Choosing the Right Murphy Bed for Your Space

You’ve probably looked around your home and thought about how you could use your square footage more efficiently. Maybe you need a guest room that doesn’t eat up your entire second bedroom. Or perhaps you’re working with one of those cozy coastal apartments where you have to make the most of every inch of floor space. A Murphy bed might be exactly what you need.

But standing in a showroom or scrolling through options online, you’ll quickly realize that choosing the right Murphy bed for your space involves more than just picking something that folds into the wall. Let’s walk you through what you need to know to identify and find the perfect space-saving wall bed for your Orange County home.

Evaluate Your Space Requirements

Before you fall in love with any particular style, take a good look at your room. Grab a tape measure and specify dimensions. Murphy beds need clearance to fold down—usually about 8 to 9 feet from the wall, depending on the size. So while that queen-size model might look perfect in the showroom, it won’t work if you have only 7 feet of floor space.

Here’s what you need to measure:

• Wall width: You’ll need at least 50 inches for a twin, 60 inches for a full, and 70 inches for a queen

• Floor space from the wall with the bed to any obstacles: The typical extended range of a wall bed is 70 to 90 inches, and you’ll need buffer room for other furniture and yourself as you lower the bed.

• Ceiling height: The average height needed is 90 inches.

You might also have to account for your doorway dimensions, as this could impact how the bed gets delivered to your home.

Explore the Types of Murphy Beds Available

The next step in choosing the right Murphy bed for your space is knowing what your options are. Below are the most common designs to consider, so long as they fit in your room’s dimensions.

Vertical Murphy Beds

These beds fold down lengthwise, with the headboard against the wall when closed. This is the most common type of Murphy bed, and it’s useful if you have a room with narrow wall space.

Horizontal Murphy Beds

Also called sideways Murphy beds, these fold down with the bed oriented perpendicular to the wall. They’re best in rooms with limited floor depth but plenty of wall width.

Sofa Murphy Beds

Don’t confuse these with your regular old sofa beds, which are sofas that fold out into a flat surface. A sofa Murphy bed is a wall bed that features cabinetry with an attached sofa for seating during the day. Then, when you lower the bed, it fits into where the sofa’s cushions were, the sofa’s armrests framing each side of the bed’s head.

Desk Murphy Beds

Some Murphy beds integrate a desk that folds up with the bed or flips down when the bed is stowed. The best designs feature desks that lower perpendicularly to the bed, meaning you don’t have to clear anything off the surface before transforming it into a sleeping unit.

You get a workspace by day and sleeping quarters by night—all in the same space footprint. If you, like so many other Orange County residents, work from home at least part-time, this is a fantastic option to consider.

How To Choose the Right Style for Your Space

Now that you know what’s available, let’s talk about matching style to function and aesthetics. Your Murphy bed shouldn’t look like an afterthought; it should enhance the design of the room it’s in and your home as a whole.

Match Your Home’s Style

Orange County embraces everything from Spanish Colonial to mid-century modern to contemporary coastal design. Whatever design your home is working with, your Murphy bed’s exterior cabinet should complement it.

The available colors and finishes available depends on your bed’s manufacturer. If you’re unsure what would look best, it’s a good idea to visit a showroom and discuss compatible styles with a professional.

Consider Add-Ons

One of the greatest things about wall beds is that the cabinetry can do more than simply enclose the bed when it’s not in use. Some styles feature storage compartments near the ceiling or on either side of the bed (or both). And depending on the furniture’s manufacturer, you might be able to add piers for different functions, such as extra shelving or a side desk, if they’re not already integrated into the design.

These additions make your wall bed even more multifunctional.

Be Picky About Mattress Quality

Don’t overlook the mattress itself, as this determines how comfortable the bed will be when lowered. Most Murphy beds accommodate mattresses up to 12 inches thick, but check your specific model. And some designs come with the mattress included.

Look for Installation and Professional Help

Most Murphy beds require professional installation. The units are heavy, the hardware must be secured properly to wall studs, and getting the mechanism balanced can be tricky. Some handy homeowners tackle this themselves, but unless you’re confident with serious DIY projects, hire a pro. The last thing you want is a poorly installed bed becoming a safety hazard.

It helps to buy from manufacturers that include professional delivery and installation with each sale.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Murphy bed for your space comes down to measuring carefully, thinking about how you’ll use the room daily, and selecting a style that fits your home’s aesthetic. Most important, however, is visiting showrooms where you can actually operate the beds. You want to make sure that the lowering mechanism is smooth and manageable and that the furniture fits your aesthetic vision.

That’s why you should visit Wallbeds “n” More of Orange County. When you make an appointment at our Costa Mesa showroom (the only one of its kind in the region), you can see, touch, and test over 15 wall beds in person. All of our beds feature craftsman-quality construction, real mattresses that are comfortable, and complimentary white-glove delivery and installation. We carry traditional Murphy beds, sofa Murphy beds, desk beds, cabinet beds, chest beds, and more, and we offer pier customization as well.

Your Orange County home deserves a high-quality Murphy bed that transforms wasted space into functional, beautiful square footage that adapts to your life’s changing needs. Visit our showroom to find yours!