As more and more people move to the big cities, the great migration from rural to urban has genuinely taken on full force. Once upon a time, people lived outside of town and commuted to work; for decades this was every man and woman’s dream – large houses with gardens. With the reversal of this trend, space grew scarcer, and prices went up, but more importantly the young started to prefer remaining single.
The trend above has a significant impact on society at large. Resulting elevated property prices are forcing the younger generation to forfeit space for practicality. And what piece of furniture takes up a lot of space in your home?
The bed. So, what can you do if you have limited space but still want something really comfy to sleep on? Enter the Murphy. But what is it exactly? It is nothing other than a sleeping surface that folds up and can be stowed away for example.
As a result, your bedroom is a sanctuary once more. Automatically more space is at your disposal, which is why we want to give you some detailed information on the best overall Murphy beds for wall so that you no longer will have to forfeit space for sleeping comfort.
Buyer’s Guide for Murphy Beds
Comfortability
When we think of going to bed, we believe that comfort is one of the most important things. No one wants to have to sleep on something that feels like the surface of a highway. In the past, the mere notion of a foldable bed was precisely that.
Thanks to great strides in technology in both bedding and furniture this is no longer the case. In other words, you can throw any sleeping surface onto the Murphy and tailor it to your preferences. Some people prefer innerspring and others memory foam or maybe latex – everything goes’s.
What you do have to consider is that innerspring does tend to suffer from wear and tear more quickly than the other two. And another thing to watch out for is mattress thickness. If too thick, it no longer folds when you put the Murphy to bed during the day.
Foldability
- Horizontal
First, you need to consider the layout of the room in which you wish to place the Murphy. If you have low ceilings, the horizontal model is the way to go.
This type of furniture uses wall space in terms of width instead of height. In other words, we are talking about a commode style Murphy rather than the foldable furniture that uses the height of the room for storage.
Another thing many people consider when they are thinking about horizontal and vertical is which they prefer. If you do not have to make any sacrifices regarding height and width of the living space, then you can have whatever you like. That’s what’s great about the Murphy; you can get it in any style for the top results whether they are aesthetical, practical or technical.
Whatever you choose, sleeping is always easy on this type of bed.
- Vertical
We already touched upon the vertical category. This type of Murphy is the best if you have high ceilings and limited living space. We say this because the horizontal options do tend to take up more space in the room. They are like a commode or a cupboard.
The good thing about the vertical Murphy is that you can purchase models that almost vanish. The younger generation already prefers single life and a higher degree of mobility and freedom in contrast to their parents.
They want something that is there when they need it and gone when they do not – a little bit like their lifestyles.
One thing to note is that in most cases the vertical Murphy forfeits storage space for cushions and duvets. Be sure to get one that has some sort of storage facility in the cupboards or the sleeping surface itself.
- Mechanism
The mechanism is often forgotten about when choosing a Murphy. It’s not like when you are buying a car or maybe a new watch. However, it’s critical and can make all of the difference regarding easy use. Let’s face it; no one wants to wrestle with their sleeping surface before going to sleep.
Basically, there are two types of mechanisms for the Murphy. One is the piston mechanism and the other the spring mechanism. The piston or gas option is better in terms of smooth use, making storing and retracting the bed from the furniture or the surface a lot easier. It requires little or no effort and can even be operated by children when supervised.
The spring also works well, but it is not as smooth in operation. Still, many people prefer them because they are far cheaper than the piston mechanized Murphy.
It is safe and recommended to use both – ultimately the choice is yours.
Cost
As with most things, the price always comes into play, and it is no different when you are considering buying a Murphy foldable bed. Once, you have decided how much you are willing and able to spend; you need to navigate the vast world of foldable beds. Only then will you be able to tell what is ideal for you.
A small hint: remember the previous sections when making the final choice because style and mechanism will have an impact on the cost. If you opt for the cabinet style, you will have to choose the wood, amount of drawers and whether the whole thing is run on pistons or springs.
The Murphy may be inbuilt into the wall – this can be pricey, as you also need a contractor to do the building work – but when done, this option saves the most space and can look great. The wardrobe style foldable bed is less expensive.
Consider the Size
Size is another crucial factor when determining the style of Murphy you require. First, you must ask yourself for how many people is the bed for. Do you need a Twin, Queen or King size? Murphy’s generally comes in many sizes, and in some cases, the sleeping surface is included as well.
