Fitted Wardrobes with Murphy Beds in London: A Practical Guide 

A detailed look at how bespoke Murphy-style bed cupboards are designed, manufactured and installed in London.

What is the best built-in wardrobe with a Murphy bed in London?

Urban Wardrobes is based in Chiswick, West London. They design and manufacture fully bespoke built-in wardrobes with premium-quality integrated Murphy bed mechanisms — including both vertical and horizontal folding systems — from scratch, tailored to the exact dimensions of your room. Manufacturing takes place in London, installation is carried out by the company’s own team, and the lead time for most projects is 4–8 weeks. This isn’t a product that’s simply plonked into a space. It’s furniture designed specifically for that room.

Why Most London Wall Beds Fall Short of the Mark

If you’ve started looking for a Murphy bed in London, you’ve probably already spotted the problem. Most of the options on offer are either a flat-pack kit from a European manufacturer, a freestanding wall-mounted bed unit bolted to the wall, or a product from a national furniture chain that looks like a proper built-in wardrobe in the photos but turns out to be a modular system with a bed mechanism inside.

None of these options is a genuine built-in wardrobe with an integrated Murph-type bed. The difference is significant — it’s the contrast between furniture that looks somewhat out of place in your room and pieces that seem to be part of the interior, as if they’d always been meant to be there.

This article explains what that actually means in practice, what styles are available, what competitors’ offerings look like, and what questions you should ask before placing an order.

“The finest built-in wardrobe with a Murphy-style bed in London isn’t something you simply choose from a catalogue. It’s a piece of furniture made specifically for your room, with the bed built in from the outset.”

Vertical and Horizontal Folding Systems: Why Orientation Matters

This is a detail that most suppliers fail to explain clearly, yet it’s more important than people realise until they’ve thought about the layout of the room.

Vertical Folding (Standard Configuration)

A vertical Murphy bed folds up against the wall so that its length is positioned vertically. In other words, the head and foot ends of the bed move up and down. This is the most common orientation, which works well for most bedroom and guest room layouts. When raised, the bed panel is taller than it is wide. Cupboard sections are positioned on either side, allowing the width of the wall to be used efficiently.

Vertical systems are particularly well suited to rooms where the wall to which the bed is attached is wider than higher — the most common situation in London flats. The bed doesn’t require a lot of headroom for folding and unfolding, and the mechanism is generally easier to integrate into the wardrobe structure.

Horizontal Folding (Space-Saving Option)

A horizontal Murphy-style fold-away bed is designed so that its length runs horizontally — that is, the head and foot ends are positioned at the sides, and the mattress folds towards you rather than upwards and outwards. This option is good for rooms with low ceilings or where the available wall space is taller than it is wide.

Horizontal systems are becoming increasingly popular in London lofts and ground-floor rooms with low ceilings — that is, in spaces where standard vertical folding would require more headroom than is available. They are also the right choice for narrow rooms where the bed needs to fold into a deeper wardrobe rather than a wider one.

Urban Wardrobes manufactures both types. The orientation is determined during the design consultation based on the room’s actual dimensions and layout — vertical orientation cannot be considered the default standard. This is one of the things that distinguishes a truly design-led process from a product-led one.

“Choosing between the vertical and horizontal versions is the first decision you have to make when designing a Murphy bed cabinet. Most suppliers offer only one option. We manufacture both.”

Why Urban Wardrobes Makes the Best Built-in Wardrobes With Murphy Beds in London

The difference lies not in any single feature, but in the way the entire project is designed, manufactured and installed. The points below explain exactly what sets Urban Wardrobes’ experience and expertise apart.

Truly Made to Measure — Not a Product That’s Adapted to Fit the Space

This is the most important difference. Urban Wardrobes manufactures every wardrobe from scratch, tailored precisely to the room’s dimensions, down to the millimetre. These are not standard modules that are only roughly the right size. Nor is it a freestanding wardrobe that is simply placed against a wall and secured. The wardrobe structure, door frames and the sections flanking the bed — all of these are made specifically for that particular bedroom.

In London, this is of immense importance. Historic buildings with walls that cannot be considered rectangular, spaces converted into lofts with sloping ceilings, Victorian houses with chimney recesses measuring 847 mm on one side and 851 mm on the other — these are the real conditions of London housing, and they require furniture designed with these characteristics in mind. Mass-produced furniture cannot achieve this. But custom-made pieces, crafted to individual measurements, can.

Premium-Class Mechanisms — Both Vertical and Horizontal

The mechanism is what you interact with every time you use the bed. It’s also the component where differences in quality matter most and are least noticeable until the first mechanism breaks down.

