As space is becoming an ever valuable commodity, many clients are considering what to do with that extra bedroom. They want to have a place for friends or relatives to sleep but are tired of seeing a room only being used a few days every year. They dream of what they would do with the room if they didn’t need the bed. Could it be converted into an office? A workout room? A playroom for the kids? The question remains: “But where would our guests sleep when they came to visit if we made this room work for us?”

The answer is simple: have the guest room serve two purposes. Imagine if the there was a bed for guests AND it was an office. The room would be for guests on the occasional weekend or holiday visit but the other 350 days of the year it would be useful for you. Putting a wall bed in a room automatically leaves space open for the room to serve another purpose.

The style you choose depends on the purpose for the bed. Murphy Bed Lifestyles by Closet Factory has several options to choose from:

• Murphy Bed – This options a flat panel that acts as a platform. You can use any mattress that fits the size of the bed. This is a comfortable option for a night or two but in not generally recommended for guests who will be staying for long periods of time.
• Sico Bed – This option has a slated platform that acts as the base of the bed. Add your own mattress and you have a very comfortable option. This is one of the most popular selections for that reason.
• Roommaker – The third type of bed accommodates both a box spring and a mattress. This is a regular bed that can be hidden away. Many clients will choose this option if this bed is going to be used every night. The best application for this wall bed is a bed that is going to be used daily.

Once the bed is designed to be out of the way, the rest of the room can be designed to serve its second purpose. Office furniture can be built in very easily and give the room an open feel. Workout equipment can be used in the space as long as it can easily be moved out of the way when a guest needs to use the room. If a playroom is in order, shelves and bins can be designed to hold toys and books as the room serves a dual purpose.

No matter what option works best for you, an investment in a wall bed can make your guest room a much more efficient use of space. Now who wouldn’t want that?

What is “flex space”?  It is space that can be used for multiple purposes – like a room that is an office during the day and a bedroom at night.  Flex space is a key concept being utilized in many of today’s new and existing homes. 

For example, as children grow up and leave the nest, the parents typically no longer devote the use of whole rooms to their children and end up reapportioning their abode. They use the emptied spaces for hobbies, a home office, a study or any number of other uses.

But what happens when the kids come home for the holidays?  Are the kids expected to sleep on the couch, the floor, or some local hotel?  Not when the parents planned ahead and embraced the flex-space concept when they remodeled the room.  By including a Murphy wall bed in the re-design of the room, this type of situation is very conveniently handled. 

The “empty nest” situation is not a requirement to take advantage of flex space either.  You might be single with limited living space or a couple that likes to entertain friends and have them stay overnight just so that they can make the long trip home refreshed from a good night’s sleep.  The reasons and situations that can benefit from owning a Murphy bed are as varied and unique as there are people.

The Murphy bed is not a new solution, but an older one reborn.  Wall beds can be hidden away when not in use, and can drop down to convert the room into spare bedroom when needed.  Modern technology and custom design techniques make aesthetically integrating the Murphy bed into the room not only attractive, but functional as well.

So, if you’re thinking about ways to take advantage of the available space in your home, consider flex space – and Murphy beds!

The Sico EuroBed uses slats for the base of the bed base so it provides considerably more comfort than the “Murphy”.  The Sico EuroBed is the best selling of our wall beds because it is mid-priced, provides superior comfort, and has been tested for everyday use.  This is the bed to use when like your relatives or friends enough that you don’t mind if they stay longer than just overnight, but you really are not ready for them to move in just yet.

Sico EuroBed Specifications

• Cabinet height for twin std  or full std  81 3/8”  Extends 87” from wall
• Cabinet height for queen 92”  extends  92” from wall
• Cabinet depth is 18 5/8”
• Maximum mattress height is 10”
• Side Panel Mounted

The leg folds up inside the bed.  The Sico EuroBed has fully encased heat treated alloy steel springs.  The frame is premium strength extruded aluminum.  This bed also comes with a flat vinyl headboard.  The Sico EuroBed is available in twin, twin XL, full, full XL, and queen.  It is important to note that this bed is available as a full or queen-size side-fold also.

This is the first of a three-part series on Murphy-styled wall bed mechanisms.  Parts two and three will follow shortly.

