FAQs
Murphy beds are beds that are stored vertically inside a cabinet, folding down for use when needed. Originally invented for the urban cities of the North in the early 1900’s, the space-saving features of Murphy beds have led to their rediscovery in the last decade, especially when combined with coordinating cabinetry to form complete Murphy bed systems. Generically they are referred to as wall beds.
The Murphy bed is a tried and true space saver. The spring loaded mechanism allows for easy single-handed operation and features a support leg that extends and retracts automatically. The Murphy bed’s vertical storage mattress is supported by a foundation or wooden slats designed to provide additional support for the mattress.
The panel bed maximizes space and offers sleek, clutter-free styling. These beds feature panel doors that drop down with the bed and “disappear” under the mattress, allowing easy access to optional bedside cabinets. The panel bed features a spring loaded mechanism with steel casing. Both can be custom designed in thousands of style and finish combinations.
Not quite, although the concept hasn’t changed. Today’s Murphy beds have been improved both for comfort and ease of use.
Absolutely, unlike sofa beds and futons, Murphy beds do not require any folding of the mattress. Therefore you are sleeping on a quality mattress without bars and lumps often associated with sofa beds or futons. We’ve had customers tell us their Murphy bed is more comfortable than their “every night” bed!
Not at all! Most people are surprised at how little effort is required. Both our Murphy bed and Panel bed mechanisms are spring-balanced for easy operation.
It depends on the exact model, but we have models that accommodate all of the traditional bed sizes, including Twin, Twin Long, Full, Queen, and even King size.
No, our beds use standard size mattresses; all of your existing sheets and linens should work just fine.
In some cases this is possible, but generally not recommended. We have found from experience that regular mattresses are not capable of being stored in an upright position for any length of time. The “stuffing” all tends to fall to the bottom, and the edge-banding wire is not strong enough to support the weight of the mattress standing on end. Our line of Serta mattresses are specially designed and warrantied for vertical storage. They are the correct depth to fit in the cabinet, and are the correct weight for optimum counter-balancing of the mechanism.
Our modular cabinetry system is available in everything from sturdy laminates and thermofoils to custom solid hardwoods, in a variety of styles and finishes.
While some of our products are available on shorter notice, our typical lead-time from order to installation is 6-8 weeks for our laminate line and 8-10 weeks for some of our wood options. Please keep this in mind as you plan your Murphy bed purchase and delivery date.
A typical Murphy bed installation takes approximately 6 hours to complete, somewhat longer if additional cabinets are included and for our home office systems. We have the best installers in the business, and they do most assembly work on site. The Murphy bed frame is bolted either into the floor or the base plate of the wall and all cabinetry is squared up and held in place, attaching to existing studs. The panel bed frame attaches to the cabinet and the cabinet is attached to existing studs. We do not recommend customers attempting to install units themselves, as there can be hundreds of parts and improper assembly or installation could result in a poorly functioning system.
Sure. It will require un-installation and re-installation and wall damage is typically very minimal. With plenty of advance notice, our expert installation team is available to perform this service. The cost is variable based on the exact requirements of the situation. If you would like a quote on moving one of our beds, please see the Uninstall/Reinstall Form. That being said, many of our customers have found that selling their Murphy bed with the house enhances their home’s “salability”. Often times, these customers visit us again to purchase a Murphy bed or panel bed for their new home.
More Space Place manufactures all Murphy beds and closet systems in Clearwater, Florida. All furniture is American-made in our own production facility, not imported or resold from overseas manufacturers.
Why USA manufacturing matters:
Unlike competitors who act as resellers or distributors for imported products, we control the entire manufacturing process in-house. Direct manufacturing in our Clearwater facility allows us to maintain strict quality standards, offer proprietary mechanisms designed specifically for our Murphy bed systems, and provide immediate factory support for installations and warranty services. Our local production also means faster response times for custom orders and replacement parts.
More Space Place Murphy beds are manufactured in-house with proprietary mechanisms, not resold from third-party suppliers. We’ve been engineering and building our own spring-loaded Murphy bed systems for over 30 years in Clearwater, Florida.
Key differences from competitor Murphy beds:
Proprietary mechanism design: Our spring-loaded mechanisms are engineered, tested, and manufactured in our Clearwater facility. Three decades of production experience has allowed us to refine the counterbalance system, support leg deployment, and overall durability beyond what standard retail mechanisms offer.
Lifetime warranty on mechanisms: All Murphy bed mechanisms include lifetime warranty coverage, reflecting our confidence in the engineering and build quality of our proprietary systems.
