Ingenious Ways to Fit a Bed into a Small Space
From a flat in need of a bedroom to a spare room required to multi-task, these solutions are pure genius
Beds are big pieces of furniture, so slotting one into a small space can be a challenge. However, whether you need a sleeping area for guests or want to carve out an extra bedroom, there are designs out there that can work miracles. Check out these genius solutions to see what could work in your home.
…a double bed, which folds down from the cupboard when needed.
The doors are bifolding, so they tuck in neatly. The fact they’re covered in cork means they act as a giant noticeboard for messages and/or display; these can stay in place when the doors are opened, so there’s no need to spend time clearing up.
A set of shelves is squeezed in by the entrance for additional storage, with baskets and boxes keeping everything in order.
The doors are bifolding, so they tuck in neatly. The fact they’re covered in cork means they act as a giant noticeboard for messages and/or display; these can stay in place when the doors are opened, so there’s no need to spend time clearing up.
A set of shelves is squeezed in by the entrance for additional storage, with baskets and boxes keeping everything in order.
Get some cupboard love
No room for a double bed? This clever design…
No room for a double bed? This clever design…
…hides a comfy single bed. A unit like this would work if you’re really short of space for a spare bed – this one sits unobtrusively in a living room.
Tempted by a bed like this? Search for carpenters, joiners and cabinet-makers in your area
Tempted by a bed like this? Search for carpenters, joiners and cabinet-makers in your area
Slot in a pull-out
We’re all familiar with the trundle, or “bed beneath a bed”. But what if you don’t have the bed in the first place? Why not take that idea and slot a mattress under something else?
The architect working on this studio flat had the brilliant idea of raising the floor of the kitchen area to create a home for a mattress. As well as concealing the bed, the birch-ply platform serves to zone the kitchen and contains a roomy storage compartment on the right-hand side.
We’re all familiar with the trundle, or “bed beneath a bed”. But what if you don’t have the bed in the first place? Why not take that idea and slot a mattress under something else?
The architect working on this studio flat had the brilliant idea of raising the floor of the kitchen area to create a home for a mattress. As well as concealing the bed, the birch-ply platform serves to zone the kitchen and contains a roomy storage compartment on the right-hand side.
By collapsing the table and pulling out the mattress beneath it, the owner has an instant bedroom, complete with bedside table.
Brilliantly, she can also use the bed as a sofa by only pulling it out halfway.
The slatted board that serves as a support for the dining table (which can seat six), provides a headboard when the bed is in use, as well as a back for the sofa.
Tour the whole of this flat
Brilliantly, she can also use the bed as a sofa by only pulling it out halfway.
The slatted board that serves as a support for the dining table (which can seat six), provides a headboard when the bed is in use, as well as a back for the sofa.
Tour the whole of this flat
Here’s the same idea, but with the bed pulling out from under a wall of storage.
Browse a huge range of duvet covers and sets in the Houzz Shop
Browse a huge range of duvet covers and sets in the Houzz Shop
Stack to max floor space
Pull-out and fold-down beds make great use of space, but for something more permanent, check out this ingenious design.
The couple who live in this small flat wanted it to remain as open as possible. The solution was this multi-purpose box, which incorporates a bed, wardrobes and even a ‘cellar’.
The MDF-covered wood structure is around 2.5m x 1.6m x 2m, with a 50cm-wide staircase.
The bed can be accessed via a small door at the top of the staircase. The doors at the front can be opened up for an airy feel or left closed, so the magazine shelves can be used for bedside bits and bobs.
Pull-out and fold-down beds make great use of space, but for something more permanent, check out this ingenious design.
The couple who live in this small flat wanted it to remain as open as possible. The solution was this multi-purpose box, which incorporates a bed, wardrobes and even a ‘cellar’.
The MDF-covered wood structure is around 2.5m x 1.6m x 2m, with a 50cm-wide staircase.
The bed can be accessed via a small door at the top of the staircase. The doors at the front can be opened up for an airy feel or left closed, so the magazine shelves can be used for bedside bits and bobs.
