Another Way to Hide the Bed in a Tiny House: Put It in a Drawer

Ever since Jay Shafer built the tiny home that started it all, beds have been put in lofts. This creates all kinds of problems of safety, convenience, comfort (it gets hot up there) and bonked heads. It also makes the tiny homes taller and more expensive.

© Point Architecture

There is an alternative that we have shown for small apartments: Put the bed in a drawer. I always liked this better than fold down Murphy beds; you don't have to make the bed or tie down the mattress, you just slide it away, and the change in floor level can be put to an interesting and different use.

© Brevard Tiny House

So when Tiny House Swoon showed this design, the Abundance by Brevard Tiny House Company, I was excited to see a pullout bed in a drawer.

Then I saw what they were using the space on top of the bed for: a laundry room! that seemed a waste to me. Fortunately the Brevard people note that the design was "inspired" by the Minim Tiny Home that was parked at the late lamented Boneyard Studio.

© Minim Micro Homes

In the Minim, they do what I think is much nicer job of it, with a home office built into the space above. I had not noticed the bed in our previous coverage of the Minim, being overwhelmed by Cary Grant in North by Northwest on the big screen that cleverly pulled down over the windows:

© Minim Micro Homes

Now what would be really great in a tiny home is the half-in/ half-out design that Kim showed in a tiny Paris apartment designed by Marc Baillargeon and Julie Nabucet, where the bed can be pulled halfway out; just toss on some cushions and you have a comfy sofa. Push it all the way in when you need more room for a party. Three different positions for three different functions; that would be great for a tiny house. It is nice to see these alternatives to the typical loft.

© Marc Baillargeon and Julie Nabucet