Is a Murphy Bed Comfortable?
People often wonder if a murphy bed is as comfortable as a traditional bed. The short answer is that yes - it can be. However, you'll find that not all murphy beds are the same.
Choosing A Murphy Bed - Wall beds Vs. Chest Beds
The first thing to ask yourself is whether you're choosing a wall bed style murphy bed or a chest bed. This will dictate the type of mattress you're able to use and therefore have a great effect on whether it will be as comfortable as a regular bed.
Chest Beds
A chest bed is a type of murphy bed that is made to look like a dresser. While some may like the look of the chest bed, it requires the mattress to be folded in three when stored away. This means that you limit your options when it comes to the mattress. Chest bed mattresses are thinner, often sag, and can be compared to the comfort level of a futon more than a traditional guest bed.
A chest bed does sacrifice comfort for convenience a little bit, but its still much more comfortable than an air mattress or even most pull-out sofa beds.
Wallbeds
A wall bed is what people usually think of when thinking of a murphy bed. It is a hidden bed mounted within a cabinet on the wall to save space and folds down like a draw bridge.
If a comfortable night's sleep is a big factor for you when choosing your murphy bed, you'll want to purchase a wall bed. The murphy bed mattress within the wall bed does not need to fold which means you can use a comfortable mattress just like a conventional bed. As long as it is less than 12" thick, you can choose the right mattress for you - even memory foam.
The wallbed is an increasingly popular piece of furniture because they are able to create extra space in your room and at the same time offer a comfortable sleeping arrangement on par with a traditional bed. Guests are able enjoy a comfortable night's sleep without sacrificing the functional space of your living area or guest room.
How To Choose The Right Murphy Bed Mattress
As discussed above, chest style murphy beds don't allow you much flexibility in your mattress choice because of their need to fold. So we're only going to assume you're choosing the wallbed style.
Mattress Size Limitations Compared To A Regular Bed
A murphy bed frame can hold standard size mattresses, but there are a few small limitations.
- The standard cabinet depth makes in able to hold up to a 12" thick mattress size. Regardless if it is Twin, Full, or Queen size.
- The weight of the mattress must fall within a specific range to allow the specifically engineered raise-assist pistons to make it easy to open and close. This varies by what size murphy bed you choose, but for Hideaway the max weight for each variation is:
- Queen Size Mattress: 85 lbs
- Full Size Mattress: 75 lbs
- Twin Size Mattress: 70 lbs
Other than that, you are can choose the best fit for your personal preference based on firmness or whatever your personal preferences are.
Conclusion - The Style You Choose Will Dictate Your Murphy Bed Comfort Level
Chest beds offer space-saving convenience and can be a great option for small space that has a low number of visitors sleeping on the murphy bed on a regular basis.
However, if you're looking for a comfortable murphy bed that also saves floor space in the room where you want to keep it - a wall bed style is the right choice for you.
Chest beds can have lumpy, thin mattresses due to their need to be folded, while wall beds allow for a variety of mattresses based on your personal preferences and are only limited slightly by depth and weight. Always check the weight & depth of whatever bed options you are considering for your new bed cabinet. Also note that a firm mattress could be a good option since neither option allows for a box spring.
If you're considering putting a murphy bed in your home, building one with one of our Murphy Bed Kits can be a great option. It is a fraction of the cost of a prebuilt option and can be completed within a weekend with slightly above beginner-level DIY skills. Check them out in our digital showroom.
