The easiest way to add a guest bed without losing your home office is to choose a Murphy bed that folds away during the workday and opens into a real bed at night, then plan the room so the desk, chair, and storage stay out of the bed's path. With a 30 inch walkway, a compact desk on a separate wall, closed storage for work items, and a five-minute changeover routine, one room can work well for both jobs.
This guide is for anyone in Calgary who works from home and still wants a comfortable place for family and friends to stay, whether the room is a spare bedroom, a condo den, or a basement office. It covers measuring, desk and chair choices, storage, cables, lighting, video calls, and working while guests stay. If you are still checking whether a Murphy bed will fit around your ceilings, baseboards, and heaters, our companion guide on planning around ceilings and baseboards covers those details.
Why a Murphy Bed Is the Easiest Way to Share an Office With Guests
A spare room often ends up doing two jobs, and a regular bed makes that hard. A full or queen bed takes up most of the floor in a small room, leaving the desk squeezed into a corner and the office feeling like a bedroom with a laptop in it. When guests arrive, the desk is covered in paperwork and the closet is full of files.
A Murphy bed solves this by giving the floor back to you most of the time. During the workday, the bed is folded away, so you have room for a proper desk, a comfortable chair, and space to move around. When guests come, the bed opens into a real sleeping surface with a proper mattress, which is much more comfortable than an air mattress or a futon pad on the floor. Guests get their own room with a door, and you keep your office for the other nights of the year. For households that host every month or two, or have family who stay for a week or more, a Murphy bed is often the most practical way to keep both.
Calgary Murphy Bed Options for Home Offices: Cabinet Beds and Wall Beds
There are two main ways to add a Calgary murphy bed to a home office. Wall-mounted Murphy beds fold up into a tall cabinet on the wall and are usually anchored to the studs. Some designs include a desk on the front of the unit that stays level when the bed opens, or side cabinets for files and books. These can suit larger offices with high ceilings and a strong, clear wall, but they are a more permanent fixture.
Freestanding cabinet Murphy beds look like a low chest or console when closed, and the mattress unfolds out of the cabinet. At Showhome Furniture, models such as the Cape Cod, Stockholm, Tuscany, and Manhattan measure about 64 inches long, 41.5 inches high, and 23 inches deep closed, open to about 80 inches deep, and include a 6 inch high-density mattress and a 10 inch storage drawer. Several models also include a USB charging station, which is handy in an office. Because they are freestanding, they do not need to be attached to the wall and can be moved if you rearrange the room. For many home offices, a cabinet bed is the simplest way to add a guest bed without a renovation.
Measure the Room in Both Modes: Workday and Guest Night
The key to a shared room is planning it twice, once for the workday and once for a guest night. Start with the room's length and width, then mark the closed bed, the desk, and the chair on the floor with painter's tape. Next, mark the open bed. Most Murphy beds reach about 80 to 90 inches into the room when open, and Showhome's cabinet beds reach about 80 inches. Check that the desk, chair, and any shelving sit outside that open footprint.
Then check the walkways. As a general guide, leave about 30 inches between the open bed and the desk or any other furniture, so guests can walk around without bumping into the chair at night. Make sure the door can open fully, the closet is reachable, and the window can be opened or covered. Many designers suggest a room of at least about 10 by 10 feet for a comfortable office and guest combination, with more space giving you more layout options. Living with both taped layouts for a day or two is the easiest way to spot problems before you order a Calgary murphy bed.
Where to Put the Desk So the Bed Can Still Open
Desk placement makes or breaks a shared room. The simplest layout puts the Murphy bed on one wall and the desk on the opposite or adjacent wall, so the open bed never reaches the desk. If the room is narrow, place the desk along the side wall near the foot of the bed rather than directly in front of it, and keep the chair tucked under the desk at night.
A desk under a window is a popular choice, since it gives you natural light during the day and keeps the bed wall free. Just make sure the open bed does not block the path to the window or the closet. Avoid placing the desk where the chair will roll into the bed's footprint, or where you will need to move heavy equipment every time guests visit. A shallow desk of around 18 to 24 inches deep usually works best in a shared room, since it leaves more floor space for the open bed and walkway.
Choosing a Desk That Works in a Shared Room
The best desk for a guest room office is one that does its job without taking over the room. A simple writing desk with slim legs looks light and leaves floor space open. A wall-mounted or fold-down desk can tuck away when guests arrive, which is helpful in very small rooms. A desk on casters can roll aside on guest nights, and a narrow console-style desk fits behind a sofa or along a short wall.
