Murphy beds have been around for a long time. If you aren’t familiar with the term, murphy beds are the kind that fold up against the wall. They previously gained popularity in many tiny big city apartments and spare guest bedrooms. They are making a comeback these days as a space-saving, home organization trend.

While murphy bed kits are widely available, there is catch—they are not easy to put together. They come with complicated instructions, and unsurprisingly aren’t custom-fit to your home. That is why a Zionsville couple came to Marvelous Woodworking to put together a murphy bed in their guest bedroom. They didn’t have the tools or the experience to construct it, and they also wanted to add built-in cabinetry around the bed frame. Our clients didn’t just want a murphy bed—they wanted a beautiful, functional room that looked like it belonged to the rest of the house.

We started with the kit, constructing the frame and base boards. This build-a-bed project is very technical—the bed relies on springs, hinges, and hydraulic lifting mechanisms to make folding it up incredibly easy. Properly constructed, you should be able to raise the bed with one finger. In order to achieve this seeming weightlessness, all the physics need to be just right. Holes must be drilled precisely, hardware must be mounted correctly, and everything must fit perfectly together for the bed to fit effortlessly in its wall container.

Installing a murphy bed against a wall can also be tricky. Drywall is rarely ever straight vertically or horizontally. Walls bow in and out, even as they appear flat. If a murphy bed is installed on an uneven wall, the frame will twist and the bed won’t operate as it should. Using levels, plumbs, and a laser set, we were able to install the bed squarely so twisting would not occur, at least not for a long time to come.

To integrate this murphy bed into the room, our clients asked us to build cabinetry on either side. We matched the white paneling and trim to the rest of the house, a modern, straight-lined look that is very clean and soft. The cabinets act as bookshelves, extra storage, and as the bed’s nightstands.

The paneling on the lower third of the folded-up bed matches the cabinet doors, practically mimicking wainscoting, and visually tying in the bed and the cabinets.

With care and precision, but also with an eye to style and neatness, our clients now have a lovely multi-functional guest bedroom.

Have you been thinking about installing a murphy bed in your home? Call (317) 679-5890 or contact us.