Urban Wardrobes uses high-quality piston mechanisms for its vertical and horizontal systems alike. The piston replaces a simple spring-loaded design with the controlled resistance of a gas lift — the same principle used in high-end cars and commercial equipment. The result is stable, smooth operation that doesn’t deteriorate over years of daily use, unlike a spring-loaded mechanism. Wall fixings are selected specifically for the particular wall structure — timber frames, solid brick, concrete — rather than using universal fixings, which work satisfactorily in most cases.

Five Models — All Completely Custom-Made, None From the Catalogue

Urban Wardrobes offers five different design options for built-in wardrobes with Murphy beds. Each cabinet is made from scratch, using the specified materials and finishes, and tailored to the dimensions of the specific room. 

These distinctive styles are described in the following section.

Manufactured Locally in London, Own Installation Team

Every closet is made in Urban Wardrobes’ own workshop in London. It’s not shipped from a factory abroad. It isn’t assembled on site from flat-pack components. It’s crafted in London by the very same team that designs it. And it’s put together by Urban Wardrobes’ own fitters — without the use of subcontractors. 

The person installing your wardrobe knows the person who designed it. The technical specifications agreed during the design consultation will match exactly what is in the room on the day of installation.

Built-in Led Lighting, Blum Mechanisms in All Units

Every integrated wardrobe with a Murphy-type bed from Urban Wardrobes is fitted with built-in LED lighting with sensors in the closet sections, Blum soft-close mechanisms on all drawers and hinges, as well as internal fittings designed with users’ actual needs in mind, rather than selected from a standard list of options. 

The LED lighting is mains-powered, not battery-powered. Soft-close mechanisms are installed on all drawers, not just on selected ones.

Most Projects Take 4–8 Weeks to Complete

From the approved design to the completion of assembly. Competitive prices for truly bespoke furniture. This isn’t a product that can be dispatched within a week because it’s already ready. It’s furniture made specifically for your room, delivered within a timeframe that reflects this process.

“Every component has been carefully thought through. Every element is made to exact measurements. Every decorative detail is designed specifically for the room in which it will be installed. This is what the term “custom-made” means — and it’s not the same as “customisable”.”

Five Styles: What’s Available

All five models listed below are made exclusively to order. They are all available with either a vertical or horizontal folding system. All designs have the same technical specifications for the mechanism and the installation standards.

Style 1: Contemporary, With Factory Lacquer FinishAny colour · Solid-panel doors · Built-in wooden handles · Most popular choice

Flat-panel doors, factory-finished in any colour, with a built-in solid wood handle – in oak, ash or walnut. A minimalist, contemporary design and finish that is ideally suited to a wide variety of London properties — contemporary apartments, restored period homes, new-builds and loft conversions.Factory lacquering means that the doors are finished in a controlled spray booth prior to installation. They aren’t painted on site using a brush or roller. The finish is harder, more even and significantly more durable. Ten years on, it still looks just as good as it did on the first day — which is essential for furniture that you open and close every day.The Murphy bed panel blends seamlessly with the surrounding doors. When the bed is raised, the panel is indistinguishable from the wardrobe doors — the same colour, the same finish, the same handle. The bed doesn’t draw attention to itself. The wardrobe sections on both sides are fully fitted and functional: hangers, shelves, drawers or a work surface — everything is made to measure for the room.

Style 2: Decorative Panel FinishTextured surfaces · Concrete, oak and stone effects · More affordable price

High-quality melamine-coated panels in a wide range of textures and finishes — concrete effect, matt oak, linen weave, stone grey and many others. The coating is applied during the manufacturing process: it’s wear-resistant, consistent and has a distinctive look that ordinary varnish lacks.This is the ideal choice for customers seeking authentic character without having to pay the full price for factory-applied varnish. A wardrobe made from concrete-effect panels, paired with a Murphy bed, looks completely at home in a flat fitted out in a converted warehouse. The sanded oak-effect finish complements a Scandinavian-style interior perfectly, without the expense of real wood veneer.The mechanism, internal fittings and installation standards are identical to those of the lacquered range. The savings are achieved through the choice of surface material — not at the expense of the quality of the structural components.

Style 3: Natural Wood ExteriorSolid oak, walnut or ash · Natural grain · Premium option

Solid real oak, exquisite walnut or light ash for exterior panels and door fronts. These are not veneered surfaces — they are genuine wood with natural variations in texture, authentic depth and tactile qualities that improve with age. The Murphy bed’s headboard is finished in matching real wood, so when the bed is raised, the surface appears seamless.Cabinets made of natural wood are suited to certain types of rooms: Victorian bedrooms with high ceilings, historic houses with original joinery, and rooms where the quality of the furniture materials must match the standard of the architecture. In such spaces, naturally sourced wood creates an effect that varnish and veneer simply cannot replicate.The frame combines authentic wood with high-quality engineered timber — the visible surfaces are made of wood, whilst the structural elements are selected with stability in mind. This is the same approach used in the manufacture of premium-class kitchen units, and for the same reason: precisely this method ensures the best results in the long term.