The height of the ‘bedroom’ has been kept to a “just enough room to sit up” minimum of 1.2m, which has left enough space underneath to fit in wardrobes.
There are five cupboards in total, three of which hold clothes. They pull out on telescopic rails designed to hold computer servers, so they can handle plenty of weight.
A door (not seen) allows access under the stairs to a space behind the sliding cabinets, which the homeowners see as a kind of ‘cellar’: they even store a bike in there.
There are five cupboards in total, three of which hold clothes. They pull out on telescopic rails designed to hold computer servers, so they can handle plenty of weight.
A door (not seen) allows access under the stairs to a space behind the sliding cabinets, which the homeowners see as a kind of ‘cellar’: they even store a bike in there.
Create a screen star
The architect who designed this studio flat also wanted a more permanent solution. The bedroom in this 26 sq m studio doesn’t waste an inch, with the mattress virtually filling the whole space and masses of storage slotted in, too.
This matt-varnished birch-ply panel can slide across to conceal the sleeper and expose a TV and shelving unit in the living area…
The architect who designed this studio flat also wanted a more permanent solution. The bedroom in this 26 sq m studio doesn’t waste an inch, with the mattress virtually filling the whole space and masses of storage slotted in, too.
This matt-varnished birch-ply panel can slide across to conceal the sleeper and expose a TV and shelving unit in the living area…
…or be left open to allow access to the sleeping area behind.
The openwork doors conceal a washing machine and storage water heater, and behind these is wardrobe space, accessed from inside the bedroom.
The openwork doors conceal a washing machine and storage water heater, and behind these is wardrobe space, accessed from inside the bedroom.
The whole mattress lifts up from the 50cm-high platform to reveal storage space that can accommodate larger items, such as a suitcase.
The bookcase is cleverly designed so it’s only 20cm wide at the top, but steals space from the sleeping platform at the bottom to create deeper cupboards to house the router and games console. The holes provide ventilation and mean TV channels can be changed without the owner needing to open the drawer.
The top of the bookcase is open so it can be used in the bedroom, too.
As if that weren’t enough, there’s also a ‘home office’ – a built-in desk at the bottom of the bed.
Check out all the clever ideas in this small flat
The bookcase is cleverly designed so it’s only 20cm wide at the top, but steals space from the sleeping platform at the bottom to create deeper cupboards to house the router and games console. The holes provide ventilation and mean TV channels can be changed without the owner needing to open the drawer.
The top of the bookcase is open so it can be used in the bedroom, too.
As if that weren’t enough, there’s also a ‘home office’ – a built-in desk at the bottom of the bed.
Check out all the clever ideas in this small flat
Carve out a room
If you want to fit a spare room into an existing living space, this idea might appeal.
The architect has slotted a small bedroom into the flat, stealing some space from the bathroom behind (where a bath was swapped for a shower), as well as from the living area.
If you want to fit a spare room into an existing living space, this idea might appeal.
The architect has slotted a small bedroom into the flat, stealing some space from the bathroom behind (where a bath was swapped for a shower), as well as from the living area.
The steel-framed window and door allow the bedroom to borrow light from the bright living area. Choosing dark frames defines the boundary, so they’re clearly two rooms.
The architect managed to fit in not only a double bed, but shelving and, seen here on the right, a wardrobe. The structure also created the opportunity to fit more cupboard space into the living room.
See more of this clever use of space
Tell us…
What do you think of these ideas? Have you managed to slot a bed into an unlikely spot in your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments section.
The architect managed to fit in not only a double bed, but shelving and, seen here on the right, a wardrobe. The structure also created the opportunity to fit more cupboard space into the living room.
See more of this clever use of space
Tell us…
What do you think of these ideas? Have you managed to slot a bed into an unlikely spot in your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments section.
The owners of this two-bedroom flat in east London needed both a study space and a guest room – a common desire among those in smaller properties.
The answer was to create a permanent study space, complete with plenty of storage, and…