When it’s folded down, the room becomes sleeping quarters for guests.
The old-fashioned fold-up wall bed makes modern sense
If you live in the compact confines of a condo, it can be challenging to fit the functions of entertaining, working and sleeping into limited space.
Or you have a detached home and want a room that will accommodate overnight guests and can serve as a home office or hobby room when family and friends aren't visiting.
(Left) When the Murphy Bed is folded up, a room can serve as a home office or den. (Right) When it's folded down, the room becomes sleeping quarters for guests.
Forget wall art – have you heard of floor art?
The century-old Murphy Bed may be the modern solution for both of these dilemmas. The innovative fold-up bed is named for William Lawrence Murphy, who invented it in the early 1900s. Allegedly, Mr. Murphy lived in a one-room apartment in San Francisco and wanted to entertain at home, but a traditional bed took up too much space. Though other beds that folded up into walls existed at the time, Mr. Murphy received patents
for his unique pivot and counterbalanced designs.
This device has been making a big comeback recently, according to Andrew Wencer of Space Solutions in Toronto, with both condo dwellers and home owners who buy them for open-concept studio apartments, home offices and family rooms. Though all wall beds tend to be referred to as Murphy Beds,
Mr. Wencer says that only those with genuine Murphy hardware are the real deal. Murphy's ingenious design allows the beds to be raised and lowered easily with a finger.
The modern version of this old-fashioned classic comes in a wide variety of finishes and with options such as built-in reading lights for use in condo bedrooms with no windows, for example.
"They come in singles, doubles and in queen-size and take regular mattresses [that the client supplies]," says Mr. Wencer. "A lot of people don't want to put their guests on a foldout couch.
"The Murphy Bed is as comfortable as the mattress used with it. We can accommodate mattresses up to 10 inches thick or upgrade the hardware to accommodate a thicker mattress."
Today's Murphy Beds don't fold into a cut-out in the wall but are typically part of cabinetry or a storage system secured to a wall. The beds can be designed to fold out either horizontally or vertically, says Mr. Wencer. The horizontal or side tilt solution works well in rooms where there is a height restriction, such as in a basement with low ceilings or if the bed is to be located under a bulkhead. One thing to keep in mind when choosing a side tilt bed is that if two people are using the bed, one will have to sleep against the wall.
Space Solutions custom builds all its Murphy Bed systems and the first step is usually an in-home consultation with a client to show samples and take measurements.
"Even if a client comes in with measurements, we do a site visit to make sure the measurements are accurate, where the furnace vents are, to get a feel for the style of the person's home and to see if we're going to deal with issues such as a winding staircase when we have to deliver the system," says Mr. Wencer.
| DREAM BIG WITH THE RIGHT MATTRESS |
When choosing a mattress for your Murphy Bed or a conventional bed, here are some tips from Consumer Reports to keep in mind. Consider an innerspring first: These types are common and often the least expensive. They use a steel coil support system and there are different types (such as springs connected into a single unit and individually wrapped pocket coils). Memory foam is gaining popularity. It’s heat-sensitive and conforms to your body. However, not all memory foam feels the same and it can take time to get used to it. Many innerspring models (hybrids) add a layer of foam over the springs. Shop in person: Not online or over the phone. Bedding and mattress stores are often less crowded than department stores. Start with the least expensive bed from a top brand and work your way up. Do an in-store test: Wear loose clothes and shoes you can slip off and be prepared to lie down on many mattresses. Spend at least five minutes on each side, on your back and your stomach (if that’s how you sleep) to determine if it’s comfortable for you. Look for a comfort guarantee: Some stores will give you two weeks to several months to exchange a mattress. But a return likely costs you in pick-up, usage and restocking fees. Seal the deal: Ask about trial periods, return policies and restocking and pickup fees before buying, especially at warehouse clubs where you can’t try out mattresses. Insist on a no-substitutions clause in the sales agreement in case the bed you ordered is out of stock. Leave the tag on: In case you have to file a warranty claim, you’ll need that do-not-remove-under-penalty-of-law label that’s sewn onto the mattress.
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