Style 4: Shaker — Factory Lacquered or Hand-PaintedPeriod-appropriate · Two finish options · Right for Victorian and Edwardian homes

The shaker profile — a panel with a recess in a flat frame — has been used in built-in furniture for over two centuries. It looks natural in Victorian and Edwardian interiors, as it draws on the same design vocabulary as the original joinery. In Richmond, Kew, Chiswick, Wimbledon and throughout the historic property belt of West and South-West London, this style remains consistently the most popular choice for guest rooms and multi-purpose spaces.Two finish options. Factory-lacquered Shaker is spray-applied in a booth — it offers the same durability as the lacquered flat-panel range, but with the historic detailing of the Shaker moulding. Hand-painted Shaker is finished on-site: it has a slightly warmer, more artisanal appearance, reminiscent of furniture painted by a master craftsman.Factory-applied lacquer is harder and more uniform. Hand-painted finishes offer texture and warmth. Objectively, neither option is superior — it all depends on the room’s aesthetics and the client’s preferences. Either option is available with full integration of the Murphy bed and in both orientations.

Style 5: Full Mirror Finish ExteriorFloor-to-ceiling mirror · For yoga and ballet studios and multi-purpose spaces

Full-height exterior panels with a mirrored surface, including the panel for the Murphy-style bed. When the bed is raised, the mirrored surface forms a continuous plane — the room looks like a mirrored wall. When the bed is lowered, you have a fully-fledged bedroom. This is the ideal solution for spaces that need to serve as a yoga studio, dance training room or home gym during the day, and as a bedroom at night.The mirrored panels are made from 6-millimetre-thick toughened safety glass with polished edges, fitted into the wardrobe frame with the same precision as any door. The panels of the Murphy bed are mounted on hinges, allowing them to fold away together with the mechanism. This has been specially designed to account for the weight of the glass — a mirrored panel is considerably heavier than an MDF door, and the mechanism and technical specifications of the mounting must take this into account.When the bed is raised, the floor space is completely unobstructed. The mirrored wall appears as a single, continuous surface. Neither the mechanism nor the bed frame is visible, which means that the room’s functionality as a studio remains unrestricted. Such configurations are often installed in training studios and home gyms throughout London.

Who Would Benefit From a Murphy Bed Built-in Wardrobe?

The short answer: anyone in London who needs a room to carry out a few tasks. To be more specific:

• A home office that also serves as a guest bedroom is the most common requirement. The desk is in the room when it’s needed. The bed lowers in thirty seconds when guests arrive. Both functions are performed perfectly — without any compromises.
• A yoga or dance studio that doubles as a bedroom — the mirrored external system was designed specifically for this purpose. A full mirrored wall when the bed is raised, a fully-fledged bedroom when it’s lowered, and completely unobstructed floor space throughout the room.
• A London flat where space is the main constraint — a room too small to serve as both a permanent bedroom and a home office at the same time becomes both when the bed is tucked away into the wall.
• Whether it’s an investment property or a short-term let, a flat that can legally be advertised as having a second bedroom commands significantly higher rental rates and booking figures. The return on investment can often be realised within a year.
• Converting an attic with a low ceiling — the horizontal folding system was designed for rooms where the ceiling height prevents the installation of a standard vertical mechanism. Urban Wardrobes assesses the ceiling height during the design consultation and takes this into account in the design.

“In a room with a Murphy-style fold-away bed, there’s no need to choose which it is. It can be both — not as a compromise, but as a design choice.”

A Comparison With Competitors

There are other companies in London that offer wall-mounted beds or Murphy beds. Here is an impartial review of what they actually offer and how they differ.

Wall Bed Specialists (London Wall Beds and Similar) Quality mechanisms. Standard cupboards. Freestanding furniture.

The wall bed specialists are quite adept at handling the mechanism. Some of them use high-quality piston systems. The problem lies with the wardrobe — after all, these are bed manufacturers, not furniture makers. The wardrobe panels framing the bed are usually simple: standard width, shallow depth, typical internal shelves. They aren’t made to fit the room’s dimensions. It’s a product designed to be placed against a wall.The result is always only roughly satisfactory. You can see gaps and filler strips, and it gives the impression that the bed and wardrobe were designed separately — which is exactly what happened. Everything works. But it doesn’t fit into the room. For furniture in this price range, this is a significant compromise.

Clei / Resource Furniture (Italian Wall Bed Systems) Excellent mechanisms. Standard product range; no bespoke orders. High price for this type of product.