All wall beds, or beds that fold down, have become commonly known as “Murphy Beds”.   The original “Murphy Bed” brand name has been so heavily used by consumers, retailers, and other manufacturers over the years that the US government has denied all trademark claims to that name.  There is still a specific “Murphy Bed” branded mechanism that is sold, and this is one of the mechanisms that we use.  In differentiating the styles of beds that we offer, we refer to the mechanism name and type to identify the bed, but they are all commonly “Murphy beds.”

Murphy Bed Mechanisms

The “Murphy" wall bed mechanisms are the most price friendly of the three types/brands of wallbed mechanisms.  It is made for a spare room that is used when you have the occasional visitor.  It is perfect for a home office, crafts room, music room or other room that has multiple uses.  The “Murphy” mechanism is great for relatives or other guests that you like to visit for short periods.  It has a low profile frame that uses the bed face as the base of the bed.  The mattress sits on directly the bed face and tends to be a little harder than the slat style.  This bed is perfect for those guests you don’t wish to stay too long, but don’t want be totally uncomfortable!!

Murphy Bed Mechanism Specifications

• Cabinet height for twin or full 85 1/8 ” Extends from wall 85”
• Cabinet height for queen or king 90 1/4” Extends from wall 90”
• Cabinet depth 18 5/8”
• Maximum mattress thickness 9”

The leg folds up inside the bed and tension springs take the bed up and down.  This frame comes in pieces so it can be used when access might be more difficult.  The “Murphy" bed mechanisms are available in Twin, Full, Queen and King.

My second rule for decorating (right after feng shui) is USE SHELVES!  (And I'm not really shouting at you, I'm just excited about decorating with shelves and wanted to emphasize things a little!)

Using shelves is especially the case when it comes to decorating in a small or downsized space.  Shelving when done right will add to a room.  Not only does it supply you with an excellent amount of storage, but it also allows you space to place your favorite decorative items and plants.

You can even use shelves as decorative accents by placing them around windows, doors, and yes, even wall beds.

Murphy beds are an American invention designed by  William L. Murphy  in the early 20th century.    They were first manufactured in San Francisco and consisted of a bed that pivoted on a door jam of a dressing closet and would be lowered into position. 

By the 1920's, Murphy beds became a popular item found in the home as they were wonderful space savers during the big apartment and industrial boom.  However, with the coming of World War II all of this was about to change due to the rationing of steel, and the rise of affordable single family  homes that were springing up about the country.  

With the change and flux of the economy during the 70’s and 80’s, wall beds regained their stature as staple in making the most of a limited space.  By that time, Murphy beds had already gained some of the spotlight in  the American culture through various movie representations.  The wall beds were featured mostly in comedies where they were the prop in slapstick humor situations like when someone becomes stuck in a Murphy bed that has been folded back into the wall.  Not only did Murphy beds regain their popularity in the home, but they soon could also be found in hospitals, fire houses, college dorms and even hotels.

Today in 2009, we are again experiencing a flux in the economy.  Many families are now joining together as grandparents move in and older children return to their nest.  Some families are opting to downsize to smaller homes, this change is forcing us to rethink our use of space and function.   Now we are expanding on this wonderful invention by combining it with bookcases, desks, and a wide range of sizes, styles and materials.

Closet Factory is proud to announce their new line, Murphy Bed Lifestyles which offers to our clients these new features and designs at affordable prices for their expanding and ever changing homes.

Selecting the right mechanism from the three distinctive styles and price points that Murphy Bed Lifestyles have available should be based upon the level of usage you will have and your budget.  We carry the “Murphy Bed” mechanism and two wall bed mechanisms by Sico. 

So, your next question is “What are the differences between the Murphy Bed mechanism and the Sico wall bed mechanisms”?   

The “Murphy bed” mechanism is the most price friendly of the three styles.  It is made for a spare room that is used when you have the occasional visitor.

The Sico EuroBed mechanism uses slats for the base of the bed base so it provides considerably more comfort than the “Murphy”.  The Sico EuroBed is the best selling of the wall beds because it is mid-priced, provides superior comfort, and has been tested for everyday use. 

The Sico RoomMaker bed mechanism is the most durable of all the wallbeds.  It is specifically made for comfort as it uses a traditional mattress and box spring.  This bed is designed for the heavy-duty usage associated with dormitories, fire stations, care facilities, etc. 

Future blog posts will have greater details on the various wall bed mechanisms.  In the meantime, if you are really interested in getting a custom Murphy bed installed in your home, sign up for one of our free design consultations.  Our designers are fully prepared with the technical details and the design expertise to inspire your imagination.