Thursday, April 23, 2009

Decorate A Murphy Bed Room

Murphy beds are a great space-saving solution for small homes or apartments. These types of beds fold up into a closet or wall during the day, and then fold out at night for sleeping. But having a major piece of furniture change position every day can pose some unique design challenges. When decorating a room with a Murphy bed, it is important to blend design with functionality, and ensure the room will be easy to use when the bed is in either position. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions


1. Choose Murphy bed models that have additional functionality. For example, some Murphy beds also function as shelving, couches or writing desks when not in the "bed" position. Choosing a bed with additional shelving or visible upholstery can give you a better idea of decorate the space or store certain decorative items.


2. Ensure there's enough space for the Murphy bed to easily unfold. You will likely grow tired of moving tables or chairs out of the way every night before bed, so make it easy on yourself by ensuring there's plenty of open space in the room to fold out the bed. If the space looks too bare during the day, place an accent rug in the area where the bed will unfold.


3. Hang art on the reverse side of the Murphy bed. When it is in the closed position, your wall will have a decorative piece of art. Use a lightweight plastic frame, and affix it in place with double-sided adhesive patches designed for hanging picture frames. Hanging a mirror in this fashion can also give the room the illusion of space, but make sure it is affixed firmly.


4. Consider adding functional pieces to the room. Because the bedroom effectively disappears during the day, you and your family may want to add pieces that give the room a second purpose. The room could function as a home office, playroom, nursery or library, depending on your needs.


5. Utilize two types of lighting. Provide both overhead ceiling lights for day and a few lamps (either freestanding or on tables) to offer more relaxed mood lighting for reading before bed. Ensure that the lamps are easily accessible from the bed in its open position.


6. Minimize the amount of large furniture pieces in the room. Because Murphy beds are usually found in rooms that are already on the small side, having more than two other large pieces of furniture can overwhelm the space.

Tags: Murphy beds, give room, pieces room, pieces room Because, room Because