Last year, I finally tackled a project I’d been putting off for years – installing a Murphy bed in our guest room! With three kids and their friends constantly staying over, I needed a solution that wouldn’t eat up our limited space when not in use.
This project changed our home in ways I never expected. Our guest room now doubles as my craft room, and nobody would guess there’s a full-sized bed hiding in that wall cabinet!
Was it challenging? A little.
Was it worth it? Absolutely!
And guess what? We saved nearly $2,000 by going the DIY route instead of buying pre-made.
If you’ve been eyeing those fancy wall beds but clutching your wallet in fear, this guide is for you. I’ll walk you through exactly what worked for us, where I messed up (so you don’t have to), and how you can create this amazing space-saving solution over a weekend or two.
Why DIY Murphy Wall Bed?
When we moved to our new home, we downsized by 600 square feet, and I had to get creative with our living arrangements.
Small cluttered guest room with desk and exercise equipment.
Our guest room looked like this most days – part office, part gym, part storage disaster. When guests came, we’d frantically clear everything out and blow up an air mattress that inevitably lost air by morning. Not exactly five-star accommodation!
A Murphy bed seemed like the perfect solution, but when I started shopping around, I nearly fainted at the prices. Most quality wall mount Murphy bed started at $3,000 and went up from there. Yikes!
That’s when my DIY radar kicked in. After researching and watching countless videos, I realized this was totally doable as a home project. The hardware kits (the complicated lifting mechanism parts) are readily available, and the rest is basically cabinet building.
Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about building something with your own hands that transforms how you use your home. My teenagers even got involved, learning valuable skills in the process!
How To DIY Murphy Wall Bed? (A Step-By-Step Guide)
Before diving into specifics, here’s what you’re getting into: This project involves building a bed frame that attaches to a spring or piston mechanism, mounting that mechanism securely to your wall, and creating a cabinet around it all so it looks like furniture when closed.
Don’t worry if you’re not a woodworking expert!
If you can measure accurately and operate a drill, you’ve got this. The trickiest part is making sure everything is level and securely attached to wall studs.
Step 1: Arrange the tools and requirements
Here’s what you’ll need for this project:
Materials:
- Murphy bed hardware kit (I used the Rockler Queen-Size kit – $699)
- 4×8 sheets of plywood (I used 3 sheets of 3/4″ birch plywood)
- 1×3 pine boards (about 12 pieces)
- Wood screws (various sizes)
- Wood glue
- Wood putty
- Sandpaper (80, 120, and 220 grit)
- Paint or stain of your choice
- Clear polyurethane if staining
- Cabinet handles or pulls
Tools:
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Level (get a 4-foot one if possible)
- Circular saw or table saw
- Drill and various drill bits
- Stud finder
- Screwdriver set
- Clamps (the more the better!)
- Safety glasses
pile of lumber and tools in garage before starting murphy bed project.
This was our supply pile before starting. Yes, it looked overwhelming at first! But taking it step by step made it manageable.
One tip I wish I’d known earlier: Check all your hardware before starting! We were missing two bolts and had to pause mid-project for a hardware store run.
Step 2: Planning and Measurements
This part is super important! Measure twice, cut once was never more true than for this project.
First, decide what size bed you want. We opted for a queen, but twin and full sizes require less wall space. The standard dimensions are:
- Twin: 39″ × 75″
- Full: 54″ × 75″
- Queen: 60″ × 80″
You’ll need about 16″ of depth for the cabinet when closed, plus room for the bed to swing down. Our queen bed needs about 81″ of floor space when open.
woman measuring wall space with tape measure.
Next, find and mark all the wall studs where you’ll mount the bed. This is absolutely critical! A Murphy bed can weigh 200+ pounds, and you need it attached to something solid. We used a stud finder and marked each stud location with blue painter’s tape.
Draw a detailed plan showing exactly where everything will go. I sketched mine on graph paper and taped it to the wall so my husband and I were literally on the same page!
Something I learned the hard way: Check your ceiling height too! Our first design was too tall and would have hit our ceiling light. Oops!
Step 3: Building the Bed Frame
This is where things got interesting at our house!
Start by cutting your plywood sheets according to your hardware kit instructions. Most kits will include detailed cutting diagrams. If you don’t have a table saw, many home improvement stores will cut sheets for you – just bring your measurements.
woman and teenage girl sanding wood pieces in garage.
For the bed frame, you’ll create a basic box that’s slightly smaller than your mattress size. Our queen frame measured 59″ × 79″.
Attach the side rails to the head and foot boards using wood screws and glue for extra strength. Pre-drill your holes to prevent splitting the wood.
Don’t forget to account for your mattress thickness! Most Murphy beds don’t use box springs, so your frame only needs to accommodate the mattress itself.
After assembly, sand all edges to prevent splinters. We learned that 80 grit sandpaper works great for initial sanding, then move to 120 or 220 for a smoother finish.
Remember those 1×3 boards? Use them to create supports that will hold your mattress. We spaced ours about 3″ apart across the frame.
mattress support slats arranged evenly across murphy bed frame.
Time-saving tip: Ask kids or friends to help with sanding or holding pieces in place. My daughter became our “official sander” and took great pride in her contribution!
Step 4: Construct The Wall Cabinets
The cabinet is what makes your Murphy bed look like a built-in piece of furniture when closed.
