Shoparound Modern living has prompted a revival of the wall bed - often called Murphy beds after their inventor, William Murphy, who came up with the idea in 1900. (Remember those old movies where the wall bed flipped up into the closet?)

Whether it's making your guest bedroom double as an office or getting extra space in the children's room, wall beds are the ultimate in space- saving furniture.

An Irish company makes these versatile room transformers look good too. Wall Beds of Ireland - an Irish-owned family-run business which moved last year from Capel Street in Dublin's city centre to a new outlet in the Millennium Business Centre close to the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre - has been making wall beds for the Irish market since 1996.

The majority of the company's clients are people looking to create a dual-purpose room, according to sales director Linda Lynch.

Many people have guest rooms which they don't want to get rid of, but don't use 90 per cent of the time, she says. With a wall bed, the room can operate as an office, playroom or gym and be easily transformed into a guest room for that 10 per cent of the time you need it. The bed will neatly fold up to display a smart panelled unit, when not in use.

All of the company's wall beds are custom-made and come in laminate, sprayed MDF, veneer or solid wood.

You can opt for a simple wall bed or go for a wall bed unit complete with wardrobes, shelving, desks, lighting, CD and TV racks.

Prices start at around €2,300 and go up to around €6,000. Prices include delivery and fitting. Wall beds are being installed in studio apartments, too, she says. And some homes get two - one for the guest bedroom and one for the converted attic. The beds have a slatted base for proper back support.

Wall Beds of Ireland, Unit 13, Millennium Business Centre, Cappagh Road, D11 01-8649165