Room Two: The Sleeping Area — Creating a Bedroom in One Room

In a studio flat, sleep happens in the middle of everything.
This post explores how a Murphy bed, a hand-painted mural, and conscious design choices transformed my sleeping area into a calm, flexible

Creating Rest in One Room

In a studio flat, sleep doesn’t happen behind a door.
It happens in the middle of everything.

That reality makes the sleeping area one of the most important spaces to get right—not just practically, but emotionally too. This room (or zone) needs to support rest, calm, creativity, and daily life, all within the same few square metres.

This is the second post in my Room by Room series, exploring how living small can still feel deeply personal, enjoyable, and intentional.

A Space Designed for a Murphy Bed

This studio flat was originally designed in 1938 with a Murphy bed built in.
Over the years, the original bed had been removed, leaving only a gap within the beautiful Art Deco cupboard wall.

When I first moved in, I lived for a year with a standard bed. It worked—but it made the entire space feel tight and heavy. There was no real sense of separation between sleeping and living, and the room never quite reset.

Installing a Murphy bed changed everything.

We designed it to sit seamlessly within the original cupboards, building new doors to match the Art Deco detailing. Each morning, I fold the bed away, close the white cupboard doors, and the space instantly becomes something new again. That simple daily ritual has transformed how the studio feels—and how I feel living in it.

It’s quick and easy to use, and after a year, the only downside is a slight squeak. I’d love to source another make in the future, but overall, the difference it has made to studio living has been huge.

The mattress is by Harrison Spinks, made in the UK, and the incredibly talented joiners who helped bring the design together were Young & Dengel, who worked so thoughtfully with the existing structure.

Designing Slowly, Living First

Living in a home before making changes is something I feel strongly about.
It gives you time to understand how the space really works—and how you work within it.

That approach opened the door to one of my favourite parts of this project: the mural behind my bed.

Working as an interior designer, I’ve accumulated countless paint sample pots over the years while testing colours for clients. Instead of buying new paint, I had a brainwave—why not use these samples to create something completely personal?

Every colour in the mural comes from paint pots I’ve used over the past four years.

The design itself is inspired by sketches and photographs taken at Kew Gardens, particularly the grasses and Phlomis russeliana. I remember sitting on a bench there in the sunshine, sketchbook in hand, feeling completely grounded. Bringing that memory into my home felt right.

Painting the mural has been a joyful, creative process—tapping into intuition, colour, and pattern, and allowing ideas to evolve naturally rather than forcing a finished outcome from the start.

Colour, Pattern & Personality

In a studio flat, I believe character is essential.
The space needs to make you smile the moment you walk in.

Colour and pattern are deeply personal - and incredibly powerful. They influence mood, energy, and how we experience our homes. When space is limited, these choices matter even more.

For me, lots of white creates a sense of clarity and space. It gives my mind room to breathe. Against that calm backdrop, I can introduce strong colours, pattern, and artwork that reflect who I am and what I love.

I spend time placing fabric samples and paint cards around the room, watching how they change throughout the day as the light shifts. Every home has its own rhythm, shaped by light - and noticing that helps guide the right choices.

This home isn’t designed to sell.
It’s designed to live in.

Sleeping Naturally

Sleep quality matters—especially when your bed lives in your main living space.

I’ve explored the most natural way to sleep and now use a wool mattress topper, deluxe wool duvet, and pillows from The Wool Room. Wool is brilliant at regulating body temperature, which is particularly important in a studio flat where spaces can warm up quickly.

I currently use their 100% linen bedding, though I’ve found it a little rougher than I prefer. While visiting Maison & Objet, I discovered beautifully soft linen bedding from Finnish brand Lapuan Kankurit. They suggested ironing the linen to soften it, which I’m keen to try - and I’m already planning to order an extra set.

Plants, Air Quality & Everyday Rituals

Plants were one of the first things I introduced into the space.

As I continue researching healthy homes and air quality—particularly important when living in a city - I’ve become more aware of how much impact small choices can have.

One of my favourite plants is the Maidenhair Fern. It’s delicate, light-catching, and full of movement. I love how the sunlight casts patterns across my desk as it filters through the leaves. It enjoys being misted, so spraying it with water has become part of my morning ritual.

I also have Parlour Palms, which I learned absorb VOCs—another gentle way to support better air quality indoors.

Simple additions. Meaningful impact.

Living Small, Sleeping Well

Designing the sleeping area has reinforced something I return to again and again: living small asks us to be more intentional, more curious, and more creative.

It encourages us to ask:
What do I need to feel rested?
What supports my wellbeing?
What can I reuse, rather than replace?

Exploring how little space we actually need—and how beautifully we can live within it—has been one of the most rewarding challenges of my adult life.

Next, I’ll be sharing another room from the studio, continuing this slow, thoughtful exploration of living small.

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