Most individuals are already familiar with Murphy beds. However, some might not know about the concept. Those who don’t could be missing out, since Murphy beds can be extremely convenient.
In this article, we’ll talk about what having a Murphy bed can do for you. It could turn out to be a great addition to your living space.
What is a Murphy bed?
Essentially, a Murphy bed is what is known as a foldaway bed. You might sometimes hear people refer to them as hidden beds as well.
Usually, they are constructed so that they fold up into a wall. They do this via an ingenious method of hinges. When you are not using it, you can tuck it away so that no one bumps into it. The concept has been around for a very long time, but it still has plenty of practical uses today.
The term “Murphy bed” traces its roots back to an individual named William Lawrence Murphy. He lived from 1876–1959. He was the one who came up with the concept.
Legend has it that he was trying to gain the affections of an opera singer. However, he lived in a standard San Francisco one-room apartment.
The moral code that existed in that time frowned on women going into a man’s bedroom. To conceal the fact that Murphy had his bed in there, he created a bed that could swing up into the wall. He realised that others might want to take advantage of his design, and he patented it and began to sell his wall beds without delay.
How hard are they to install?
There are several companies in existence today that make variations of Murphy beds. Some of them are fairly inexpensive, while others cost a bit more. You will likely end up paying more for a high-end one, while you can also get a very stripped-down, bare-bones version that won’t break the bank.
How difficult it might be to install a Murphy bed depends on many factors, such as whether you’re building it from scratch and how easy it will be to create a depression in the wall where you can store it when it’s not in use. The type of lift mechanism also makes a difference in ease of installation.
If you get one that you’re mounting on the wall rather than creating a depression for, that will usually be a lot easier and faster to install. If you’re good with DIY projects, you might take 1–2 hours to do it.
On the other hand, a Murphy bed for which you create a depression in the wall rather than just mounting it will take longer and be a much more complicated process. If you’re not confident in the DIY niche, that might be something for which you’d hire a professional.
Getting a handyman or someone similar who knows about the necessary tools will probably be in order. There will be some advanced carpentry skills required.
Where can you install one?
Technically, you can install a Murphy bed anywhere you have a solid wall, assuming you’re okay with affixing the bed to the wall rather than creating a depression for it. If you have the screws, anchors, and tools necessary to firmly attach the Murphy bed, that’s all it takes.
If you own your own home and you want to hang a Murphy bed on the wall or modify the wall so that it can accommodate the bed, you can do that with no issues. However, if you live in an apartment, it’s probably best that you talk to the landlord about installing the bed before you move forward. Much like painting the apartment or making any other major modifications, having the landlord’s explicit permission will be required.
You may also install a Murphy bed in other locations besides a house or an apartment. For instance, many people who like travelling around in an RV enjoy having Murphy beds in them.
What benefits might you see when you install one?
The most notable benefit about Murphy beds and the reason why they remain so popular is that they fold up and out of the way, so there is more floor space. If you live in an efficiency apartment or a very small one, you are likely a great candidate for this style of bed.
They are also a lot more comfortable than you might expect, or they can be, assuming you get the right kind. Like any other product, it makes sense to look at some reviews of Murphy beds before you get one. You will likely want one that has uniformly excellent reviews online.
You might also want to have a Murphy bed in an apartment for the same reason that its inventor did. If you have limited space and don’t want to seem too forward by inviting a date into your bedroom, it makes sense to get the bed out of sight so as not to send the wrong signal.
Who is most likely to need one?
It makes sense that single people who live in smaller houses or efficiencies would want a Murphy bed since they have limited space. You might work from home and have a small, single apartment. If so, then giving yourself more room to work and move around during the day is a smart idea. Folding the bed up into the wall makes that possible.
Individuals who have smaller RVs and want space for guests to spend the night can also use Murphy beds. You might also install one in the partially finished basement of your home to accommodate guest overflow if you have a lot of people over around the holidays.
Murphy beds are ideal for many situations and lifestyles. They are not particularly expensive in most instances, and you can probably install one if you’re just attaching it to the wall. Remember that it’s when you’re modifying the wall itself to install the bed that you might need some better-than-average DIY skills.
Tim Williamson, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
