6 Common Questions About Murphy Beds Answered

Murphy beds, also known as wall beds, are simpler to understand and more practical than you might think.

From placement in your home to comfort, we answer your most common questions so you can decide if a wall bed is right for your home, needs, and style.

1.What is a Murphy bed and how did it get its name?

Murphy® Bed is a popular brand of wall bed, which is a bed that hinges down from the wall. A bed like this can be stored open, in which case it looks like a regular bed with storage around it, or it can be stored closed and thus hidden within its storage cabinet.

These space-saving beds got their name from inventor William Lawrence Murphy who received a series of patents in the early 1900s on the mechanisms that allow wall beds to tilt. While ‘Murphy bed’ is still a common name for this compact sleep solution, other names include wall bed, pull-down bed, or fold- down bed.

2. How comfortable are Murphy beds?

With California Closets’ wall beds, we encourage you to select a mattress (twin, full, or queen) that’s up to 12 inches thick with an inner coil or an inner coil and foam combination. While we do offer wall bed-compatible mattresses, you can choose any brand that meets the above criteria.

Selecting the correct mattress allows your wall bed to close properly and helps the mattress keep its shape over time. This makes wall beds much more comfortable than a sleeper sofa or futon, where you’re limited to a thinner mattress.

Because your wall bed mattress will spend most of its time in a vertical position the material is critical to consider. Over time, gravity will take its toll, and foam, for instance, will sink toward the floor and become misshapen, which is why we don’t recommend mattresses that are only foam.

3. Is the bed easy to open and close?

We like to say that using a California Closets wall bed is effortless. Our spring-loaded aluminum frame and tubular steel legs are designed to ensure your wall bed is simple and easy to operate. Plus, all our wall beds are designed with legs that angle inward, meaning fewer stubbed toes when the bed is open.

4. Is it possible to have a size queen Murphy bed?

Yes, it is possible. If you have the space for a queen wall bed to fold down, it’s a popular choice as it’s somewhat more versatile than a twin or a full bed — particularly if you’re using this as your primary bed or you host guests often.

5. Do you offer a Murphy bed with a desk?

Yes! We can design a wall bed with a collapsible desk that allows you to have a home office by day and a guest room by night. This is particularly useful if you live in a studio apartment where space is limited.

Plus, many of our wall bed designs are surrounded by bookshelves or cabinets, creating additional storage for small spaces.

6. Where can I put a Murphy bed?

You can put a Murphy bed just about anywhere, but there are some aspects you’ll want to consider when determining what’s best for your home.

The first is the tilt of the bed. A standard vertical-tilt wall bed comes down from the wall lengthwise. The other option is a side-tilt wall bed, which is similar to a daybed. With this kind of Murphy bed, the longer side of the bed sits against the wall, folding out only the width of the mattress. This tends to be best for rooms with low walls or when floor space is limited.

Another consideration is which area of your home can best serve as a multi-functional space. For example, if you live in a condo with one bedroom you may want to put a Murphy bed in your living room. However, in a larger home a Murphy bed might make sense in a den or home office.

Our design consultants are happy to discuss your family’s needs and what will be most suitable for your home and your lifestyle.