What you need to know BEFORE buying a Murphy Bed … so you don’t SCREW UP!

This is something you DO NOT do every day – and you may only do it once in a lifetime. And what is that, you may ask?

Well, it’s buying a Murphy bed.

And while buying a Murphy bed can be fun – and for many people, it’s a novelty (a bed that pulls down is cool!), it can also be unnerving.

Murphy beds are NOT the cheapest bedding option, and the cost of screwing up can be large. Plus, there are a lot of myths, half-truths, and out and out ‘fibs’ (like you’ll see in the hilarious scene from the movie The Campaign referenced below …but I’ll warn you this scene can be a bit racy!).

You may be looking to buy a Murphy wall bed because you want a room to serve ‘double duty.’ Perhaps you want a home office/spare bedroom. Or you want a craft room/spare bedroom. Or you need an everyday bed – but live in a tiny loft or studio apartment where you can’t afford a bed chewing up you’re ‘smaller-than-you’d-like’ amount of floor space.

Given these factors, you’re now ‘kicking the tires’ on buying a Murphy bed. And the more you research, the more overwhelmed you’ve become. And you don’t know where to turn for answers.

And obviously, the last thing you want to do is screw up and buy the wrong bed. So, what can you do to reduce your risk of messing up?

Start by reading the 15 questions you need to know BEFORE buying a Murphy bed below, so you aren’t crying in your spilled milk after it’s too late to fix your mistake. And if after going through this list and have more questions –ask them in the comments below – or give our team a call.

So, let’s dig in!

Section 1 – How do you know if you have the right sized Murphy wall bed?

There’s more ‘math’ (I apologize to all of you who HATE math. And if the words trigonometry, algebra, and calculus make you break out into a cold sweat, I get it) to buy a Murphy bed that meets the eye. Here are some math/space questions you need to understand BEFORE buying (and certainly installing) the bed.

Question #1 – Is there enough room to walk around the Murphy bed

I recommend (in a perfect world) leaving 24” or more to walk around the bed. You may be asking – can I ‘get away’ with less? The answer is yes; however, make sure you can still make the bed and have enough room to get out in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

Question #2 – The ‘Goldilocks’ question – Who is sleeping in my bed?

The number type of Murphy wall bed sold is a Queen bed. It measures 65.5” wide x 90” tall (for a vertical Murphy bed – more about this later). This bed is a nice size if you want couples to sleep in the bed.

You can also use a ‘full bed’ which is 59.5” wide x 84” tall. This bed still works for a couple – but it’s a little tighter. It’s a good solution for a room that has a shorter ceiling – or has a ceiling fan that could stop the bed from coming down.

Or if you only need a bed built for one – the twin Murphy bed works well. I recently put several twin Murphy beds in a fire station, but most often twin Murphy beds are installed for younger kids to save space in a tiny bedroom.

Question #3 – What’s the height of the room? Can I fit a ‘vertical Murphy bed’ or is a ‘horizontal Murphy bed’ my only solution?

IMHO I’d choose a ‘vertical Murphy bed’ every time (and if you don’t know what a vertical Murphy bed is, it’s one which is vertically oriented on the wall). Of course, that’s if you have the necessary ceiling height. And you’ll want to note a vertical queen Murphy bed requires 90” and a Full requires 84+” of ceiling height. And with these options, both people sleeping can get out WITHOUT waking up their partner.

With a horizontal queen or full Murphy bed one person will be sleeping next to the wall, which isn’t optimal, but is still a smart solution for lower ceilings in rooms with dormers, or shorter basements.

And if you want more facts to determine if a vertical or horizontal is best for you read Is it smarter to buy a vertical or horizontal murphy bed?

Question #4 – How far will the Murphy bed extend from the wall? And how deep will the framing for the bed be when the unit is stowed away?

While knowing the dimensions of your room is important – it’s NOT the only thing you need to know to size a Murphy bed.

No, you also need to know when the Murphy bed is down – how far it extends from the wall. Then you can figure out if an inswing door will bang into it, or if the bed will fully open if there’s a desk, piece of furniture or walls in the way.

A nice way to test these issues is to ask for a 3D rendering (that’s IF you’re working with a Murphy bed professional who has this capability) which not only includes the bed – but also the doors, pieces of furniture, walls, windows etc.

In a perfect world (although this doesn’t always work out) you can extend the Murphy bed and NOT need to move anything in the room. Sometimes this is possible, sometimes it isn’t.

Question #5 – How can I figure out if I have room for side storage units? Can they be customized?

If you have less than 12” for a side unit – I wouldn’t spend any money on them because it’d be too small. Fortunately, most people have more than 12”, so side storage systems are ordered frequently with the bed.

Side storage cabinets can be customized to fit your space and can include a combination of drawers, doors, filing cabinets, and/or open shelving.

It’s important to remember if you’re choosing between drawers or doors, you’ll want to choose doors when you won’t cover the outlets – like you would with a drawer.

Section 2 – How do I know if the Murphy bed will be comfortable?

Here are some questions to evaluate the comfort of a Murphy bed.

