Murphy or wall beds arespace-saving furniture, folding against the wall or into a cabinet.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
How Much Does a DIY Murphy Bed Cost?
Some DIYers opt to forgo the Murphy bed hardware kits when building a Murphy bed to save some money.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
The tradeoff is the ability to hide the legs and the assisted opening.
If using another mattress size, remember to adjust everything accordingly.
Repeat with the second 1x8 and 2x2.
Cut two 1x6 boards to 56-1/2 inches and place them at each end of the sides.
Screw through the 1x6 boards into the ends of the 2x4.
Glue and screw them to the 2x2s and the 2x4.
Use any provided templates or dimensions for positioning.
Once the hardware is in place, attach the legs.
Adjust these dimensions as needed.
Cut another piece measuring 15 inches by 61-1/2 inches (top).
Cut four 2x4s to 60 inches.
On the top piece, edge band the sides as well.
Mark the Wall
Mark the wall for your desired cabinet location.
Mark each stud’s location to make it easier to find.
Attach a second 2x4 on the wall against the floor.
Cut and remove the baseboard using anoscillating multitooland a flat pry bar if necessary.
Attach a third 2x4 with its top edge at 33-1/2 inches.
Screw through the top piece into the tops of the side piece using 2-inch wood screws.
Place the remaining boards beneath the middle 2x4 and against the cabinet sides.
Cut Back Pieces
Cut 1/4-inch plywood into one piece measuring 60 inches by 48 inches.
Cut a second piece measuring 60 inches by 20 inches.
Start with the top piece, then place the bottom piece.
The bottom piece is left intentionally unfastened across its bottom edge to allow access to the covered outlet.
Lift and lower the bed to test its functionality and make any adjustments before moving forward.
With the bed closed, glue and brad nail the pieces to the front of the bed box.
Cut and Attach Faux Door Trim
Rip 1/4-inch plywood into 3-inch-wide strips.
Cut four strips to a length of 30 inches and four strips to a length of 70-1/2 inches.
Glue and brad nail the strips around the perimeter of the 1/2-inch plywood to create a faux door.
You’ll likely have to lower the bed to secure the nuts on the backside.
These also will make it easier to lower the bed by providing a firm place to grab.
Once dry,caulkevery joint and seam and fill every nail and screw hole.
Drive the nails further into the wood using a nail set if necessary.
Once the caulk dries, paint all surfaces with your desired paint color.
A high-quality Murphy bed can easily last 15 years or longer, even if used regularly.
Murphy beds that are only used occasionally may have dramatically longer lifespans.
Most high-quality Murphy beds can be used every day just as you would a standard bed.
However, inexpensive models made with cheaper materials may begin to wear out prematurely if used nightly.