Large L-shaped desks and bulky executive desks are usually harder to fit, since they can block the open bed or the walkway. If you need more workspace, consider a standard desk plus a wall shelf above it, rather than a deeper desk. Look for a desk with a drawer or two, so pens, notebooks, and chargers can be put away quickly. Choose a finish that works with the Murphy bed cabinet, such as matching white, grey, or wood tones, so the room feels like one design rather than two separate spaces. A desk that matches the cabinet makes a Calgary murphy bed office feel like one calm space.
The Right Chair for a Room That Doubles as a Bedroom
You will spend hours in your desk chair, so comfort matters, but it also needs to fit a room that becomes a bedroom. A supportive task chair with adjustable height and good lower back support is worth it if you work from home most days. Look for one that tucks fully under the desk, so it stays out of the walkway when the bed is open.
Chair style affects the room's feel. A sleek upholstered task chair in a soft fabric looks more like home than a bulky black office chair, which helps the room feel welcoming to guests. If you only work from home occasionally, a comfortable dining-style chair or a small accent chair can double as a desk seat and a place for guests to sit and put on their shoes. Casters make it easier to move the chair out of the way on guest nights, but use a small chair mat or rug on hardwood to protect the floor.
Storage That Separates Work Things From Guest Things
Storage is what keeps a shared room from feeling cluttered. Give work items and guest items separate homes, so you are not packing up the office every time someone visits. Closed storage, such as a cabinet with doors or a set of drawers, hides files, printer paper, and office supplies, so guests are not sleeping beside your paperwork.
Split the closet if you can, with one side for work storage and the other with empty hangers and a shelf for guests. Bins and baskets on open shelves keep small items tidy and easy to move. Many Calgary storage beds, including cabinet Murphy beds with a drawer, also give you a place for spare sheets and pillows, so bedding is ready when guests arrive. Compared with other Calgary storage beds, a cabinet Murphy bed has the advantage of folding away completely, so you get both the storage and the floor space. Keep one empty drawer or shelf for guests to unpack into, and they will feel far more at home than if they are living out of a suitcase on your desk.
Cable Management and Charging for Both Uses
Offices tend to collect cords, and loose cables are a tripping hazard when the bed is open in the dark. Run cables along the back of the desk with clips, a cable tray, or a cable management box, and keep power strips off the floor where possible. If the desk is on the opposite wall from the bed, keep cords on that side of the room so they never cross the guest's path.
Guests need power too. Plan for an outlet within reach of the open bed for a phone charger, a lamp, or a small fan. Some of Showhome's cabinet Murphy beds include a built-in USB charging station, which gives guests a place to charge their phone without unplugging your equipment. Leave a little space behind the cabinet for its power cord, and do not pinch it against the wall. A smart plug on your desk lamp and monitor lets you switch them off at night. Taping a small card with the Wi-Fi name and password to the inside of a drawer saves guests from having to ask.
Lighting for Work Hours and Guest Nights
A shared room needs lighting that works for focused tasks during the day and calm evenings at night. For work, a desk lamp with an adjustable arm gives you focused light without glare on your screen. Many people prefer slightly cooler light, around 4000K, for work tasks. Place the desk near a window, if possible, so you have natural light during the day.
For guests, warmer light of around 2700K to 3000K feels relaxing and helps the room feel like a bedroom. A table lamp on the cabinet top or a small side table, or a wall sconce near the head of the bed, gives guests a reading light without getting up. Blackout curtains or room-darkening blinds help guests sleep in, especially on early summer mornings in Calgary, when the sun can rise well before 6am. Dimmable bulbs or smart bulbs let you switch the same overhead light between bright work light and soft evening light. Layering a few light sources, rather than relying on one ceiling light, makes the room feel welcoming in both modes.
Privacy, Video Calls, and a Calm Background
If you take video calls, think about what is behind you. A closed Murphy bed cabinet makes a clean, tidy background, while an open bed or a pile of guest luggage does not. Position your desk so the camera faces a wall with a bookshelf, a plant, or a piece of art, rather than the bed. A simple room divider, folding screen, or curtain can also hide the bed area if the layout allows.
Privacy matters for guests as well. A door that closes, blinds or curtains on the window, and a space to change all help guests feel comfortable. If your office has a glass door, a sheer curtain or frosted film adds privacy. Put away anything personal or confidential before guests arrive, and lock away work documents if needed. A small fan or white noise machine can help guests sleep through household noise, and it can also mask background sound during your calls.
The Five-Minute Changeover Routine
A shared room works best when switching between modes takes just a few minutes. Aim for a changeover of about five minutes. Before guests arrive, clear the desk into its drawers or a basket, tuck the chair under the desk, and pick up anything on the floor in the open bed's path. If your cabinet bed model needs the top cleared before opening, move any lamp or decor to the desk first.
