A Murphy bed, otherwise known as a wall bed, is a space-saving piece of furniture where the bed folds away and is hidden from view, freeing up more floor space in the room. Once wildly popular in the early 1920s and '30s, they are now considered specialty furniture. Does this Spark an idea?
History
American William L. Murphy patented the Murphy bed on June 27, 1916. He then started the Murphy Wall Bed Company in San Francisco, California, and began selling the beds. In 1990, the company changed its name to Murphy Bed Company, Inc., and moved the company headquarters to Farmingdale, New York.
Time Frame
Murphy beds were very popular in the early 1920s and 1930s. During World War II, there was a steel shortage and so the company temporarily stopped making Murphy beds and only produced replacement parts. Their popularity declined in the 1950s when the economy was booming and people could afford to buy larger homes for their families and were no longer interested in space-saving designs. Murphy beds are now considered a specialty item to be used in small rooms where square footage is at a premium.
Types
There are two types of Murphy beds. The most popular type is the vertical type where the bed is stored vertically in a closet or cabinet. A second type is the horizontal type, where the bed raises horizontally and is stored on its side. This type of bed works well in spaces where there is a low ceiling or overhang.
Features
Murphy beds have hinges or pistons on the head end of the bed frame that allow the bed to be folded vertically and stored inside a wall, closet or cabinet. The bed frame is made from either steel or aluminum. There is no headboard or footboard, and due to space limitations they usually don't have box springs. The cabinet that contains a Murphy bed could be made from solid wood, melamine laminate or MDF with wood veneer. Cabinet styles could be as simple as a plain box with bi-fold doors on the front or as ornate as a large armoire with double doors and bookcases on either side.
Size
Murphy beds are available in standard mattress sizes such as single, double, queen and king. A standard double Murphy bed mattress measures 54 by 75 inches and is 9 inches thick. A typical cabinet measures 80 inches tall and 60 inches wide.
Considerations
The main thing to consider when purchasing a Murphy bed is space. Will there be enough floor space in the room for the bed to extend? A standard double Murphy bed will require 80 inches of space from the wall to the end of the bed.
Significance
Murphy beds are making a comeback as more people are moving into large cities and living in studio or one-bedroom apartments. Having a Murphy bed allows them to use their limited space for more than one purpose. For example, a room could be a home office by day and a bedroom at night. Murphy beds are also gaining popularity in facilities such as firehouses and homeless shelters.
Tags: Murphy beds, closet cabinet, considered specialty, double Murphy, early 1920s, floor space, floor space room