Another vital thing to consider is the size of the room. We already touched upon that in this article. This is one of the deciding factors when finding a Murphy. In most cases, you do not have a lot of space at your disposal. Go back to the vertical and horizontal section to determine whether you have enough ceiling or ceiling height and space.
Once you know the purpose of the bed and whether it fits into the bedroom, studio or room, then you can think about the décor. Who says that practical needs to be ugly. You’ve seen our recommendations, and they look pretty snazzy.
Different Types
Dual Function Desk
This is an ideal solution if you need a bed in your office or study for those late nights when you just cannot lose a single second because you have so much to do. Or maybe your child has a small bedroom, and you need to combine both the workspace and the bed. As a student, we all know or remember how tiny our room or studio was – why not save space with a dual function desk?
No matter the reason, the products on the market are incredible nowadays. You can buy a piece of furniture that acts both as a bed and a desk. The great thing is that the stuff on the desk’s surface remains undisturbed come bedtime. All that happens is that the sleeping surface descends and covers the desk.
This is a practical and easy solution for almost anybody.
Hidden Storage
Almost all Murphy’s come with a storage option. They wouldn’t be much use if the bed vanished during the day, but the room was still full of bedding accouterments clogging up the living space. How things are stored depends on the style of the foldable furniture you are considering buying.
Take the commode option for example. Here the upper part is used for the bedding and the lower part is used for drawers. Or in the case of the wall foldable, the storage is either down the sides or built into the actual sleeping surface. There are also bunks that collapse during the day where compartments are included to put things away.
It’s vital you consider storage because this is something that makes de-cluttering the home much easier.
Bunk Wall Beds
The Bunk bed is brilliant if you have children, see our top picks here. Also, it can be used in conjuncture with the desk as we touched on before. But let’s get back to the kids. With this type of solution, it is possible to utilize the greatest amount of space the most efficiently.
The sleeping surface is hidden when not in use. In its place, there can be a workspace, beauty table, more space in the tiny room in a holiday home and more. If you have children sharing their bedroom, you can hide the bunks and utilize all the room’s space for activities during the day.
Thanks to piston technology, children can operate the Murphy themselves without you having to worry about them hurting themselves. Smooth operation at a leisurely pace is a given in modern wall bunks.
Remote Powered
For many, the remote powered Murphy is the Ferrari in terms of comfort, ease of use and prestige. It does come at a cost thanks to the electric motors and the technology you need. In some cases, you can have an electric bed with other functions like the massage option. The more you have, the more expensive the whole thing will get.
The most important thing is to decide what you need it for. If you are a businessman and require ease of use in your office or study, it might be worth considering. For kids, on the other hand, we say that it is a definite no-no.
But is it really necessary? Even the spring version operates smoothly, although not as much so as the gas or piston option. Generally, it is sufficient to pull on the handle, and the sleeping surface juts into motion and reached its desired position without much effort.
Benefits of Owning a Wall-Bed
Storage
If you lack space, the benefits of owning a wall-bed are many. Also, they can look great and complement your décor. Storage is simple really. Either you can have a built-in wall cabinet with the bed as the main feature in the center and storage, and shelves down the sides or the bed just vanishes into the surface.
Due to lack of space and the increasing property prices, it is fast becoming the only way to do things. As we already know, there are many different types on the market. You have to take all of the information at your disposal into consideration and correlate that with your personal needs.
And just think about it – once you have decided what you like and need, you can say goodbye to all of the clutter in the room. Storage is one of the main benefits that come with the Murphy.
Bedding
The wall option works with any kind of bedding. During the day when it is not in use, you can leave the sheets, and cover in place. Only the pillows need to be stored away in special compartments. There are so many ways to make the Murphy the best item of furniture for you.
Also, you can have this type of sleeping surface in any size. All you need is the right amount of space, and you are ready to go. We already touched on this: it is vital that the sleeping surface is not too thick otherwise it will be extremely difficult to fold.
No one desires to have to attempt to squeeze the Murphy into the space come bedtime.
Ventilation
Ventilation is paramount! You don’t want to sleep in stinky sheets. Or maybe your sleeping surface just arrived in the mail, and it is off-gassing for a few days. Whatever you do don’t pack it up quite just yet. Be sure to air it adequately, and the fumes will die down, they generally do after seventy-two hours. It depends on the manufacturer.
