{"id":26645,"date":"2022-05-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-staging.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/what-is-a-murphy-bed\/"},"modified":"2025-03-17T17:59:56","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T17:59:56","slug":"what-is-a-murphy-bed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/what-is-a-murphy-bed\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Murphy Bed\u2014and How Can You Use It in Your Home?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you&#8217;re looking for a bed that is also a space-saving solution, you might have encountered the term &#8220;Murphy bed.&#8221; Murphy beds are pull-down beds that, depending on your situation, can be a great option for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/how-to-decorate-a-small-bedroom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">small apartments<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/guest-room-ideas-for-a-great-nights-sleep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guest rooms<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is a Murphy bed the perfect space-saving solution you&#8217;ve been looking for? Read on to find out.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-murphy-bed\">What is a Murphy bed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A Murphy bed (also sometimes referred to as a pull-down bed, a fold-down bed, or a wall bed) is a bed that, when not in use, can be stored vertically against the wall.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s hinged on one end, which makes it possible to fold it up and store it against the wall or inside a closet during the day and pull it down only when needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pros-of-a-murphy-bed\">Pros of a Murphy bed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Murphy beds have quite a few benefits that make them unique in the world of beds. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>They&#8217;re great space savers.<\/strong>&nbsp;If you have a tiny bedroom or a one-room apartment, a Murphy bed can be a life-changer as it takes up very little space when not in use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They allow you to create a multipurpose space.<\/strong>&nbsp;If you don\u2019t have room in your house for both an office and a guest room, a Murphy bed can turn one room into a multipurpose space.&nbsp;Pull the bed out and you have a guest room.&nbsp;Keep it hidden and the room becomes a working space. When not in use, it looks like a wall, closet, or storage unit. &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They&#8217;re multifunctional.<\/strong>&nbsp;Although most Murphy beds look like closets or walls when folded, they can be customized to double as sofas or desks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cons-of-a-murphy-bed\">Cons of a Murphy bed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the numerous advantages of Murphy beds, there are some cons to be aware of. These include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>They may not be safe.<\/strong>&nbsp;Murphy beds can be dangerous if not used or installed properly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They&#8217;re challenging to fold out and put away.&nbsp;<\/strong>Although Murphy beds are designed to be easily folded up and down, it can be challenging to use them in some cases. For example, they shouldn&#8217;t be used by the elderly or in children\u2019s rooms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They might require rearranging the room before or after the use.&nbsp;<\/strong>A Murphy bed can indeed create a multipurpose room, but that means you have to rearrange the space (i.e., clear the space for the bed) before you pull it out. This might be fine if you use a Murphy bed in a space that only occasionally becomes a guest room, but it might be less ideal for daily use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They may decrease the lifespan of your mattress.<\/strong>&nbsp;Most mattresses last, on average, seven to 10 years. Because Murphy beds are pulled out and folded up often, they may reduce the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/how-long-does-a-mattress-last\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lifespan of your mattress<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-style-a-murphy-bed\">How to style a Murphy bed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You have many options when it comes to styling a Murphy bed. Most are designed to look like large cabinets when they\u2019re upright and often have shelves on either side that can be used as storage or to display artwork, books, and accessories.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are other ways to design a Murphy bed that add functionality to your room. For example, you can style your Murphy bed to look like a small sofa when the bed is hidden or add a folding desk creating a working space.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"saatva-product-slider bg-fuscous-gray text-white\">\n            <p class=\"bg-makara p-4 text-center\">Get the perfect Murphy bed mattress for you<\/p>\n    \n            <div\n            class=\"focus:!outline-0\"\n            data-flickity=\"{&quot;wrapAround&quot;:true,&quot;pageDots&quot;:true,&quot;adaptiveHeight&quot;:true,&quot;prevNextButtons&quot;:false,&quot;autoPlay&quot;:5000}\"\n        >\n                            \n                <div>\n                    <a\n                        href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/mattresses\/murphy-bed-mattress\"\n                        class=\"block\"\n                    >\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-staging.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/saatva-murphy-bed-mattress-1200x604.jpg\" class=\"w-full aspect-video object-cover wp-post-image\" alt=\"saatva murphy bed mattress\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-staging.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/saatva-murphy-bed-mattress-1200x604.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/blog-staging.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/saatva-murphy-bed-mattress-300x151.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog-staging.