At Inovabed, we design every piece around one simple idea: a small room should still be able to offer a comfortable place to sleep. Most of the time, that means studio apartments, home offices, and guest rooms. Every so often, though, a project comes along that shows just how far that idea can go. One of our favorites took us to an FDNY firehouse in Woodside, Queens, home to Engine 325 and Tower Ladder 163. As a company founded in New York City that still builds every bed in Upstate New York, we were proud to install a wall bed in one of the smallest rooms in the building.
A Small Room With an Important Job
The room is called the House Watch. It is a tight space with a clear purpose. Each night, one firefighter is assigned there overnight to answer incoming alarms and alert the rest of the house. The person on duty needs to stay in that room, which means they also need somewhere to rest during the long overnight hours.
Before our unit was installed, there was no bed in the House Watch. Instead, firefighters dragged a mattress from the back of the firehouse every evening so the person on duty had something to sleep on. It worked, but it was a nightly chore, and it never made the room feel like a true place to rest.
Why a Wall Bed Made Sense
A wall bed is built for exactly this kind of room. Folded up, it gives the floor back to the room's real job. Folded down, the same room becomes a bedroom. In the House Watch, the work comes first, and the bed fits around it.
In the Words of Our Founder
Looking back at photos of the room, Loren Sherman, Inovabed's founder and inventor, said they show "...really well how tiny a space we were solving."
He described the room this way: "...that room is called the House Watch. A firefighter is assigned to it overnight to answer alarms coming in and send them out to the house. Before that unit was put in there, they dragged a mattress from the back of the firehouse each evening for the guy, so this was a very nice lifestyle improvement."
That lifestyle improvement is what every project should deliver: not more furniture, but daily life made a little easier for the people who use the space.
What This Means for Your Small Space
Most of our customers are not working overnight shifts in a firehouse, but many face a similar challenge: a room that has to do more than one thing. The same thinking that worked in the House Watch applies to homes of every size.
In a studio apartment, the bedroom, living room, and dining area often share one open space. A wall bed lets you fold your bed away in the morning so you have room to relax, work, or host friends during the day.
A home office that also needs to welcome overnight guests is another common fit. A Murphy bed keeps your desk area open on workdays and turns the room into a comfortable bedroom when family comes to visit.
Guest rooms benefit too. Instead of dedicating an entire room to a bed that sits empty most of the year, you can use that space as a hobby room, gym, or playroom and still have a real bed ready when you need it. Pairing your bed with a Flex Wardrobe can also give you a place to store linens, clothing, and everyday items, making the room even more useful.
Frequently Asked Questions About Murphy Beds for Small Spaces
Are wall beds and Murphy beds the same thing?
Yes. A wall bed and a Murphy bed are the same type of bed, one that folds up against the wall when it is not in use. The two names are used interchangeably, and we use both to describe our beds.
How small can a room be and still fit a fold-down bed?
There is no single minimum size, since it depends on the bed size you choose and the layout of the room. The most important thing is having enough clear floor space for the bed to come down. The House Watch room is a good example of how a wall bed can bring a real sleeping space to a very small room.
Can I add storage to my small space as well?
Yes. Many people pair their bed with a Flex Wardrobe for extra storage in the same room, helping a small space work harder without adding clutter.
Is a Murphy bed comfortable enough to sleep on every night?
Yes. Because the bed folds up rather than folding in half, it can hold a real mattress instead of a thin fold-out pad. That makes it a comfortable choice for nightly sleeping, whether it is in a studio apartment, a home office, or a small room with a very specific job like the House Watch.
Is a wall bed easy to open and close?
Yes. Inovabed beds are designed to open and close in one easy motion, so lowering and raising the bed is smooth and simple. That's a far cry from dragging a mattress in and out of a room by hand.
Small Spaces, Real Rest
The House Watch room is a reminder that even the tiniest room can hold a real bed with the right design. We are proud that our work made a difference for the firefighters who staff that room overnight, and we bring the same care to every home we help. Whether you are furnishing a studio, a home office, or a guest room, we invite you to explore our wall beds and Murphy beds and see how much more your space can do. As a thank-you to those who serve, we also offer military and first responder discounts.
Inovabed designs space-saving wall beds and Murphy beds that bring comfortable sleep and smart storage to rooms of every size, from studio apartments to firehouses. To find the right fit for your space, contact us today.
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