Question #6 – Are Murphy beds more comfortable than a futon or fold out couch?

Oh, God yes!

The wonderful thing about a Murphy bed is you’ll get the same sleeping experience as you would a traditional bed because it uses a full thickness mattress.  And you probably already know the same CAN NOT be said about a futon (which feels like sleeping on metal bars) or on a fold out couch (which has a wafer-thin 3” to 4” mattresses).

Question #7 – Is it better to get a manual Murphy bed or one with a spring or piston mechanism?

While manual Murphy beds do exist (and save money) they’re rarely used because they’re a big ‘ol pain in the butt to bring down from the wall.

The two most popular Murphy bed mechanisms are spring and piston systems. The piston system is the best, has the smoothest operation, and will be the longest lasting. You’ll find piston systems in Disney hotels (so you know with all those kids jumping on the beds day after day, it’s gonna last!)

Question #8 – Does a box spring come with a Murphy bed? If not – how can you make the bed more comfortable?

Murphy beds don’t come with box springs. However, the way to add comfort is to source a Murphy bed with slats. The slats work like ‘shock absorbers’ to make the mattress more comfortable and air can flow under the mattress (and to stay cooler).

Question #9 – How thick a mattress can I use in a Murphy bed? Will it be a standard size?

Most Murphy beds use a standard 10” thick mattress – but in some cases, if you eliminate a ‘pillow box’ (more about this in question 10) you can use a 12” deep mattress. You’ll always use a standard mattress for a Murphy – a queen mattress for a queen Murphy bed, a full for a full-sized Murphy bed, etc.

Question #10 – Where can I store the pillows when the bed is up?

A cool place to store pillows for a Murphy bed is in a ‘secret storage compartment’ (and who doesn’t like ‘secret storage?’) in a hatch door in the back of the bed.

However, it’s important to know the pillow box adds 3” to the length of the bed when it’s extended. So, sometimes it makes sense to use a pillow box, and if not, you’ll need to store pillows elsewhere.

Section 3 – Final questions about Murphy wall beds you’ll want to know.

While the size and comfort of the Murphy bed discussed in sections 1 and 2 are critical, here are other questions you’ll want to know before making this investment.

Question #11 – What styles and patterns are available in Murphy wall beds?

One of the biggest drawbacks to buying a wall bed over the Internet (in addition to trying to find someone to install the bed who actually knows what they’re doing) is the lack of selection. For example, if you have a wood floor it’s tough finding the right wood-look bed which DOES NOT clash with your floor.

This is why it’s smart to work with a company that manufactures Murphy beds to order and can bring sample patterns to your home. With these companies, you can not only choose from over 20 patterns, but you’ll also be able to select different decorative ‘front panel designs’ including Shaker, Beadboard, Raised Panel (like you’ll see below), and a Flat Euro front.

Question #12 – Should I purchase a solid wood or laminate over plywood or MDF (Multi Density Fiberboard) Murphy bed?

It can be difficult to debate the pros and cons of solid wood vs. laminate encased Murphy bed which is built over plywood or MDF. While the ‘real McCoy’ wood option – can be enticing – they’re more expensive and require repainting and staining.

To learn more read The Pros and Cons of a Solid Wood vs. Laminate Murphy Wall Bed.

Question #13 – What should I do if there’s an outlet behind my Murphy bed? Is this a problem?

There’s nothing to worry about if there’s an outlet located inside the framing of the Murphy bed. However, with that being said, it’s always nice to be able to use this outlet if you need it (especially if you build storage units next to the wall bed and want to charge cell phones or plug in a lamp).

It’s for this reason, that it’s often useful to cut a hole in the side of the Murphy bed (which is hidden by the side storage unit), so you can ‘power up’ to your heart’s content.

Question #14 – What’s the weight limit of a Murphy bed?

Check with your Murphy bed supplier, but better quality Murphy beds have larger weight capacities.

Question #15 – What’s the warranty of the Murphy bed? Can I get an installation warranty as well?

You can tell a cheap Murphy bed from a quality unit, by its warranty.

And one of the things many people don’t think about is IF they’re getting an installation warranty as well.

For example, when you buy a Murphy bed online, while you’ll get a product warranty, if something goes wrong the manufacturer can hide behind a claim your contractor (or you’re DIYing spouse who has NEVER screwed up a project before…sarcasm intended) didn’t install the unit correctly.

One of the benefits of working with an installing Murphy bed supplier, is they provide a warranty covering materials AND labor!

So, are you now more confident buying a Murphy wall bed? Would you feel better talking to a Murphy wall bed design expert before plunking your cash down?

I hope this article has helped answer many questions about a Murphy bed – because it’s NOT as straightforward as it seems at first.

However, if you have more questions about Murphy wall beds ask them in the comments below.

And if you’re looking for design and installation service for a Columbus Murphy bed, contact Innovate Home Org at 614-545-6888 or request your Free 3D Murphy bed design.

Thanks for reading.

Mike

If you’d like more information on home organization, Murphy beds, or interior design follow me on LinkedIn @MikeFotiLinkedIn.