Double duty: Murphy bed or pullout sofa?

Q I recently moved into a onebedroom-plus-den condo. My previous home was larger and allowed for a separate guest room from my office but with my recent move, the “plus den” will have to do double duty. I’m wondering about your thoughts on my using a Murphy bed versus a pullout sofa.

A Keep in mind when planning for a Murphy bed that the mechanism and mattress take up between one and two feet (.3 to .6 metres) of space out from the wall depending on the size of the mattress you choose. (And, typically, the slimmer the mattress the less comfortable the sleep.) Add to that the length of your bed and you’ll determine whether you have the floor space to accommodate a Murphy bed when open. If your room has a long wall but not a lot of depth, consider a Murphy bed that extends horizontally instead of vertically.

Because the cabinet housing the bed protrudes from the wall at least a foot, the addition of shelves on either side will help to make the entire unit look built-in and provide you with storage. For even more space-saving efficiency, install a desk that folds onto the wall (i.e. is the bottom of bed) so that you don’t have to worry whether you have room for the desk when the bed is down.

I, too, have recently moved and am facing the same situation as you, but I am prioritizing a combined TV room/guest room. With limited space, I chose a sleeper sofa that allows me a comfortable place to sit and watch TV and on the four nights a year I have overnight guests they have a place to sleep.

I have a closet in this room that I shelved on one side to accommodate a printer, work binders and office supplies, leaving the other side racked for clothes.