Types of Murphy Beds For Small Spaces
A home office in your Jersey City apartment can sleep a guest if need be. But having a bed in there the rest of the year is probably not ideal. That’s where a Murphy bed comes in handy. When shopping for a Murphy bed in NJ, these are the questions that always come up and measuring will help with most of them.
Measuring The Room Right
There are vertical and horizontal Murphy beds. A vertical Murphy bed will lift from the top of the mattress, so it requires less wall space but more height above it. Vertical Murphy beds require about 82″ to 90″ of clearance above them. Queens will be on the higher end of that range. A horizontal or side-tilt Murphy bed will fold over to one side. They require more wall space, but are great for rooms with lower ceilings or under an attic or next to windows on a wall.
First, measure your ceiling height and how much wall space you can dedicate to the Murphy bed. Measure how much floor space you will have when the bed is down. Look at what is on the wall you want to put it on and above it. If you have a ceiling fan above where you want it you will not be able to use a vertical Murphy bed. Make sure to note any outlets or baseboard heaters as well. These can cause your Murphy bed to be farther away from the wall or require you to use a different wall.
Mechanism & Mattress
You’ll want a Murphy bed with some form of counterbalance to assist with opening and closing it. This can be done with gas pistons or springs. Some cheaper Murphy beds do not have this feature.
Make sure to know what size mattress your Murphy bed can accommodate. Most Murphy beds will only allow a certain thickness of mattress. Usually no thicker than 10″. If the mattress is too heavy, it may be difficult to lift and may not stay closed when not in use. Measure your space and decide on a Murphy bed before purchasing a mattress.
Murphy Bed Installation
A Murphy bed is heavy and will need to be secured to studs or brick to keep it in place. You will not be able to anchor it into hollow walls. The hardware will also need to be installed correctly to ensure your Murphy bed hangs level and your counterweight works properly. Having a professional install your Murphy bed is the best option. It will take care of the most difficult part of the process.
Should I get a Murphy bed, sleeper sofa, or day bed?
A sleeper sofa will give you seating during the day and a bed when needed. They usually have thinner mattresses, which is fine for the occasional guest. Day beds do not require installation and can sleep one person. A Murphy bed allows you to use your normal mattress and have the floor space during the day. If you have guests often or want to get more out of a space, a Murphy bed is a great option.
Custom Murphy Beds in Central & Northern NJ
Bella Systems is one option for a company that can handle the design and installation of your new wall bed. They offer Murphy beds in Central and Northern NJ in Twin, Full and Queen sizes with additional shelving and storage options. You can also add a desk, sofa or LED lights to your Murphy bed design. Bella’s Murphy beds range from $3.5k (Luna) to $12k depending on your design.