Direct manufacturer relationship: When you purchase from More Space Place, you buy directly from the manufacturer. This eliminates markup from distributors and resellers while ensuring direct access to technical support, replacement parts, and warranty service.
30-year local business reputation: We’ve operated as a Florida-based business for three decades, with established relationships throughout the local community and documented customer satisfaction history.
Professional installation included: Every Murphy bed purchase includes white glove delivery and professional installation by trained technicians. Online retailers like Amazon and Wayfair ship curbside and require customer-arranged assembly.
More Space Place offers professional installation, American-made quality, and lifetime warranty support that online retailers cannot match, despite lower initial pricing on retail websites.
Quality differences:
Online Murphy beds are typically mass-produced overseas using standard mechanisms and flat-pack cabinet construction. More Space Place manufactures proprietary systems in Clearwater, Florida, with precision joinery, small hole patterns, and cabinet-grade materials not found in imported furniture. Our spring-loaded mechanisms are calibrated specifically for each bed configuration rather than using one-size-fits-all retail hardware.
Installation and assembly:
Products purchased through Amazon, Wayfair, or similar retailers arrive curbside in multiple flat-pack boxes. You are responsible for moving all boxes into your home, assembling hundreds of parts following instruction manuals, and properly securing the bed frame to structural wall supports. Improper installation can void warranties and create safety hazards.
More Space Place includes professional white glove installation with every Murphy bed purchase. Trained technicians handle delivery into your home, complete all assembly on-site, secure the frame to floor joists and wall studs according to engineering specifications, and calibrate mechanisms before leaving. Installation typically requires 6 hours for standard configurations.
Warranty and support:
Online retailers offer limited manufacturer warranties with no local service network. If mechanisms fail or parts break, you must navigate return shipping processes and wait for replacement components to arrive.
More Space Place provides lifetime warranty coverage on all Murphy bed mechanisms, with parts inventory and technical support based in Florida. Our local service team can address issues without requiring you to disassemble and ship products back.
Customization options:
Online retailers sell fixed configurations with limited finish choices. More Space Place offers custom design consultations with modular cabinetry available in laminate, thermofoil, and solid hardwood finishes. Desk systems, shelving, side cabinets, and other integrated storage can be configured to your specific room dimensions and functional needs.
Murphy beds are safe when properly installed and operated. More Space Place Murphy beds include multiple engineered safety features to prevent accidental deployment and ensure stable operation.
Safety features included:
Spring-loaded counterbalance mechanism: Our proprietary spring systems are calibrated to match the exact weight of your mattress and cabinet configuration. This counterbalancing prevents the bed from dropping rapidly when opened or slamming closed when raised. The mechanism requires minimal physical effort to operate but will not move without deliberate action from the user.
Automatic locking support legs: Murphy beds include support legs that extend automatically as the bed lowers and retract when raised. These legs lock firmly into position when the bed is fully deployed, preventing the bed from folding upward during use. The legs cannot retract while weight is on the mattress.
Structural mounting to wall studs: Proper installation requires the Murphy bed frame to be bolted directly to floor joists or wall studs capable of supporting the full weight of the cabinet, mechanism, and mattress. Our installation team evaluates wall composition and structural integrity during the consultation phase. We decline installations on walls with insufficient load-bearing capacity.
Lifetime mechanism warranty: Our lifetime warranty on Murphy bed mechanisms covers spring fatigue, mounting bracket failure, and moving component wear. This warranty reflects engineering confidence in the long-term safety and durability of our proprietary systems.
Panel beds include additional weight from panel doors that drop down with the bed and disappear under the mattress. The spring-loaded mechanism with steel casing is specifically engineered to manage this additional weight while maintaining smooth, controlled operation.
Child safety considerations: While Murphy beds include safety features preventing accidental deployment, they should not be operated by young children without adult supervision. The mechanisms require coordination and understanding of proper operation sequence.
Yes, Murphy beds can be configured with integrated collapsible desk systems that fold up with the bed mechanism. This allows a room to function as a home office during the day and guest bedroom at night.
How Murphy bed desks work:
The desk surface attaches to the bed frame and folds upward when the bed is raised into storage position. When you lower the bed, the desk surface folds up and becomes hidden behind or beneath the mattress platform. This creates a complete workspace when the bed is stored vertically without requiring you to clear the desk surface or remove items before deploying the bed.
Best uses for Murphy bed desk combinations:
Studio apartments where a single room must serve multiple functions, spare bedrooms that double as home offices for remote work, children’s rooms where homework space is needed during the day but floor space is limited, and small condos where dedicating separate rooms to office and guest functions isn’t practical.
