You’ve decided a horizontal Murphy bed is the perfect solution for your space-challenged room. Its clever side-tilt design is a game-changer for areas with low ceilings or narrow layouts. But now comes the next crucial decision: how do you integrate storage? Choosing the right storage will determine whether your wall bed is just a place to sleep or a truly multifunctional piece of space-saving furniture.
The two leading contenders are built-in shelves and cabinet integration. One offers open, accessible display space, creating an airy, library-like feel. The other provides concealed, organized storage that mimics high-end custom furniture. While both solutions reclaim valuable floor space, they cater to very different needs, aesthetics, and budgets.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare these two approaches side-by-side to help you choose the perfect storage solution for your home.
At a Glance: Built-in Shelves vs. Cabinet Integration
This table breaks down the key differences to help you quickly assess which option aligns with your priorities.
| Feature | Horizontal Murphy Bed with Built-in Shelves | Horizontal Murphy Bed with Cabinet Integration |
| Design & Look | Airy, open, and display-focused. Creates a "bookshelf" or "media wall" aesthetic, showcasing your items | Sleek, concealed, and furniture-like. Presents a clean, minimalist facade that looks like a custom wardrobe or hutch |
| Storage Capacity | Good for lighter items like books, photos, and decor. Open piers and overhead bridges offer significant linear footage. | Excellent for a wide variety of items. Deep cabinets can include hanging rods, drawers, and compartments for bulky linens or clothing. |
| Accessibility | Instant access. Items are always visible and within reach, making it perfect for frequently used objects. | Requires an extra step. You must open doors or drawers, which keeps items dust-free but is less immediate |
| Space Efficiency | Combines sleeping and display space, eliminating the need for separate bookcases. Preserves a sense of visual openness. | Offers maximum storage density, often replacing an entire dresser or closet. Frees up more floor space by consolidating furniture. |
| Customization | Options often include adjustable shelving, integrated lighting, and small fold-down nightstands or desk surfaces. | Highly versatile. Can be configured with wardrobes, file drawers, pull-out trays, and integrated electrical outlets |
| Installation | Requires secure wall anchoring. While professional installation is always recommended, the assembly can be simpler and lighter. | More complex and heavy. Often requires reinforcement and meticulous professional installation to handle the static load of the enclosed units. |
| Cost | Generally the more budget-friendly option, as open shelving requires fewer materials and less complex hardware. | Higher upfront investment due to materials for doors, drawer mechanisms, and more robust hardware. |
A Closer Look: The Horizontal Murphy Bed with Built-in Shelves
This option surrounds the bed cabinet with open shelving, creating a functional and decorative wall feature. The shelves can flank the bed on one or both sides (acting as piers) and often include a bridge across the top. When the bed is closed, the unit resembles a modern bookcase or media center.
Pros:
- Visually Lightweight: The open design prevents the unit from overwhelming a small room, maintaining an airy and spacious feel.
- Easy Access: Your favorite books, decor, and daily-use items are always on display and easy to grab. The side shelves can double as nightstands.
- Aesthetic Display: It provides a perfect canvas to showcase your personality through curated objects, photos, and plants.
- More Affordable: With fewer materials and no need for doors or complex hardware, this is often the more economical choice.
Cons:
- Requires Organization: Open shelves can look cluttered if not kept tidy.
- Exposure to Dust: Items are exposed to dust and require regular cleaning.
- Limited Storage Type: Not ideal for bulky items, private documents, or clothing that you’d prefer to keep hidden.
This Option is Ideal For:
- The Home Office: Use the shelves to store reference books, supplies, and professional credentials. It keeps everything within arm's reach while you work and provides a comfortable bed for occasional guests.
- The Avid Reader: Transform a wall in your living room or study into a functional library that also happens to hide a guest bed.
- The Decor Enthusiast: If you love styling and restyling your space, open shelves give you the creative freedom to change your room's look with minimal effort.
A Closer Look: The Horizontal Murphy Bed with Cabinet Integration
This approach elevates the Murphy bed into a seamless piece of custom-built furniture. The bed is flanked by enclosed cabinets, drawers, or full-height wardrobes. When the bed is closed, the entire system presents a clean, uniform front, completely concealing both the bed and your stored items.
Pros:
- Concealed & Clean: Hides clutter behind closed doors for a tidy, minimalist look. It’s the ultimate "out of sight, out of mind" solution.
- High-Capacity Storage: Cabinet integration can effectively replace a dresser, a wardrobe, or both, offering space for hanging clothes, folded linens, and bulky items.
