Best Murphy Beds

If you’re looking for the best way to utilize a small living space, Murphy beds are a great option. These smartly designed pieces show up on the market in a multitude of ways. 

Some compact the mattress when closed, resulting in a furniture piece that’s akin to a cabinet or desk. Others fold up to rest against the wall. These are called full wall beds and are usually cleverly disguised by a dual-purpose cabinet or storage unit.

Although they are not the most common mattress foundation choice, they are rapidly increasing in popularity and can dramatically change your dorm room, studio apartment, children’s room, or any space that’s running out of space. We encourage you to be open to this non-conventional life hack and check out our top picks for the best Murphy beds below.

The Best Murphy Beds

• Best Price – Atlantic Furniture
• Best Quality – Bestar
• Best Spacesaver – Cube by Night & Day Furniture
• Best Look – SDS Murphy Cube

What is a Murphy Bed

So what is a Murphy bed? A Murphy bed is another name for what is commonly called a wall bed, pull down bed, or fold-down bed. This type of bed is hinged on one end, so it can be folded against a wall or inside a larger piece of furniture, like a closet or cabinet. 

Murphy beds are ideal when you are trying to conserve space in your home or put a bed in a room that otherwise does not have the space for a bed. Whether you are a student in a dorm room, a homeowner, an apartment renter, or any person looking to maximize your personal space, a Murphy bed could be the solution. A Murphy bed is far more comfortable than a sofa bed!

Types of Murphy Bed Designs

There are many styles of Murphy beds. Murphy beds can come with storage units, a chest, cabinets, desks, and more. The bed can fold horizontally or vertically depending on whether the mattress is stored in a cabinet or is stored against the wall. 

Murphy beds can serve a dual function with another piece of furniture that offers both style and utility. Here are a few types of Murphy beds to consider:

• The Library Murphy Bed displays sliding bookcases, hiding the mattress when not in use.
• Flip-Up Desk Murphy Bed. You can take advantage of desk space or work surface when you store the bed against the wall.
• The Bi-Fold Murphy Bed is when the cabinet doors on either side of the pull out mattress fold, saving additional space in the room.
• A Murphy Bed and Office is the best way to combine a home office and additional sleeping room in order to save space.
• A Desk Bed is great for a student during the day, and during the night it functions as a twin bed.

Pros and Cons of a Murphy Bed

How do you know if a Murphy bed is the right bed for you? While the clear benefit and purpose of a Murphy bed is to conserve space, there are additional benefits of using a Murphy bed. You should also take into consideration reasons you may not want a Murphy bed in your home. 

Keep reading to know all the pros and cons before making your purchase.

Pros

• Takes less space while adding dual functionality.
• Changes the function of your space instantly.
• It’s as comfortable as a regular bed.
• Hides bulky storage.
• Saves on an extension to your home.
• Embraces a minimalist lifestyle.

Cons

• Can threaten personal safety if not installed properly.
• You have to fold up the bed when it’s not in use.
• Ensuring this bed stays in place takes hardware and gadgets for installation, which may not even be allowed in a rented apartment.
• Even with the best disguises, Murphy beds still don’t look as normal as regular beds.

How to Find the Best Murphy Bed

Murphy beds vary just as much as traditional bed frames. When narrowing down your search, your most important criteria will pertain to the space that it will occupy. Design, safety, and style should also have a part in your decision process. 

Material

Although merely a style choice, it’s an important one. Your Murphy bed will most likely be a focal point of the room it resides in, so its color and texture should speak to you and your interior plan. It is also important to understand the types of wood products used in Murphy beds so you can assess the quality of the product you choose to buy.

• Solid wood – Most used in wall beds for structure because it is the strongest.
• Particle board – Highly compressed wood used mostly for exterior surfaces. Offers durability to wall beds.
• MDF – Like particle board but more refined, MDF is used as exterior surface wood for a smooth look that is less likely to warp or crack.
• Plywood – Constructed of several thin layers of wood and stronger than particle board or MDF. Used in the bed structure.