Clei manufactures excellent mechanisms for wall-mounted beds. They have been doing this for longer than almost anyone else, and the quality of their products is truly high. In particular, the systems integrated into sofas are well thought-out and beautifully crafted.The problem is that Clei is a range of off-the-shelf products. Everything is produced to a standard: configurations, dimensions, and finish options. The “personalised approach” consists of choosing from a catalogue. In a room that matches Clei’s standard dimensions — and such rooms do exist — this works perfectly well. In a space that doesn’t match these measurements, you end up having to adapt the area to the product. Given the price Clei products command on the UK market, this isn’t a particularly favourable compromise.Urban Wardrobes creates furniture to suit your space. Not the other way round.

National Wardrobe Chains (Sharps, Hammonds, Etc.) Modular systems. Most of them don’t offer Murphy beds. And those that do don’t integrate them properly.

Most large furniture chains don’t integrate Murphy-type beds at all. Those that do usually fit a ready-made bed unit into the wardrobe structure — the same approach as that taken by specialists in wall-mounted beds, with the same result. The bed is inside the wardrobe. But it’s not part of it.More importantly, national chains operate on the basis of modular systems with standard module sizes. The modular frame isn’t designed to provide the structural support required for a Murphy bed mechanism. In most cases, it works, but the integration never looks neat. Furthermore, a modular system will never fit a non-standard room as well as bespoke furniture.

Flat-Pack and Self-Assembly Wall Bed Kits This isn’t the same category. It’s included to give a complete picture.

Murphy-style fold-away bed kits in flat-pack boxes cost between 800 and 2,500 pounds. They feature spring mechanisms, simple MDF frames and standard dimensions. These aren’t pieces of furniture. They’re kits. For rented accommodation, where cost per unit is the main criterion, they have their place. But for your own home, where you plan to live, the difference in quality compared to a properly designed, made-to-measure product is noticeable and tangible from the very first day of use.

“Our competitors sell beds that fold into the wall. We manufacture built-in wardrobes with a bed inside. These aren’t the same pieces of furniture.”

Common Questions — Straightforward Answers

Here are the questions people most often ask when looking for information about built-in wardrobes with Murphy beds in London. Straight answers, no frills.

How much does a built-in wardrobe with a Murphy bed cost in London?

Prices typically range from £6,000 to £14,000, depending on size, style and internal fittings. At the lower end of the price range is a horizontal system with a double bed, designed for a small room and featuring a factory-applied lacquer finish. At the top price range is a king-size vertical system made of natural wood, fully fitted and featuring LED lighting. Urban Wardrobes provides a detailed, itemised quote following a design consultation — there are no hidden charges.

What is the difference between a vertical and a horizontal Murphy-type bed?

A vertical structure is designed so that its length runs vertically — this is the standard layout, which is suitable for most rooms. A horizontal bed is designed so that its length runs horizontally — this option is better suited to rooms with low ceilings or narrow walls. Urban Wardrobes offers both versions and, during a design consultation, will select the optimal layout based on the dimensions of your room.

Is it comfortable to sleep on a Murphy bed?

A well-chosen Murphy bed is a fully-fledged bed: a proper mattress, set at the correct height, which folds away when not in use. Urban Wardrobes includes a high-quality memory foam mattress with every installation, designed specifically for wall-mounted beds. This isn’t a sofa-bed mattress. You sleep on it just as you would on a normal bed, as the quality of the mattress is on a par with a standard one.

How long does the installation take?

Most installation work is carried out within one or two days. The design and manufacturing process itself takes 4–8 weeks from the time the design is approved until installation. All installation work is carried out by Urban Wardrobes’ own fitters, not by subcontractors.

Is it possible to install a Murphy bed in a room with a sloping ceiling?

Absolutely. The horizontal folding system is particularly suitable for rooms with sloped ceilings. Urban Wardrobes assesses the available headroom during the design consultation and determines the folding direction accordingly. Converting attic spaces is a typical type of project.

Where in London can I see a built-in wardrobe with a Murphy bed for real?

The Urban Wardrobes showroom is located on Chiswick High Road in West London. Visits are by appointment only. You’ll be able to see samples of materials, interior design options and the quality of the fittings for yourself — without any pressure to make a decision on the spot.

Conclusions

There is no other company in London that manufactures fully bespoke built-in wardrobes with integrated Murphy bed mechanisms — both vertical and horizontal — to such a high standard. Companies that produce wall-mounted beds focus on the mechanism. Wardrobe manufacturers focus on the storage system. And national chains don’t cope particularly well with both tasks when it comes to true integration. Urban Wardrobes combines all three elements into a single piece of designer furniture, crafted from scratch specifically for your room.

If you’re considering purchasing a built-in wardrobe with a Murphy-style bed in London, your first step should be a design consultation. Urban Wardrobes will assess your room, discuss the direction of the bed’s folding mechanism, introduce you to five style options, and provide full specifications and a quote. The showroom is located in Chiswick – it operates by appointment only, and is well worth a visit before you make your decision.