Then open the bed and make it up. A simple trick is to leave a fitted sheet on the mattress, so you only need to add a top sheet, a duvet, and pillows. Keep the guest bedding in the cabinet drawer, a storage ottoman, or a closet bin close by. Switch on the guest lamp, close the blinds, and you are done. When guests leave, wash the bedding, fold the bed away, and put your work items back on the desk. A Calgary murphy bed with a drawer for bedding makes the routine even faster.
Making Guests Feel Welcome in Your Office
A guest room that doubles as an office can still feel warm and personal. Clear a drawer or a shelf for guests, add a few empty hangers in the closet, and leave a luggage rack, bench, or clear spot on the floor for their suitcase. Hooks on the back of the door give them a place for a robe or jacket. A small tray on the cabinet top or side table holds glasses, a phone, and keys.
Thoughtful extras go a long way. Fresh towels, an extra blanket for cold Calgary nights, a carafe of water, a few books, and a card with the Wi-Fi details make guests feel cared for. A soft rug beside the bed keeps their feet warm in the morning. A mirror and a plant soften the room. Remove or cover anything that makes the room feel like a workplace, such as stacks of paper, a whiteboard full of notes, or a printer that hums. When guests walk in and see a made bed, warm light, and a clear space for their things, the office fades into the background.
Working From Home While Guests Are Staying
The trickiest part of a shared room is working when someone is sleeping in it. Plan ahead for longer visits. Before guests arrive, set up a temporary workspace elsewhere, such as the dining table, a kitchen counter, or a corner of the living room. Keep a small work kit ready, with your laptop, charger, headphones, a notebook, and anything else you need, so you can move without going in and out of the guest's room.
Talk to your guests about the schedule. If you need the room for a few hours during the day, agree on a time when the bed can be folded away, or keep the bed open and work elsewhere for the length of the visit. Noise-cancelling headphones help if you take calls from a busier part of the house. A little planning lets you keep working without making guests feel like they are in the way, and it helps everyone enjoy the visit.
Calgary Visits Through the Year: Holidays, Stampede, and Long Winter Stays
Calgary homes often see guests at the same times every year. The holidays bring family home for a week or more, Stampede in July brings friends and relatives in for the festivities, and spring and summer weekends bring visitors heading to the mountains. Grandparents may come for long winter stays, and adult children may come home between university terms. A Calgary murphy bed lets your office handle all of these visits without giving up your workspace for the rest of the year.
Plan for the season. In winter, keep an extra blanket and a warm throw nearby, and add a rug beside the bed for cold mornings. In summer, blackout curtains and a fan make long, bright evenings and early sunrises easier for guests. For longer visits, make sure your temporary workspace is set up before guests arrive, so you are not rearranging the room during their stay. If you host often during busy months, keep a guest basket ready with towels, toiletries, and a Wi-Fi card, so setting up takes just minutes whenever the doorbell rings.
Small Condo Dens and Basement Offices
Many offices in Calgary are not full spare bedrooms. In a condo, the office may be a small den without a window, and in a house it may be a basement room. A compact cabinet Murphy bed can work well in both, since it adds a bed without needing a large wall or ceiling height. In a den, measure carefully, since the open bed may fill most of the floor, and keep the desk on the wall closest to the door.
Basement offices often have more floor space but lower ceilings, bulkheads, and cooler floors. Place the bed along a wall without a bulkhead, add a warm rug, and use lamps to brighten the room. Wall beds in Calgary basements need careful planning around ceiling height, which is why cabinet beds are often easier. When comparing beds in Calgary for a den or basement office, check the open depth, the delivery path down the stairs, and whether the bed needs to be anchored. Beds in Calgary condos also need to fit through the building's elevator and halls, so measure those too.
Murphy Bed or Another Option? Comparing Wall Beds, Daybeds, and Sofa Beds
A Murphy bed is not the only way to add a guest bed to an office, so it helps to compare. Wall beds in Calgary are often custom-built and installed, and they can include desks and storage around the bed, which suits a larger office with high ceilings. Cabinet Murphy beds are freestanding and easy to move, which suits rentals, condos, and rooms where you want flexibility.
Daybeds work like a sofa during the day and a twin bed at night, and some include a trundle for a second guest, but they take up floor space all the time. Sofa beds add comfortable seating for reading or calls, but the open bed often reaches far into the room. Storage beds and other beds in Calgary showrooms suit a room that is mainly a bedroom with a small desk. If you host often and need your office floor space most days, a Murphy bed is usually the best balance.
Calgary Murphy Bed: A Home Office and Guest Room Checklist
Before you shop for a Calgary murphy bed for your Calgary home office, use this checklist to plan a room that works for both, and bring it with you when you compare options:
- Measure the room and mark both the workday and guest-night layouts with painter's tape.