- Dust-Free & Protected: Enclosed storage keeps your belongings clean, protected from sunlight, and private.
- Integrated Furniture Look: Creates a high-end, custom-millwork appearance that can significantly elevate a room's aesthetic.
Cons:
- Higher Cost: More materials, hardware (hinges, handles, drawer slides), and complex construction lead to a higher price point.
- Visually Heavier: The solid front can feel more substantial and may be too imposing for very small or narrow rooms.
- Slower Access: Requires opening doors and drawers to get to your items.
This Option is Ideal For:
- The Studio Apartment: When your living room is also your bedroom, cabinet integration lets you store your entire wardrobe and personal effects, creating a clear distinction between day and night zones.
- The Dedicated Guest Room: Equip your guest space with a full wardrobe and drawers, giving visitors a comfortable place to unpack and feel at home.
- The Multi-Purpose Family Room: Keep board games, extra blankets, and electronics hidden away but easily accessible for family night, with a bed ready for sleepovers.
How to Choose: Making the Final Decision
Still undecided? Ask yourself these four questions to find your perfect match.
-
What is your primary storage need?
Choose Shelves if: You want to display books, art, and decor, and your storage needs are primarily for lighter, non-personal items.
Choose Cabinets if: You need to store clothes, bulky bedding, or personal items you want to keep hidden and organized. -
What is your room's size and ceiling height?
Choose Shelves if: Your room is particularly narrow or small, as the open design will feel less imposing and maintain a sense of space.
Choose Cabinets if: You have adequate space and want to maximize vertical storage density. A horizontal bed with cabinet piers can fit comfortably under an 8-foot ceiling. -
What is your aesthetic preference?
Choose Shelves if: You prefer a casual, eclectic, or library-inspired look.
Choose Cabinets if: You desire a sleek, modern, and minimalist aesthetic that looks like seamless custom furniture. -
What is your budget?
Choose Shelves if: You are looking for the most cost-effective way to add storage to your Murphy bed.
Choose Cabinets if: You are willing to invest more for a comprehensive, all-in-one storage solution that replaces other pieces of furniture.
Ultimately, both built-in shelves and cabinet integration are powerful tools for maximizing the function of your horizontal Murphy bed. By carefully considering your needs and style, you can create a beautiful, hard-working piece that will serve you for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the main difference between built-in shelves and cabinet integration?
Built-in shelves offer open, visible storage perfect for displaying books and decor, creating an airy feel. Cabinet integration uses enclosed doors and drawers for concealed, dust-free storage that provides a clean, seamless furniture look.
2. Which storage option is more expensive?
Cabinet integration is generally more expensive. The additional cost comes from the materials for doors and drawers, complex hardware like hinges and slides, and the more intricate construction required.
3. Is one option easier to install?
Yes, systems with open shelves are typically lighter and simpler to assemble and mount. The heavier cabinet units are more complex and often require professional installation to ensure they are safely anchored and can handle the static load.
4. Will cabinets make my small room feel smaller?
They can. The solid doors of cabinet integration create more "visual weight" than open shelves. In a very narrow or compact room, a shelving system is often preferred to maintain a sense of openness.
5. Can I store clothes effectively with a built-in shelf system?
It's not ideal. Open shelves are best for folded items you don't mind displaying, but they lack the organization and privacy needed for a full wardrobe. Cabinet integration with hanging rods and drawers is far superior for clothing storage.
6. When are built-in shelves the definitive best choice?
Shelves are the best choice when your priority is aesthetic display, you want instant access to items, you are working with a tighter budget, and you want to keep the room feeling as open and light as possible.
7. When should I absolutely choose cabinet integration?
Choose cabinets when you need to replace a dresser or closet, require substantial hidden storage for personal items or clutter, and desire a high-end, minimalist aesthetic where everything is tucked away.
8. Can I get a mix of both shelves and cabinets?
Yes, many manufacturers offer semi-custom or fully custom solutions. You can often design a unit that features a combination of open shelving for display and enclosed cabinets or drawers for practical storage, giving you the best of both worlds.
9. How do these storage options work as a nightstand when the bed is open?
With a shelving system, the lowest shelf of a side pier naturally functions as an open nightstand. For cabinet systems, some designs include a small pull-out tray or a small integrated shelf specifically for this purpose.
10. Which option offers more storage capacity overall?
Cabinet integration offers significantly more versatile and dense storage capacity. While shelves provide ample linear footage for books, cabinets provide volume for bulky items, clothing, and other goods, effectively replacing entire pieces of furniture.