New Looks for Time-Honored Murphy Beds
Check out inventive adaptations of this classic space saver, from a motorized version to a bed on a dance floor
Becky Harris
September 14, 2013
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Space has been tight in San Francisco for a long time. Around 1900, resident William L. Murphy was frustrated with how much room his bed hogged up in his studio apartment, and a lightbulb turned on. He invented a bed that flipped up vertically and could be stowed behind closet doors. The Murphy bed was born.
Some of the most hilarious physical comedy I've ever seen involved a Murphy bed (check out the "Dinner for Four" episode of Laverne and Shirley), but this idea is no joke; it has had amazing staying power. Most recently, it's become a crucial part of the microunit apartment movement.
The idea is not just for small studio apartments, either; it's being adapted in all sorts of homes to create multipurpose rooms. Designers have enlisted talented carpenters to freshen up the bed closet's door as part of the equation, but the essence of William L. Murphy's idea is here to stay.
Some of the most hilarious physical comedy I've ever seen involved a Murphy bed (check out the "Dinner for Four" episode of Laverne and Shirley), but this idea is no joke; it has had amazing staying power. Most recently, it's become a crucial part of the microunit apartment movement.
The idea is not just for small studio apartments, either; it's being adapted in all sorts of homes to create multipurpose rooms. Designers have enlisted talented carpenters to freshen up the bed closet's door as part of the equation, but the essence of William L. Murphy's idea is here to stay.
Hiding behind this stunning French polished Macassar ebony wall is a bed. This allows the homeowner to actively use the room most of the time when home alone, and also to easily accommodate overnight guests.
In addition to the way the room looks when the bed is stowed, you'll also need to consider where you'll put the furniture when it's down.
"I selected the Corbusier chairs so they can park under the cantilevered, lacquered desk when the bed is down," says interior designer Brant McFarlain.
In addition to the way the room looks when the bed is stowed, you'll also need to consider where you'll put the furniture when it's down.
"I selected the Corbusier chairs so they can park under the cantilevered, lacquered desk when the bed is down," says interior designer Brant McFarlain.
In this lakeside house, "My clients wanted a true multipurpose room, where the husband could have his buddies over to watch a game without having it look like a bedroom," says architect James Crisp. "Then when they have overnight guests or if any of the buddies need to stay over, they can just fold out the bed after they are done watching."
Crisp's carpenter custom built the cabinet doors that conceal the bed and then slide to either side to reveal it. A chair or two is moved out of the way, and the bed pops right down.
"It's really fun; Murphy is an old brand, and it serves the space perfectly today," Crisp says. "Plus, it's a lot more comfortable than a pullout sofa."
Crisp's carpenter custom built the cabinet doors that conceal the bed and then slide to either side to reveal it. A chair or two is moved out of the way, and the bed pops right down.
"It's really fun; Murphy is an old brand, and it serves the space perfectly today," Crisp says. "Plus, it's a lot more comfortable than a pullout sofa."
Murphy bed inspiration helped Michael Chen and Kari Anderson of Normal Projects create an apartment that unfolds in all kinds of ways. It transitions to suit the owner's needs — from a living room to a bedroom to an office to a lounge with a bar — all thanks to their ingenious cabinetry design.
See the way the rest of this apartment unfolds
See the way the rest of this apartment unfolds
When actor Billy Campbell wanted to make the most of his one-bedroom Vancouver loft, he enlisted Rick Wilson of Radius Architectural Millwork to help him gain extra storage and sleeping space in the large 25- by 25-foot alcove.
Using the same technology as for the president's bed on Air Force One, a built-in headboard comes down when a hook catches a panel as the Murphy beds are pulled down.
Using the same technology as for the president's bed on Air Force One, a built-in headboard comes down when a hook catches a panel as the Murphy beds are pulled down.
A full closet is not required. This lovely armoire is not as it appears ...
... a bed complete with overhead reading lights easily folds down from behind its facade.
Murphy bed: The Bedder Way
Murphy bed: The Bedder Way
A bed can also unfold from a smaller, low cabinet. A full-size Zoom-Room Murphy bed system is hiding behind this television.
You can click a remote to have the motorized bed out in moments. The slatted bed frame pulls out from a vertical track.
Murphy beds don't just turn home offices and TV lounges into guest rooms; this room doubles as a ballet studio. Note the built-in shelves on either side; they can serve as nightstands.
This one is squeezed into a laundry room for when the house overflows with overnight guests.
See the rest of this home
See the rest of this home
In addition to headboards, niches and lights, you can also add artwork inside the cabinet to give the bed a more permanent look when it's down.
You can also gain extra storage space by following this example: A sliding bookcase and ladder run along a track, easily moved over at bedtime.
This Murphy bed has a convenient table that can be folded down or stowed when the bed is up.
Part of the Making Room exhibition in New York City, this microapartment has an ingenious space-saving solution: The bed folds down and straddles the sofa, eliminating any need for moving furniture around at bedtime. The project was a collaboration between Clei and Resource Furniture, with architecture by Amie Gross Architects. The bed is the Atoll 000.
See more of the exhibition
See more of the exhibition
Your turn: Have you ever used a Murphy bed? Let us know how it worked in your space — or better yet, share a photo in the Comments section.
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Fascinating article, and as you can imagine, it's right up our alley! Here are a few of our new looks for the time-honored Murphy bed.
Let us know what you think!
-The Murphy Bed Lifestyles Team
Imagine having a guest room when you need it, with the freedom of a functional space the rest of the year. That's the magic of a Murphy Wall-Bed.