Murphy Bed or Cabinet Bed for a Small Guest Room? What to Measure Before You Buy
A small guest room can look surprisingly generous—until you put a bed in it.
Then the door barely clears. The dresser feels too large. The walkway disappears. And the room you hoped would double as an office, hobby space, or exercise room spends most of the year functioning as a bedroom nobody is using.
If you are looking for a Murphy bed or Cabinet Bed in the Portland metro area or surrounding communities, you may be wondering:
How much room do I actually need?
The answer depends on the type of bed, the shape of the room, and what you want the space to do when nobody is sleeping there.
Before you buy, a few simple measurements—and a clear idea of your priorities—can help you compare the options.
1. Start With What You Want the Room to Do
Before reaching for a tape measure, decide what the room needs to do most often.
Will it primarily be a home office, exercise room, craft room, or bedroom? Choose its main purpose, then plan its other uses around that priority.
Next, consider how often someone will sleep there: every night, a few nights a month, or only when guests visit.
These answers help narrow your choices. A room used for nightly sleeping has different priorities from an office that occasionally accommodates visitors.
Hiddenbed of Oregon’s Room Planning Guide walks you through these questions, along with measurements, bed sizes, storage options, and finishes.
2. Measure More Than the Empty Wall
Start with the room’s overall length, width, and ceiling height. Then measure the wall where you would like to place the bed.
Note anything that affects the usable space:
Windows
Doors and their swing direction
Closets
Baseboards
Electrical outlets and light switches
Heating vents
Wall-mounted fixtures
Sloped ceilings
Ceiling height matters particularly when considering a vertical Murphy bed, which stores the mattress upright and opens perpendicular to the wall.
If the ceiling is lower or sloped, or you have a wider stretch of usable wall, a horizontal Murphy bed may be worth considering. It stores the mattress horizontally and opens with the sleeping surface parallel to the wall.
The dimensions and opening clearance vary by model, so check the specifications of the bed you are considering.
Plan for your preferred bed size and any side cabinets, shelving, or storage—not just the bed itself.
But wall measurements tell only part of the story. You also need to ask: What happens when the bed is open?
3. Measure the Room With the Bed Open
A space-saving bed gives you room back when it is closed. Your guests, however, will sleep on it when it is open.
Measure outward from the wall to the bed’s fully open position, using the model’s actual dimensions. Then consider what space remains:
Can someone comfortably move around the bed?
Can the room door still open?
Can guests reach the closet?
Will other furniture obstruct the bed as it opens or closes?
If the room is also an office, can the desk stay where it is?
Think about the room in both modes:
Guest mode: Where does the bed open, and how will someone move around it?
Everyday mode: What can you do with the space when the bed is closed?
Perhaps you want open floor space for exercise, a place for sewing and crafts, or room for grandchildren to play.
If the room serves as an office every day, a transforming Transforming Desk Bed that lets you leave desk items in place may be worth considering. A table bed may suit a room where dining or crafts are the main activity.
The goal is to choose a bed that supports the way you use the room throughout the year.
4. Consider a Cabinet Bed When Flexibility Matters
What if you prefer a bed that does not require wall installation?
A Cabinet Bed is a freestanding piece of furniture that expands into a sleeping surface when needed. It may be a useful option when:
You prefer to avoid wall installation.
Windows or other obstacles limit your wall-bed options.
You may eventually want to relocate the bed.
You need sleeping space mainly for occasional guests.
You want a compact cabinet when the bed is closed.
You still need to measure carefully. Check the cabinet’s closed dimensions, the space needed to open it, and its full footprint when ready for sleeping. Windows, doors, vents, and other furniture still need to remain accessible.
Measure for two situations: everyday life and bedtime.
Measurements alone will not decide the choice. A Wall Bed can become an architectural feature, with coordinated cabinetry, storage, or a desk. A Cabinet Bed offers the flexibility of freestanding furniture.
The right choice depends on both the room’s dimensions and how you want to use it.
Bring Your Measurements to Our Brooks Showroom
You do not need to solve the layout completely by yourself.
Start with:
Overall room length and width
Ceiling height, including any slopes
Usable wall width
Available floor depth for the open bed
Door, window, and closet locations, including door swings
Outlets, switches, vents, and other obstacles
Furniture you want to keep in the room
Draw a simple room layout and take a few photos. Note your preferred bed size, any storage you would like to add, and whether the bed will be used daily or occasionally.
Bring that information—or your completed Room Planning Guide—to the Hiddenbed of Oregon showroom in Brooks.
You can compare vertical Murphy beds, horizontal Wall Beds, Cabinet Beds, and transforming Transforming Desk Beds in person, and let our team help you explore a layout that works for your home.
You can also review the Hiddenbed FAQs before visiting for information about installation, mattresses, construction, and everyday use.
With Thanksgiving and holiday guests getting closer, measuring now gives you time to explore your options and discuss availability.
Visit us at 4993 Brooklake Road NE, Brooks, OR 97305. We also provide free delivery and setup within 50 miles of Brooks.
Call 503-874-6109 or contact Hiddenbed of Oregon to schedule your free consultation. Bring your measurements and photos, and let us help you find a bed that fits both your guests and the room you want back when they leave.
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