Start by building a basic cabinet box that will house your bed mechanism. The width should match your bed frame plus about 2 inches on each side. The height needs to accommodate your bed frame plus the mechanism.
We created side cabinets for extra storage, but you can skip this if you want a simpler project.
For the face frame, we used 1×3 pine boards to create a more finished look. This frame goes around the perimeter of the cabinet opening.
unfinished murphy bed cabinet mounted to wall with side shelving.
This was ours before adding doors or finishing. Not pretty yet, but getting there!
One crucial step: Make sure your cabinet is perfectly level when you mount it! Use shims if needed between the cabinet and the wall.
We screwed our cabinet directly into the wall studs we marked earlier. Don’t rely on drywall anchors for this – they won’t hold the weight.
A mistake we made: We didn’t account for the baseboard along our wall, which pushed the bottom of our cabinet out slightly. We had to remove a section of baseboard for a flush fit. Check for this before you start!
Step 5: Attaching the Bed Frame to the Wall Mount System
Now comes the part that makes a Murphy bed magic – the lifting mechanism!
Murphy bed hardware kits come with pistons or springs that counterbalance the weight of your bed, making it easy to lift and lower. Follow your specific kit instructions carefully here.
In general, you’ll attach mounting plates to your wall cabinet, then connect your bed frame to these plates using the pivot hardware from your kit.
husband installing murphy bed lifting mechanism with son holding pieces.
This took both of us, plus our teenage son helping hold things in place. Those mechanisms are heavy!
Test the movement before attaching the mattress. The bed should lift with relatively little effort and stay in place when raised.
A safety tip we followed religiously: Use the exact bolts and screws specified in your kit. This is not the place to substitute hardware!
Our first test lift was a nail-biter! I was sure something would break, but it worked perfectly. The pistons did all the heavy lifting, and the bed moved smoothly.
Step 6: Add Finishing Touches
This is where your project transforms from “clearly homemade” to “wow, you MADE that?!”
Sand everything one final time with fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe away all dust with a slightly damp cloth.
Apply your chosen finish. We decided to paint ours white to match our trim, using a semi-gloss paint for easier cleaning. If you prefer stain, apply 2-3 coats of polyurethane after staining for protection.
Add cabinet handles or pulls to help open and close your bed. We chose modern brushed nickel pulls that match our room’s other hardware.
finished white murphy bed in closed position with decorative handles.
Some people add crown molding to the top of their cabinets for a built-in look. We skipped this but might add it later.
Don’t forget to add a mattress retaining system! This can be as simple as a strap that goes across the mattress or as fancy as a flip-down leg system. Most hardware kits include options.
Personal touch: I added a cute sign that says “Sleep tight!” that’s visible when the bed is open. Our guests love this little detail!
DIY Murphy Wall Bed Vs Buy New One
Let me break down the comparison that convinced me to go the DIY route:
Cost was my biggest factor. A decent pre-made Murphy bed starts around $3,000, while our DIY version cost us just under $1,000 (about $700 for the hardware kit and $300 for wood and finishing materials).
Customization matters too. By building our own, we could match the exact dimensions of our room and the existing decor. We built in small bookshelves on each side for my craft supplies when the bed is up.
Quality control was another win. I’ve assembled enough flat-pack furniture to know it often doesn’t last. With our DIY approach, we chose solid wood where it mattered most and saved on less visible areas.
Time investment is real though! This project took us two weekends plus some weeknight work. A pre-made option would have been much faster to install.
man and teenage boy measuring wood for murphy bed frame.
That’s my husband and son working on the frame. It became a family project, which made the work more fun and meaningful.
According to a 2022 home improvement survey, DIY furniture projects save homeowners an average of 70% compared to buying new – and that’s definitely true for Murphy beds.
Safety Tips When DIYing Murphy Bed
Safety is super important with Murphy beds!
Always mount your bed to wall studs, never just drywall. We used 3.5″ lag bolts to make sure ours wasn’t going anywhere.
Check all moving parts regularly for loose screws or signs of wear.
If you have young children, consider adding a lock or safety latch to prevent them from playing with the bed mechanism.
Keep fingers clear of pinch points during operation. We established a clear “stand back” rule when opening or closing the bed.
Follow the weight limits in your hardware kit instructions. Most Murphy beds can handle standard mattresses up to about 12″ thick.
Never try to force the bed if it seems stuck. Figure out what’s blocking it first.
According to Consumer Product Safety Commission data, furniture tip-overs cause thousands of injuries annually. Don’t become a statistic – secure that bed properly!
finished murphy bed in open position with made bed and decorative pillows.
Conclusion
This project took us about 40 hours of work spread over two weekends, but the payoff has been incredible. Our multi-purpose room now actually serves multiple purposes without compromising on comfort or style.
We spent just under $1,000 total, compared to $3,000+ for a comparable pre-made option. That’s money we put toward a family vacation instead!
If you’re considering this project, take your time with the planning and measuring stage. That’s where most mistakes happen (trust me, we made a few).
Get help for the heavy lifting parts – especially mounting the cabinet and installing the mechanisms. Your back will thank you!
Our guests have been amazed by how comfortable the bed is. There’s no “compromise” feeling that often comes with sleeper sofas or air mattresses.
Would I do this project again? In a heartbeat! In fact, we’re already planning another one for our basement to create a guest suite when my parents visit.
Have you tackled any space-saving furniture projects? I’d love to hear about them! In the meantime, happy building!
