A Murphy bed in a hotel isn’t a fallback solution. It’s a precise design choice that lets a room do two things instead of one: being a comfortable space by day and an extra bed by night, without the two functions getting in each other’s way visually. In a single room, a Murphy bed adds a second bed without taking up floor space when not in use. In a suite, it adds a third bed without the living area losing its character. In an apartment for long stays, it doubles the accommodation capacity without any structural work. We make bespoke Murphy beds for hotels, to measure in size and finish, built into wall units that look like wardrobes, bookcases or storage furniture when closed. The fold-down mechanism is reinforced for intensive hotel use. Delivery and installation included worldwide.
Discover Every Type of Murphy Bed for Hotels and Guesthouses
Single Fold-Down
A 90 cm single bed that lowers from the wall with a vertical movement: when closed it looks like the top of a storage unit, when open it takes up only the floor space of the bed itself with no side projections. 14 cm mattress built into the structure, gas piston for a controlled opening that requires no effort. The solution for adding a second bed to a single room without sacrificing daytime space.
Double Fold-Down
A 140 cm double bed with the same mechanism as the single model: vertical opening with gas pistons, 16 cm mattress built into the structure, and when closed it blends into the wall like a panel or storage unit. Suited to suites and double rooms where a third bed is wanted that stays out of sight when not in use. Minimum wall width required: 160 cm.
With Side Wardrobe
A single or double Murphy bed with wardrobe space on one or both sides: the wall unit combines the bed in the centre with one or two wardrobe sections at the sides, forming a single piece that spans the whole wall. When closed it looks like a normal wardrobe with a central panel. The most requested solution because it makes the best use of the wall and hides the bed more convincingly than a panel alone.
With Integrated Sofa
A Murphy bed with a sofa that stays in place while the bed opens: the sofa is fixed to the bed structure and tilts automatically as it opens, returning to a horizontal position once the bed is open. There’s no need to move the sofa before opening the bed. The solution for suites and rooms with a living area where the sofa is part of the fixed furnishings and can’t be moved every evening.
Vertical with Desk
A vertical single fold-down bed with a desk that stays accessible whether the bed is open or closed: the desk is fixed to the bed’s front panel and rotates with it as it opens, returning to a horizontal position on both sides. Ideal for rooms intended for long stays or business guests who need a stable workspace even when the bed is open.
Made to Measure for Alcoves
A Murphy bed designed for alcoves, recesses or irregular spaces: the unit is made to the exact dimensions of the available recess, making use of space that would otherwise go unused. Much in demand in hotels housed in historic buildings with irregular floor plans, where wall recesses exist that can’t hold a standard wardrobe but are perfect for a made-to-measure Murphy bed.
When to Choose a Murphy Bed for a Hotel
A Murphy bed isn’t the right solution for every room. It makes sense in specific contexts where flexibility of use matters more than having a fixed bed permanently in place. It makes less sense in a standard double room where the bed is always occupied and there’s no reason to hide it.
There are three contexts where a Murphy bed brings a real advantage. The first is the single room with a dual function: a room that works as a study or relaxation area by day and hosts a second guest by night. The second is the suite with a living area: a room where the living space needs to keep its function even when an extra guest is present. The third is the apartment for long stays: a room with a kitchen or kitchenette where space needs to be maximised and a bed left out during the day just gets in the way.
The contexts where a Murphy bed isn’t the best choice are those where the bed is used every night by different guests: in this case, the daily opening and closing mechanism wears out faster, and the benefit of hiding the bed doesn’t justify the added complexity. For these situations, a sofa bed with a reinforced mechanism is often a more practical and less costly solution.
The Opening Mechanism: Why the Quality of the Mechanics Is Everything
In a Murphy bed for hotel use, the opening mechanism is what makes the difference. A low-quality mechanism opens with effort, closes with a sharp jolt, and after a few hundred cycles starts to give way: the pistons lose pressure, the opening becomes uneven, and the closing loses its precision.
The gas pistons we use are calibrated to the specific weight of the mattress built into the structure: not too stiff, which would make opening a struggle, and not too soft, which would make closing hazardous. Opening requires minimal force and completes on its own once started: the guest doesn’t need to exert any effort to hold the bed as it comes down. Closing works on the same principle: it starts with a minimal push and completes on its own.
The mechanisms we use are tested for at least 15,000 opening and closing cycles. In an intensive hotel setting, where the bed is opened and closed every day, 15,000 cycles correspond to more than 40 years of use. In practice the wall unit ages long before the mechanism does, which is built to last well beyond the useful life of the furniture that houses it.
How a Murphy Bed Fits into a Hotel Room’s Existing Furniture
The most common problem with Murphy beds in hospitality properties is visual integration: the bed is noticeable, even when closed, because it looks different from the rest of the room’s furniture. The front panel has a different finish from the wardrobe, the proportions don’t match the other pieces, and the wall unit stands out clearly from the surrounding elements.
This problem is solved by designing the Murphy bed together with the rest of the furniture, not afterwards. When the wall unit is made in the same finish as the wardrobe, with the same handles and the same proportions, the closed bed becomes part of a fitted wall system that gives no hint of its function. A guest entering the room sees a well-designed storage unit, not a hidden bed.
For properties that already have existing furniture and want to add a Murphy bed, we make the wall unit in the finish closest to the existing furniture, based on samples we collect during the site visit. The match will never be quite as perfect as a project built from scratch, but in many cases it’s enough to make the new piece consistent with the existing setting.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Murphy bed need a specific type of wall for fixing?
Standard fixing is compatible with solid masonry walls and with plasterboard walls that have a reinforced structure. For stone, tuff or other unusual materials, we assess the most suitable anchoring solution during the free site visit.
Does the mattress stay on the bed when it closes?
Yes. The mattress stays in place both open and closed, held by the structure and by gravity when the bed is vertical. There’s no need to remove the mattress to close the bed.
How much floor space does the Murphy bed take up when open?
The space taken up corresponds to the dimensions of the mattress plus around 10-15 cm for the structure. A 90 cm single bed takes up about 105 cm of depth on the floor. A 140 cm double bed takes up the same depth with a greater width.
Can the bed be left open and made up without causing problems for the mechanism?
Yes. The mechanism suffers no damage if the bed is left open for consecutive days or weeks. The gas pistons aren’t under tension in the open position.
How long does it take to produce and install a Murphy bed?
Production takes 6-8 weeks from order confirmation, longer than standard furniture because of the complexity of the wall unit and the mechanism. Installation takes one or two working days depending on the configuration chosen.
Do you make Murphy beds coordinated with furniture from other manufacturers?
Yes. If you provide a sample of the existing finish or the colour code of the furniture to be matched, we make the wall unit in the most compatible finish available from our 15 standard options or based on a dedicated sample.
Dedicated Services
Free Design Service
Site visit, technical drawings and a detailed quote with no obligation. Our team measures every space and designs bespoke furniture.
Bespoke Production
Every piece is made through our network of Italian workshops. Quality control on every item, from raw material to finished product.
Installation Throughout Italy
We handle delivery and installation of furniture for hospitality properties worldwide. From design to final installation. Punctual, coordinated, professional.