Customization options:
Our modular cabinetry system allows extensive desk configuration options. Desk surfaces can be sized to your workspace requirements and positioned on either side of the Murphy bed frame. Coordinating elements include bookshelves, filing cabinets, overhead storage, drawer units, and integrated lighting. All components can be finished in laminate, thermofoil, or solid hardwood to match your existing room décor.
During your consultation, our designers assess your space requirements, daily usage patterns, and storage needs to determine the optimal desk and cabinet configuration for your specific situation.
Murphy beds can be installed in most rooms, but placement depends on the bed tilt mechanism and the room’s intended function. Proper placement requires adequate floor clearance when deployed and appropriate wall structure for secure mounting.
Vertical tilt vs horizontal tilt Murphy beds:
Standard vertical-tilt Murphy beds fold down lengthwise from the wall, similar to how a traditional bed is oriented. This configuration requires floor clearance equal to the mattress length (typically 75-80 inches for standard mattresses) extending perpendicular from the wall.
Horizontal-tilt or side-tilt Murphy beds fold out widthwise, with the longer side of the mattress positioned against the wall. When deployed, these beds only extend into the room by the width of the mattress (typically 38-60 inches depending on bed size). This configuration works best in rooms with low ceilings, limited floor space extending from the mounting wall, or when the bed needs to function similar to a daybed.
Best rooms for Murphy bed installation:
Guest rooms that double as home offices, living rooms in smaller condos or apartments where dedicating a separate bedroom isn’t practical, dens that serve as occasional sleeping quarters for visitors, children’s rooms where floor space is needed for play areas during the day, and finished basements that function as multi-purpose recreation and guest spaces.
Structural requirements for installation:
The Murphy bed frame must be securely bolted to floor joists or wall studs capable of supporting the combined weight of the cabinet, mechanism, and mattress. Wall composition, stud placement, and load-bearing capacity are evaluated during the consultation phase. Our designers assess your floor plan, room dimensions, ceiling height, and household needs to recommend the most practical Murphy bed placement and tilt configuration for your specific space.
A More Space Place designer conducts an in-home consultation to measure your space, evaluate structural requirements, and develop a custom Murphy bed configuration based on your functional needs and design preferences.
Consultation process:
In-home assessment: A designer visits your home to measure the installation area, document ceiling height and floor clearance, evaluate wall structure and stud placement, and identify any obstacles such as electrical outlets, HVAC vents, windows, or architectural features that affect Murphy bed placement.
Functional requirements discussion: The designer discusses how you intend to use the space, how often the Murphy bed will be deployed, what additional storage or workspace you need, and whether you require integrated desks, shelving, or cabinet systems.
Custom design development: Based on measurements and functional requirements, the designer develops a Murphy bed configuration including bed size selection (Twin, Twin Long, Full, Queen, or King), mechanism type (Murphy bed or panel bed), and coordinating cabinetry such as side cabinets, overhead storage, shelving, desk systems, or nightstands.
Material and finish selection: Our modular cabinetry system is available in laminate, thermofoil, and solid hardwood options with multiple styles and finishes. The designer provides material samples for you to evaluate in your home’s lighting conditions.
Detailed quote and timeline: Following design development, you receive a comprehensive quote including all cabinetry, mechanism, mattress (if purchased through More Space Place), delivery, and white glove installation. Lead times are typically 6-8 weeks for laminate options and 8-10 weeks for wood finishes, though timelines may vary based on current production schedules.
Yes, Murphy beds can be installed on carpet, hardwood, tile, vinyl, laminate, and other common residential flooring types. The flooring surface type is less critical than the underlying subfloor structure and floor levelness.
Installation on different flooring:
Our professional installers are equipped to handle all standard flooring scenarios. For carpet installations, precise openings are cut where the bed frame base plate contacts the floor, allowing the frame to be bolted directly through to the subfloor. For hard surface flooring like hardwood, tile, or laminate, small mounting holes are drilled at specific locations based on the bed frame dimensions, and the frame is bolted through the surface flooring into the subfloor structure beneath.
Subfloor requirements:
Regardless of surface flooring material, the subfloor must provide adequate structural support for Murphy bed mounting hardware. Standard wood subfloors over floor joists meet requirements in most residential applications. Concrete subfloors require different mounting hardware but are suitable for Murphy bed installation.
The installation area must be reasonably level. Significant floor slope or unevenness can affect mechanism operation, cabinet alignment, and door fit. Our installers assess floor level during the pre-installation consultation and determine if shimming or leveling is required before installation proceeds.