If you’re about to move into a studio apartment or other limited-space home, or want to add a guest bed in an office or other area that doesn’t take up the whole room, a murphy bed might be the answer. They have been around for ages but continue to advance in ease of use, quality, and choice.
If you’ve never had this type of bed before, though, you might be trying to wrap your mind around how they work and how to choose one. Here’s the lowdown on the key details.
What is a Murphy Bed?
A Murphy bed is an ingenious design solution for small spaces. It’s a bed that folds up into a wall or inside of a closet or cabinet. These devices are hinged at one end to achieve this functionality. Murphy beds make maximum use of a space and help make limited areas feel more livable.
The Murphy bed was named after its inventor, William Lawrence Murphy, who designed a bed to fold into a closet at the turn of the 20th century. He founded the Murphy Wall Bed Company and patented his product a few years later.
Pros and Cons of Murphy Beds
The most obvious advantage of using a Murphy bed is that it allows you to do more with a space. You can fold the bed down when it’s time to sleep, and then pop it away when you need to use that area of your property for other purposes. It also makes tight quarters feel less constricted and cluttered.
If you want a place for guests to stay but don’t have a spare bedroom available, or need to use that area as an office, too, a Murphy bed is helpful. They help make rooms multifunctional. Plus, the designs don’t harm the walls or closets, etc. that they fold into and some of them can be moved to a new property if needed.
You can buy Murphy beds in multiple sizes, too, such as Twin, Queen, King, and even bunk beds. Plus, in recent years, manufacturers have started including extra options with units, such as storage cabinets (for pillows, etc.), office components, and built-in lighting.
Another benefit is that Murphy beds look like a regular wall, closet, or storage unit when they’re folded up, so you don’t have any aesthetic issues to worry about. Unlike sofa beds that are often very uncomfortable to sleep on, Murphy beds are known for their comfort. You can simply use the organic mattress or other product you already own on this bed base, or choose a specific, thinner product designed for the Murphy bed you buy.
There are some potential cons to be aware of when it comes to Murphy beds. For example, depending on the unit you purchase, it could be challenging to fold out and put away the bed. Some goods are quite expensive in comparison to other beds, can be dangerous if not used correctly, and may not be as durable as you like. However, this all comes down to the particular brand and model you select.
Why is it called a Murphy bed?
What Types of Murphy Beds Are Available?
When you go shopping for a Murphy bed, you need to know if you want a wall-mounted option that gets anchored into the wall (and sometimes the floor, too) or a freestanding design. The wall versions tend to be sturdier and can save more room, while the freestanding products don’t require the same kind of installation and can be moved to a new abode, which is helpful for renters.
Also, do you want a vertical or horizontal Murphy bed? Traditionally, they were vertical designs, which are perfect for rooms with high ceilings and plenty of floor space to accommodate the bed once it’s folded down for use. However, today you can also buy beds that open out horizontally. These work nicely for tight or awkward spaces, such as areas with low ceilings.
The other key shopping consideration is if you want a spring lift mechanism or a piston lift mechanism. The former tends to be more affordable but they have a tendency to be noisy and can need tightening after a few years of use. They may require some more upper body strength to open and close, too.
Piston lift products are built to last, often come with lifetime guarantees, and have whisper-quiet, state-of-the-art lifts that don’t require much strength. The pistons use gas or air pressure and often have a locking mechanism for extra safety. There’s no floor mounting required with these options, which is handy, but they do tend to be costlier.
Murphy beds are innovative products that are well worth investing in if you live in a smaller property or need to make a part of your home work for multiple purposes.
Photo by Isaac Martin on Unsplash
