|
Feature |
Murphy Bed |
Cabinet Bed |
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Installation |
Wall-mounted, may need drilling |
No installation |
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Mattress Size |
Full, Queen, King |
Usually, a queen size only |
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Comfort Level |
High, with a standard mattress |
High, with a memory foam mattress |
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Space Saving |
Exceptional |
Exceptional |
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Built-In Storage |
Oftentimes (desks, shelves) |
Yes (drawers under the bed) |
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Ideal For |
Permanent setups, daily use |
Guest rooms, flexible spaces |
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Portability |
Low (fixed to the wall) |
High (easy to move) |
Disadvantages of a Cabinet Bed
A cabinet bed might seem like a good choice when you need to save space, but they include several drawbacks:
Difficult Installation: Cabinet beds can take hours to assemble, as a result of their multiple parts. They often come with at least two drawers (if not more) that need to be individually assembled, as well as hardware pieces for each of the drawers. As a result of their somewhat large size and numerous parts, they also often require a long list of instructions. Be prepared to spend an entire afternoon and (potentially evening) setting up your bed.
Taking Up Space: Cabinet beds are typically only available in a horizontal position, which results in them taking up quite a bit of space. If you have smaller rooms, these beds often will not fit. This ends up limiting which types of homes you can place them in.
Expensive: Last but not least, cabinet beds can be incredibly expensive, usually costing several thousand dollars.
Get the bed that suits your style here.
Benefits of The Lori Bed vs. a Cabinet Bed
Modern Design
The Lori Bed has a sleek, modern design resulting in a smarter, lighter, and safer bed. When guests are ready to go to sleep, all that needs to be done is simply lowering the bed and locking it.
Easy To Setup
The Lori Bed can be set up in 1 to 2 hours and comes with easy-to-use instructions. As previously mentioned, cabinet beds have a lot of different parts that need to be installed - including all those drawers and hardware pieces.
Can Be Placed In Any Home - Including Tiny Homes and Vacation Rentals
Cabinet beds are often large and bulky, which defeats the purpose of utilizing one in the first place. To use a cabinet bed, chances are you’ll need a large enough room to accommodate its long, horizontal size, which can be difficult for those in a studio, one-bedroom home, or a home with small rooms.
The Lori Bed, on the other hand, can fold up either horizontally or vertically, giving you options for space. Its modern design also means it’s more compact and provides space-saving functionality without dominating a room. This makes it the perfect piece for tiny homes and uniquely-sized vacation rentals (such as guest houses).
Durable
Quality is in the details with the Lori Bed. It’s made from 100% real cabinet-grade, lightweight poplar. The logs are carefully selected based on maturity, straightness, and roundness and sourced through the world’s #1 supplier of sustainable plywood (Garnica).
After log selection, each one is debarked, peeled, cut, and stacked in thin strips of plywood, glued together with a formaldehyde-free binding solution, and cured in a hot press machine for ideal thickness. After the wood has dried, each panel is trimmed, sanded, and finished with a chemical-free UV-resistant compound. Each of the above steps in the wood selection and prepping process makes the Lori Bed incredibly durable and high-quality.
Preserves Floors and Baseboards
While other Murphy beds might need to be attached to floors or baseboards, that is not the case with the Lori Bed. Our Murphy bed uses a standalone platform that only attaches to the cabinet when it's in the upright position. This design helps you to preserve your floors, baseboards, and molding, while still securing your bed in place for guests.
Lori Beds Give Back
When you buy a Lori bed you also give back - For every order placed, we plant 10 trees through the Eden Reforestation Project. Since our partnership first began in 2016 we’ve planted more than 17 acres of forest in Kenya.
Considerations Before Purchasing Your Murphy Bed
Before installing your space-saving Murphy bed, make sure to measure and take note of these general areas in order to ensure your bed will fit:
- Doorway locations
- Directions of the swing doors (including closets)
- Ceiling height
- Ceiling fan (if applicable)
- Electrical outlets
As mentioned, cabinet beds tend to take up a lot of space, so you’ll need more room for those designs.
Look for the Murphy bed design you’ve been eyeing for.
The Lori Bed: The Most Reviewed Murphy Bed in the World
The Lori Bed is the simplest, most functional, and most reviewed Murphy bed available anywhere. It's made from 100% real cabinet-grade, lightweight poplar and sourced in collaboration with Garnica, the world's #1 supplier of sustainable plywood.
Transform your guest room into a stylish and functional living space, while saving hundreds of dollars. The Lori Bed is available in multiple sizes, orientations, and colors, and includes detailed assembly instructions.
Cabinet Beds Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are cabinet beds easy to move?
Yes, because they're free-standing. Cabinet beds are easier to relocate to another spot in your house than traditional Murphy beds. Disassemble the bed and its storage space and move it like a piece of ordinary furniture.
What size of mattress fits in a cabinet bed?
Most cabinet beds can accommodate a queen-size mattress, and some models can also accommodate full or twin sizes. Choose a memory foam mattress to fold and unfold the cabinet bed easily.
Is a cabinet bed suitable for everyday use?
Absolutely! Use a high-quality mattress and a mattress topper to make the bed more comfortable, especially if you need restful sleep while saving floor space at any time of the day.
Does a cabinet bed provide adequate support?
Yes. A cabinet bed is made of a strong bed frame and top-notch materials for proper support. However, if you have particular sleeping preferences, you should use a thicker mattress, just like in wall beds.
Can I use a cabinet bed in a small living area?
Yes, you can! The cabinet bed's compact design maximizes space in small living areas, giving you easy access to a comfortable sleeping surface at any time.