- Allow about 80 to 90 inches for the open bed, plus a 30 inch walkway.
- Place the desk on a separate wall, outside the open bed's footprint.
- Choose a compact desk around 18 to 24 inches deep, with a drawer or two.
- Pick a chair that tucks fully under the desk.
- Give work and guest items separate closed storage.
- Manage cables on the desk side and keep an outlet near the bed.
- Use cooler task light for work and warm light for guests.
- Plan a five-minute changeover with a fitted sheet left on the mattress.
- Set up a temporary workspace elsewhere for longer visits.
How Showhome Furniture Helps You Plan an Office That Welcomes Guests
At Showhome Furniture, we have helped Calgary families furnish their homes since 1987, and we know how much a room that works two ways can change everyday life. Our freestanding cabinet Murphy beds fold away during the workday and open into a real bed with a 6 inch mattress at night, and their drawers keep guest bedding close at hand. Our team can help you compare cabinet Murphy beds with sofa beds, daybeds, and other space-saving options for your office.
We also carry desks, accent chairs, side tables, lamps, and rugs to complete the room, and we can customize the fabric, size, and configuration of our sofas and sectionals if your office also needs comfortable seating. More than a third of what we carry is hand-made in Canada, alongside pieces from trusted American and European manufacturers. Book a free design consultation, bring your room measurements, a photo of your current desk setup, and a note about how often you host, and one of our designers will help you plan a room that works for both work and guests.
Visit Showhome Furniture in Calgary
Showhome Furniture is located inside North Hill Centre at 1616 14th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB, in a 70,000 square foot showroom where you can see cabinet Murphy beds, sofa beds, desks, and other space-saving furniture before you buy. Call ahead if you want to see a specific model. We are open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, closed Sundays, and our free design consultations run Monday to Saturday from 10:30am to 5:30pm.
We offer delivery through a trusted third-party partner, including white glove service and old furniture removal, and in-store pickup is also available. Every purchase includes a one-year manufacturer warranty, with an optional Guardsman five-year protection plan for extra peace of mind. Financing is available through Fairstone. With over 5,300 Google reviews and a 4.9-star average, our customers can tell you what it is like to furnish a Calgary home with us. If you are ready to add a Calgary murphy bed to your home office, book a free design consultation and let our team help you plan a room that works for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a home office work as a guest room with a Murphy bed?
Yes. A Murphy bed folds away during the workday and opens into a real bed for guests, so one room can do both jobs with the right layout.
How much space do I need for an office and Murphy bed combo?
Many designers suggest a room of at least about 10 by 10 feet. Allow about 80 to 90 inches for the open bed and a 30 inch walkway.
Where should the desk go in a room with a Murphy bed?
On a separate wall from the bed, outside the open bed's footprint, ideally near a window for natural light.
What kind of desk works best in a guest room office?
A compact writing desk around 18 to 24 inches deep, a fold-down desk, or a desk on casters. Avoid large L-shaped desks that block the bed.
Do cabinet Murphy beds need to be attached to the wall?
No. Showhome's cabinet Murphy beds are freestanding, so they can sit in an office without being anchored and can be moved later.
How do I keep work items separate from guest items?
Use closed storage for work items, split the closet, and keep one drawer or shelf empty for guests to unpack into.
How long does it take to switch the room from office to guest room?
With a simple routine and a fitted sheet left on the mattress, the changeover can take about five minutes.
How do I work from home while guests are staying?
Set up a temporary workspace elsewhere, keep a portable work kit ready, and agree on a schedule with your guests.
Is a Murphy bed comfortable for guests?
Yes. A Murphy bed has a proper mattress on a supportive frame, which is usually more comfortable than an air mattress or a thin futon pad.
Is a Murphy bed better than a daybed for a home office?
If you need your office floor space most days, a Murphy bed is usually better, since it folds away completely. A daybed takes up floor space all the time.
Where is Showhome Furniture located in Calgary?
We are inside North Hill Centre at 1616 14th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB, in a 70,000 square foot showroom.
What are Showhome Furniture's store hours?
We are open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm and closed on Sundays.
How do I book a free design consultation at Showhome Furniture?
Book a free design consultation with one of our designers, available Monday to Saturday from 10:30am to 5:30pm. Booking ahead is recommended, and bringing your room measurements and photos helps us make the most of your visit.
Does Showhome Furniture sell Murphy beds?
Yes. We carry freestanding cabinet Murphy beds with a 6 inch mattress and a storage drawer, along with other space-saving options.
Does Showhome Furniture deliver in Calgary?
Yes. We offer delivery through a trusted third-party partner, including white glove service and removal of your old furniture. In-store pickup is also available.