Design

The term “design” serves as an umbrella answer for questions of style and function. The design of Murphy beds can be traditional, contemporary, and everything in between. 

Its design also relates to how it functions. Does it open vertically or horizontally? Is it freestanding? What dual purpose does it serve? These inquiries will affect your space just as much as the dimensions of the piece itself. 

With the rising popularity of Murphy beds and a growing market, know the advantages and disadvantages of various styles.

Wall mount vs. floor mount

Some Murphy beds require floor mounting, which means the unit will need to be drilled into the floor. Even though doing so adds grounded stability, doing so can permanently damage your floor and can be impossible to completely remove. You can always choose a ‘false floor’ option, a layer of wood to drill into that protects your true flooring. 

Mounting a bed to a wall is a much less permanent move while still creating a stable foundation. Make this decision early on before you choose and purchase a Murphy bed so you make the best decision for you…and your floor.

Horizontal vs. vertical

Which direction you choose has to do with spatial alignment preferences. Look not only at floor space but also consider the space you have on your walls and ceiling. While vertical wall beds are more traditional, they require higher ceilings and you must consider whether you have space for how far the wall bed extends when pushed down. Vertical Murphy beds are great for accompanying storage units like bookcases.

Horizontal Murphy beds are better for rooms with lower ceilings or less floor space for pulling down a bed. It’s just like a vertical bed though, just rotated 90 degrees. A horizontal Murphy bed is often wider and pairs well with desks and nightstands, which both require less height in a room. Knowing the intended room’s specs well, understanding the space in which you want the bed to go, and knowing your goals are crucial steps in choosing the right Murphy bed for you.

Mechanism/Safety Features

Look for certain features to make sure that your Murphy bed will offer ease and not the opposite. A “hinged counterbalanced system” or “spring-balanced hinge system” allows effortless opening and closing. Built-in straps will secure your bed in place and keep it from shifting when stored.

Mattress

Read all descriptions very carefully to see whether or not the mattress is included. If your destined Murphy bed doesn’t include a mattress, check out our top picks for the best mattresses of 2021. 

Size

It is really important to check first which size mattress will fit in a Murphy bed you purchase, if you plan to use a mattress you already have. Any coil-spring mattress up to 10” thick will do if the Murphy bed has regular height legs, and with extended legs you can use a mattress up to 12” thick. Make sure and have the mattress available and ready to fit when you are installing your Murphy bed.

As for the size of the Murphy Bed, you need to understand how much space will be required to open and close the bed on a daily and nightly basis. Knowing how much ceiling clearance it needs and how much space is needed to pull the bed out or down is important to making the right Murphy Bed purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is a Murphy bed a wall bed?

A Murphy bed is also called a wall bed in North America.  Other synonymous terms are pull down bed and fold-down bed.

How much does a Murphy bed cost?

The cost of a Murphy bed depends on size, ranging from $1,500 to $6,000. The average cost of installing a Murphy bed is $3,000.

Are Murphy beds safe? 

When installed correctly and used properly, Murphy Beds are safe. They will not fold up against a wall with you inside. Anything though, including a bed, when not used properly can cause safety issues.

Do Murphy beds ruin the mattress? 

Yes, a mattress used on a Murphy bed will be strained more than regular beds due to constant motion from being tucked away every morning and pulled out or down every night.

Can I put any mattress on a Murphy bed?

Any coil spring mattress with the right amount of thickness (10” to 12”) will do.

Summary

Here’s a recap of the best murphy beds we’ve seen in the market:

Murphy Bed	Style	Best for	Rating
Atlantic Furniture	Nantucket murphy bed chest	Best Price	3.9/5
Bestar	Wall bed	Best Quality	4.1/5
Night & Day Furniture	Cabinet	Best Space Saving	4.7/5
SDS Murphy Cube	Cabinet	Best Look	4.8/5

Murphy beds are helpful, and sometimes necessary, in a variety of situations and spaces. Ranging in color, material, design, and format, there’s one out there waiting to make your life easier.