William Murphy died nearly 50 years ago, but his name lives on thanks to his most famous invention. The Murphy bed is a retractable bed that hides in a cabinet, turning any room into a bedroom. You can even mount a desk or TV onto the underside, making the unit functional even when no one is sleeping in it. Keep in mind, however, that such accessories add to the price. A basic wall bed usually runs $1,500 to $3,500; a specialty model will generally cost about $3,000 to $6,000. Before buying:
Measure your room.
A common mistake people make is thinking of a Murphy bed strictly in terms of the mattress size. But a Murphy bed takes up extra space—approximately three more inches on each side, and an additional seven inches in length (or height when retracted). If the room has plenty of width but not much depth or height, consider having the bed side-mounted, so the long edge is parallel to the wall.
Is it OK to put holes in your wall?
All wall beds need to be anchored to a wall (or occasionally, the floor), so if you’re renting you might want to check with your landlord before installing one.
Decide what you want your room to do.
If the room is just going to be used for sleeping, then a basic wall bed will do. But if you want the room to double as an office or TV room, consider a model with a desk mounted on the underside of the bed, so that when the bed is retracted the desk can be folded out. You can also have a plasma or LCD TV recessed into the door along with a speaker for surround sound. These work best if you have few guests, since it can be a hassle to lose your TV or clear your desk every time a guest visits.
Look under the mattress.
For comfort equal to a conventional bed, look for a wall bed with a built-in box spring, or one that has rows of slats (called a European slat system) supporting the mattress.
Check the counterweight.
The counterweight helps raise and lower the bed. You want a counterweight that is adjustable, so that it can be calibrated to offset changes in the bed’s weight, either from bedding or from a change in mattresses. Avoid counterweights that are not adjustable.
What kind of mattress do you want?
Some companies that sell Murphy beds will give you a choice of mattresses, so you can pick the firmness that’s right for you. But if the retailer only offers one mattress, you’re not out of luck. Most wall beds will work with any standard mattress, so you can always replace the mattress with another one—as long as you don’t mind the added expense. Here again, it’s good to have an adjustable counterweight that can be calibrated to the weight of the new mattress.
Is installation included?
Wall beds should be professionally installed. Some retailers include this cost with the cost of the bed; others add it separately. Make sure you ask before you buy—it can add at least $300 to the price.
