What exactly is a Murphy Bed?
Murphy Beds are beds that are stored vertically inside a wall cabinet, opening downward for use when needed. Originally invented for the urban cities of the North in the early 1900's, the space-saving features of Murphy Beds have led to their rediscovery in the last decade, especially when combined with matching cabinetry to form complete Murphy Bed Systems. Generically they are referred to as wall beds.

 


What is the difference between the Murphy Bed and the Panel Bed?
The Bi-Fold Murphy Bed cabinet has doors which “Bi-Fold” open to reveal a floor-mounted, spring balanced mechanism inside. The doors are opened by pulling and swinging outward, then the bed unit is lowered form inside the cabinet, with the support leg being activated automatically during bed lowering. (A non-floor-mounted option is also available
On a Panel Bed, the entire front of the cabinet pulls down with the bed as one complete “Panel,” while hand rotating a fold-over leg for bed support.

 


Are these the same beds we've seen in old movies and TV shows?
Not quite (thankfully), although the concept hasn't changed. Today's Murphy Beds have been improved both for comfort and in ease of use.

 


Are Murphy Beds comfortable?
Absolutely. Unlike sofabeds and futons, Murphy Beds do not require any folding of the mattress. Therefore you are sleeping on a quality innerspring mattress without the bars and lumps associated with sofabeds or futons. We've had customers tell us their Murphy Bed is more comfortable than their Master Bedroom bed!



Are Murphy Beds difficult to open and close?
Not at all. Most people are surprised at how little effort is required. Our Murphy Frame mechanism is spring-balanced for easy operation.

 


What sizes do Murphy Beds come in?
All the same sizes as conventional bedding: Twin, Long Twin, Full, Queen, and King.

 

Do I have to buy special sheets or bed linens for my Murphy Bed?
No. Since Murphy Beds use normal size mattresses, all your existing sheets and linens should work just fine.

 

What finishes do Murphy Beds come in?
Everything from sturdy laminates and raised panel foils to custom solid hardwoods, in a variety of colors and wood tones.

 


Do most people buy just the Murphy Bed?
Rarely. Virtually all of our sales and installations are for Murphy Systems, which include the Murphy Bed and matching vertical storage cabinets, often with Home Office companion pieces. This not only makes more sense from a visual and decorating standpoint, but adds to the space-saving functionality of the furniture.

 


What kind of prices can I expect for Murphy Bed Systems?
With the hundreds of pieces, combinations, options, and finishes available it can be pretty tough to give an "average" price for a Murphy Bed System. As an example though, we currently offer a basic system for around $1300 which consists of a complete, full size Murphy Bed with all the cabinetry, hardware, frame, and foundation plus 2 matching vertical storage cabinets on either side.

 

 


Can I customize a Murphy System for my own particular needs?
Yes, that is the beauty of the modular cabinetry, which can be mixed and matched in hundreds of different combinations to suit your individual requirements.

 


How do I know what pieces will fit in my room?
Although there are hundreds of combinations available, most of the basic components fall within 5 or 6 size categories (for some common pieces and dimensions click here ). We'll be happy to sit down with you and make suggestions as to what your options are. This is best done in our showrooms, where we can show you the actual pieces and various alternatives. For this reason it can be very helpful if you bring your room measurements with you.

 


How much time should I allow between buying a new Murphy Bed and actual installation?
On average our installers are scheduled out 3 to 4 weeks in advance. Please keep this in mind as you plan your Murphy Bed purchase and delivery date. Custom wood units and certain thermafoil finishes generally take about 6 weeks as they are done on a special order basis.

 


What is involved in the installation of a Murphy Bed?
A typical Murphy Bed installation takes from 4 to 6 hours to complete, somewhat longer for Home Office Systems. We have without question the best installers in the business, and they do most assembly work on site. The Murphy Frame itself is bolted into the floor (it doesn't matter what material the floor is), and all cabinetry is squared up and held in place with minimal attachments to existing studs. We do not recommend customers attempting to install units themselves, as there can be hundreds of parts and improper assembly or installation could result in a poorly functioning system.

 


Can I use my own mattress?
In some cases this is possible, but generally not recommended. We have found from experience that regular mattresses are not capable of being stored in an upright position for any length of time. The "stuffing" all tends to fall to the bottom, and the edge-banding wire is not strong enough to support the weight of the mattress standing on end. Our mattresses are specially designed to be stored vertically, are the correct depth to fit in the cabinet, and are the correct weight for optimum counter-balancing of the Murphy mechanism.

 


I don’t live near a More Space Place store. Do you ship Murphy Beds to other parts of the country?
This is always a tough question. Quite frankly, our Murphy Beds are not designed for consumer assembly. However, we have shipped units to almost every state in the U.S. and even overseas. Our assembly documentation is limited because we assume most Murphy Beds will be installed by our trained professionals. There can be hundreds of parts involved, but a basic understanding of the European "cam-lock" system and some handyman know-how of assembly techniques is usually adequate for basic systems. Home Office Systems are somewhat more difficult, especially if there are upper cabinets involved. For these systems you would want to be capable, or have someone who is, in hanging kitchen type wall cabinetry. Most of the systems we ship are to people who have visited our showrooms in person and have seen the different finish and layout combinations. We ask that you speak directly to one our professionals in the store nearest you.

 


Can our Murphy Bed be moved at a later time if we move to a new address?
Sure. Most anything that can be installed can be "un-installed". However, many of our customers have found that selling their Murphy Bed with the house enhances their home's "salability". The vast majority of these customers have then come back and bought another Murphy System for their new home. Quite a testament to the popularity of Murphy Beds among current owners.