Getting your own place can be such a hassle, especially if you have a lot of things to move. The biggest challenge is if your place is too small to fit all of your things. No matter how getting your own bed can be a necessity, if the place is too small, then you’ll either end up making all of your things fit or not getting a bed at all. Lucky for you, you can get a Murphy bed and still have enough room for your things. If you don’t know what Murphy beds are, then you’re in the right place.
What is a Murphy bed?
A Murphy bed is a type of bed that folds down from the wall, making it perfect for small and multi-use spaces. When it’s closed, it looks like a cabinet or a bookcase. But when it’s folded down for use, a standard bed appears.
This bed can fold down from the wall in the standard (vertical) way, and since a standard mattress can be used, it’s a more comfortable option than fold-out sofa beds. You can also store fully made-up with blankets and sheets so you don’t need to rush to make up your guest bed before the guests arrive.
Why is it a good idea to buy a Murphy bed?
Extra space
Murphy beds free up an incredible amount of space in your room. For example, if you have a queen-sized bed, it can take up to 35 square feet. So, if you have a 400-square foot apartment, that’s almost 10% of the space.
And you’re mistaken if you think Murphy beds are only for studio rooms. Even if you have a one-bedroom unit, you can convert it into an office, a project space, or a yoga studio whenever you don’t need to use your bed. You can make your room feel twice as big!
Comfortable mattress
A Murphy wall bed uses regular mattresses, and they can be sold separately. Because of this, it’s as comfortable as a regular bed.
Ease of use
While it isn’t a good idea for children and elderly people to operate a Murphy wall bed, adults can operate it easily. You can add or remove springs to adjust the tension needed to put the bed up and down. So, whenever you’re ready to put the bed up, you can just remove the pillows and clip them to the mattress strap. Once you get the hang of it, you can put the bed up and down in just two minutes!
Where to buy a Murphy bed?
The best place to buy Murphy beds would be at Lori Wall Beds – where you can find the most affordable wall beds in the world. Unlike the other Murphy wall beds, the Lori wall bed doesn’t have any mechanical aid that is used for lifting and lowering the platform. While we all know that these mechanisms are helpful, they are also expensive. For this reason, the Lori wall bed platform rolls up and down along the rounded wooden rockers on the floor.
The Lori wall bed platform is only connected to the wall cabinet whenever it’s locked into place. So, once that’s unlocked, it will be manually maneuvered. To safely open and close the bed, it’s better if two adults operate it.
Dimensions of a Queen Murphy bed
There are two orientations available for a Queen Murphy wall bed:
Vertical Murphy Bed
Vertical Murphy beds are a little taller and have dimensions of 83” high x 64” wide x 23” deep when closed, and 10” high x 64” wide x 105” deep when open. It’s approximately 60 lbs to lift, plus half the weight of the mattress.
Horizontal Murphy Bed
The horizontal model is shorter and wider, which is perfect for smaller spaces with a lower ceiling height. It has dimensions of 64” high x 84” wide x 23” deep when closed, and 10” high x 84” wide x 46” deep when open. It’s roughly about 63 lbs to lift, plus half the weight of the mattress.
Dimensions of a Double Murphy bed
There are two orientations available for a Double Murphy wall bed:
Vertical Murphy Bed
Vertical Murphy beds are a little taller and have dimensions of 78” high x 45” wide x 23” deep when closed, and 10” high x 45” wide x 100” deep when open. It’s approximately 40 lbs to lift, plus half the weight of the mattress.
Horizontal Murphy Bed
The horizontal model is shorter and wider, which is perfect for smaller spaces with a lower ceiling height. It has dimensions of 45” high x 79” wide x 23” deep when closed, and 10” high x 79” wide x 67” deep when open. It’s roughly about 48 lbs to lift, plus half the weight of the mattress.
Things to consider when buying a Murphy bed
When buying a Murphy wall bed, it’s important to consider several factors. After all, you don’t just buy the first thing you see.
Design choices
You have so many choices for materials and finish when it comes to buying a Murphy wall bed. Particleboard is the cheapest, and they look fine. However, keep in mind that it’s for a one-time installment only. If you want to move your bed, you should invest in hardwood.
Hardware types
Wall-mounted or floor-mounted indicates where the bed will be secured. The most common hardware type that people use is wall-mounted.
Mattress measurement
Make sure to check the size and measure the thickness of the mattress. It should be 13 inches thick, but it depends on the model of your bed.
Size of your area
Measure your space vertically to ensure that your bed will have room to come down. One of the most common mistakes is a ceiling light or a fan that gets bumped when the bed is put up.
When stowing the bed
You also have to consider the following questions when you buy a Murphy bed:
- How easily can you tuck the blanket in?
- Where do you store the pillows?
- Will there be room for thicker sheets and blankets during the winter season?
