{"id":16101,"date":"2024-05-09T13:19:20","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T13:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/?p=16101"},"modified":"2025-07-17T19:10:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T19:10:47","slug":"murphy-bed-diy-kits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2024\/05\/murphy-bed-diy-kits\/","title":{"rendered":"Murphy Bed DIY Kits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fold away beds have been around for hundreds of years. Murphy beds, also called\u00a0 pull-down or wall beds fold up against the wall when they are not being used. Some fold up into furniture. Others fold into a closet or alcove.<\/p>\n

\"\"
18th Century Field Bed belonged to General Gregorio de la Cuesta
Photo by Foconorte<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This bed folds into a trunk.\u00a0 A Murphy bed folds up against the wall in one piece.<\/p>\n

William Lawrence Murphy invented a fold-up bed around 1900 to create living space in his one room apartment. He received patent in 1912 for a pivot and counterbalanced system to make a fold up bed easier to lift. Other patents followed.<\/p>\n

The biggest advantage of a Murphy bed over a sofa bed or futon is the mattress. Unlike a modified mattress that has to fold, a Murphy bed can use any mattress. These kits secure to the studs in the wall and include gas struts to make it easy to fold down the bed and push it back out of the way in the morning.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Murphy Door Slab Horizontal Murphy Bed Kit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you have considered a murphy bed as a small space solution, Murphy Door makes DIY kits to build one in place.<\/p>\n

This Murphy Door Horizontal Murphy Bed Kit is available in Shaker or Slab surface. You can order Oak, Maple, Alder, Knotty Alder, Walnut or White Oak finish or pre-painted Black, Hale Navy, Dorian Grey, or White. You can also order it in Primer only or Unfinished Paint Grade wood.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Horizontal Murphy Bed Kit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is the Horizontal Murphy Bed Kit open. The bed folds up from the side.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Vertical Murphy Bed on Amazon<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is a Vertical Murphy Bed put away.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Vertical Murphy Bed on Amazon<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The kit includes the parts that make the bed easy to lift.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Vertical Murphy Bed on Amazon<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The bed can use a normal mattress, so it is more comfortable than a futon.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Vertical Murphy Bed on Amazon<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This shows the components assembled.<\/p>\n

Murphy Bed Kits from Murphy Door<\/h2>\n

The Installation Video will walk you through what is involved and help you decide whether this is a project for you.<\/p>\n