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/saatva-murphy-bed-mattress-768x387.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-staging.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/saatva-murphy-bed-mattress-1536x773.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog-staging.saatva.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/saatva-murphy-bed-mattress.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/>\n                    <\/a>\n\n                    <div\n                        class=\"rich-text-level p-8 lg:text-base\"\n                        style=\"--spacing-rhythm: 0.75em\"\n                    >\n                        <h4>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/mattresses\/murphy-bed-mattress\">Murphy Bed Mattress<\/a>\n                        <\/h4>\n\n                        \n<p>Designed specifically for Murphy beds, our Murphy mattress withstands upright storage for years of great sleep even in tighter spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n                        <p>\n                            <a\n                                href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/mattresses\/murphy-bed-mattress\"\n                                class=\"btn\"\n                            >\n                                Shop Now\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-is-it-called-a-murphy-bed\">Why is it called a Murphy bed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Murphy beds were invented in the early 1900s &nbsp;by William Lawrence Murphy, an Irish immigrant in America. According to legend, he lived in a small one-room apartment in San Francisco and was wooing an opera singer. It was considered inappropriate at the time for a woman to enter a man\u2019s bedroom, so Murphy wanted to find a creative way to turn his only room into a parlor during the day. He came up with the fold-up design, and the Murphy bed was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-best-mattress-for-a-murphy-bed\">What is the best mattress for a Murphy bed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, many mattress types are compatible with Murphy beds, including innerspring, hybrid, and memory foam mattresses, but always check with your mattress manufacturer first to make sure. Many Murphy beds have a maximum mattress height you can use.&nbsp;Here&#8217;s a <a href=\"https:\/\/saatvahelp.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/11492159644951-Are-Saatva-mattresses-compatible-with-Murphy-beds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">list of Saatva mattresses that are compatible with Murphy beds<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-size-is-a-murphy-bed-mattress\">What size is a Murphy bed mattress?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Murphy beds come in all standard mattress sizes from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/twin-bed-dimensions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">twin<\/a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/king-size-bed-dimensions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">king<\/a>. If you live alone and are looking to buy a Murphy bed to save space, going with a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/full-size-bed-dimensions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">full-size bed<\/a>&nbsp;and mattress offers ample room for one adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-does-a-murphy-bed-need-a-box-spring\">Does a Murphy bed need a box spring?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t need a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/do-you-need-a-box-spring-or-foundation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">box spring<\/a>&nbsp;for a Murphy bed. Murphy beds typically function as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/platform-bed-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">platform beds<\/a>, meaning they&#8217;re able to support your mattress without the need for a box spring.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-a-murphy-bed-be-used-every-day\">Can a Murphy bed be used every day?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s perfectly fine to use a Murphy bed every day to turn your living space into a bedroom at night\u2014just like it&#8217;s fine to keep it hidden in the guest room to be pulled out only occasionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-get-high-quality-mattresses-for-murphy-beds-and-more-with-saatva\">Get high-quality mattresses for Murphy beds and more with Saatva<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of their multifunctionality and space-saving ability, Murphy beds are a great option for small apartments and guest rooms.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;ve set your eyes on a Murphy bed, check out our <span data-id=\"34726\" data-title=\"Murphy Bed Mattress\" data-text=\"Murphy Bed Mattress\" class=\"tooltip\">Murphy Bed Mattress<\/span>. Designed specifically for Murphy beds, our mattress withstands upright storage for years of great sleep even in tighter spaces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Murphy beds are pull-down beds that, depending on your situation, can be a great option for small apartments and guest rooms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":165,"featured_media":34912,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[397,386],"tags":[],"coauthors":[421],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-26645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-foundations-frames","category-mattresses"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/165"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26645"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34914,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26645\/revisions\/34914"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26645"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=26645"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=26645"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva-node-stage.tsc-starts-coding.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=26645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}