Instructions for How to Install a Murphy Bed Mechanism

Get more room with a Murphy bed

Ask anyone who lives in a small apartment what their living space needs the most, and they'll tell you they wished they had a Murphy bed in their bedroom. Then the apartment's bedroom could be used as an open study, entertainment area or living room. An apartment bedroom with a Murphy bed mechanism installed on one wall could increase usable living space by up to 30 percent.

Things You'll Need

• Murphy bed
• Drill (electric)
• Bits (drill)
• Stud meter (find)
• Tape measure
• Screwdriver (Phillip and flat head)
• C-Clamps (four)

Instructions

1. Lay the mattress frame on the floor orientated so the mattress would be facing the ceiling and the hinges of the mechanism are closest to the wall where it will be installed. Take two casing boards and secure them to the hinges on the bed frame. Connect the two casing boards with a support member and secure the support to the casing boards with screws. Drill pilot holes into the casing boards to prevent splitting the wood where the screw enters it.

2. Pull up on the casing boards until they are standing in the vertical position. Secure a board at the ends of both casing boards to create the rectangular casing the Murphy bed will fold into when not in use. Use C-clamps to hold the end cap in place for adjustments to fit. Close the Murphy bed into its case with the C-clamps holding the frame together to be sure the bed fits squarely into the casing. Use a drill to screw the frame together and remove the C-clamps.

3. Connect the retracting arms that assist in the opening and closing of the Murphy bed. The two armature shocks connect at one end to the bed frame and at one end to the frame casing. Push each eyelet of the armature shock over the armature pin and lock into place using a cotter pin or locking nut. Slide the Murphy bed to the wall it will be anchored to and press against the frame until it is even and level against the existing wall.

4. Anchor the Murphy bed mechanism to the wood framing studs hidden behind the wall. Slide a stud finder over the surface of the wall on top of the Murphy bed mechanism. When the finder alerts you to a stud's location, mark it with a pencil and continue to slide and find the studs that are directly behind the Murphy bed.

5. Secure the Murphy bed casing to the wall using three-inch wood screws. Screw the frame to the wall at the top and the bottom of the casing. Do not attempt to drive screws diagonally through the side of the Murphy bed casing into a stud. The screws should be concealed at the top and the base of the bed casing to make it look like the bed is a natural part of the room.

Tips & Warnings

• Place the Murphy bed mechanism on a wall the faces the widest part of the room to get the most benefit from its space saving properties. Mark the location of the studs prior to locating the Murphy bed next to the wall. While many builders recommend constructing the bed and then locating the studs, the ability to locate the studs at the base of the bed is made harder by the bed being in the way.

• Never anchor a Murphy bed to the drywall of the room. In order for the bed to work properly and not cause damage to the walls of the room, it must be secured to wooden studs hidden behind the walls. Murphy beds have been the cause of injury when not used properly or when someone doesn't pay attention when the bed is taken down or put up.

References

• Murphy Bed Orlando (FAQ)
• Murphy Bed Pros

Resources

• Wall Bed Factory (installing wall beds)