Also, remember that when the bed is folded during the day that a certain degree of ventilation is needed to let the sheets air. We all sweat and excrete other fluids during the night. The shedding of hair and skin when we are asleep is perfectly normal. If you want to know, try sleeping on a sheet opposite to the color of your skin, and you will see the number of skin particles the next morning.
We don’t mean to freak you out. Sleeping is supposed to be pleasant and relaxing – just be sure to ventilate!
Our Top Murphy Bed Reviews
Atlantic Furniture – Best Value
Features:
- Premium memory foam sleeping surface
- Easy use
- Storage drawer
- Available in both twin and queen sizes
Our Ratings: 9.6/10
The Nantucket Murphy Chest Queen by Atlantic Furniture is ideal for any guest room. It folds up easily into an elegant space-saving chest, and you won’t know that it is there – that is until bedtime comes. This foldable bed is really comfy and cozy thanks to the memory foam mattress.
Also, compared to other Murphy’s in the market, it’s very affordable. You can get designer chic with old-school panache for the best price. Another thing that’s high-quality is the memory foam sleeping surface infused with gel elements for the high-grade cooling effect during the night; you no longer need to worry about sweating in this excellent piece of furniture.
It’s not only the top-rated value that counts, although very important if you are on a budget. What we loved when we reviewed this product was that is was easily assembled. And when we were done, it looked great with the satin wooded finish and metal handles.
Bestar – Great Comfort & Looks
Features:
- Safe and simple dual piston mechanism
- Euroslat sleeping surface support system
- Easy assembly
Our Ratings: 9.5/10
Ever thought about saving some space in your studio apparent or your guestroom? The Bestar wall-bed is ideal, and it looks great to boot. What we liked about it the most is that you don’t have to give up on comfort so that you can be practical. The Bestar has both amenities in one for a pretty decent price.
Just one warning! If you want something good, you need to work for it. And it is no different with this Murphy bed. The Bestar requires a lot of patience and a bit of skill when you are in the process of putting everything together. We found that the instructions were not particularly helpful. Keep that in mind and don’t despair because when you are done, you will have a great bed that you can lock away during the day.
Another thing to note is that you have to think of a mattress as well – it is not included when you order the Bestar.
Night & Day Furniture – Perfect Size
Features:
- Inbuilt USB module included
- Premium memory foam and gel (foldable)
- Solid construction – hardwood
- Limited ten-year warranty
Our Ratings: 9.4/10
Just ten square feet of floor space. That is how much the Night and Day Murphy cabinet bed needs during the day when it is folded up and tucked away in a handsome hardwood mantle. Optically, it looks like an elegant cabinet with drawers that one would use for storing away shirts, bed linen or maybe socks.
When it’s time for bed, all you have to do is pull on the handles, and the cabinet turns into a bed within moments. The ease in which this done is thanks to the triple-foldable gel and memory foam mattress – don’t worry about damage and a decrease in durability because memory foam takes on its regular form shortly; it’s just like when you unpack it from the box the very first time.
At the lower end of the cabinet, two sets of drawers are included with a pewter finish. It is very cumbersome upon delivery – you will need help getting it to the bedroom.
FAQ
Which mattress type is best?
All kinds of sleeping surfaces work for retractable beds. If you prefer innerspring, nothing should hold you back. They are obtainable in all firmness levels and in many cases offer the utmost comfort. However, it is worth remembering that all the folding and unfolding might damage the springs and edging over time, you view all our mattress reviews to see different brands type.
This is where latex and memory foam come in. They are both more durable as they can adapt to the different folding states more easily due to their material composition. Latex is the number one candidate in terms of durability – rubber is just expensive. Foam can be the cheaper option.
Our Final Thoughts
If you have come so far, you know what type of Murphy’s are considered the best on the market and what benefits they can bring. It basically all comes down to what you need it for. Sure, we all know that you wish to save space, but there are other considerations to take into account like storage.
A foldable bed does not have to be ugly just because it is practical. There are so many ways to incorporate them into the living space and make them look great in the process. With a bit of taste and imagination, you will be able to do exactly that.
Resources:
- History of Murphy Bed – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy_bed