Murphy beds are an innovative way to ensure you have plenty of space in your home. You can use them temporarily for guests or use them as your bed every night. You might wonder how a mattress stays on a Murphy bed if it folds up into the wall.
There are sturdy straps at the end of the Murphy bed that keep your mattress in place. You put the mattress in place, secure the straps over the corners or end of the bed, and then make your bed with a fitted sheet and other linens. That way your mattress stays in place and your bed still looks clean and inviting.
Though the straps work to keep your mattress in place, you’ll also want to consider the types of mattresses that work best in Murphy beds. You need to think about depth, weight, and comfort level. Ensure you get the most out of your Murphy bed with the information in this article.
How Does the Mattress Stay on a Murphy Bed?
When you put a mattress in your Murphy bed, it will fit into the frame that doubles as a box spring. You’ll pull straps over the farthest corners of the bed to ensure it stays in place. Then you make your Murphy bed as you would any other type of bed.
Murphy beds can have different types of straps. Some beds secure mattresses in each corner on the diagonal. Others have straps that cross from side to side, one at the top and one at the bottom. Both methods work well to keep the mattress in place.
When you fold your Murphy bed away, the straps will keep the mattress in place. The mattress won’t touch the wall when you close the bed. This means you can hang pictures or artwork above your bed. You don’t have to worry about taking them down before you put away your bed.
The straps also make it easier for you to open and close your Murphy bed when needed. You don’t have to open the frame itself and wrangle the mattress back in place because it will always stay strapped in. Since you put the fitted sheet over the straps, you’ll never have to remove them unless you’re turning or replacing your mattress.
In addition to how Murphy beds keep mattresses in place, also think about how the mattress keeps the Murphy bed in place. Mattresses must weigh enough to keep the bed in place when you make it for the night. Your mattress should weigh at least 55 pounds, but even if they don’t, you can add a weighted plate under the mattress.
You can add up to 10 pounds of weight inside the frame of your Murphy bed if the mattress is not heavy enough to keep it in place. You want to be sure the frame will stay flat when you’re sleeping in the bed, but you don’t want it to be so heavy that you can’t easily tuck it away.
How Do Murphy Beds Work?
Murphy beds are regular-sized beds that can fold up into a shelving system to make your room seem bigger. You can use these beds in small homes and apartments that don’t have a dedicated bedroom. You can install them anywhere to ensure you have an extra bed available for guests who come to stay.
Because you only need a bed when you’re sleeping, it’s only logical to tuck it away during the day and take advantage of extra space. This also enables you to use one room for multiple purposes. You can close up your bed and use the room as an office, dining area, or home gym.
Murphy beds attach to your wall and look like a piece of furniture or cabinets. They often have built-in storage around the mattress frame. You can choose different styles and finishes that best suit your decor.
Designers created Murphy beds so the mattress never touches the wall when it’s closed. This means that when you fold out the bed, your room will still look nice. You can hang artwork over the head of the bed and not have to worry about the mattress damaging the glass or frame.
Many Murphy beds have a built-in headboard so when the mattress is out, it looks like a typical bed. This means your room can still look elegant even though you’re using a Murphy bed. You can use mattress protectors, sheets, blankets, and comforters on your Murphy bed to make it comfortable and attractive.
You can use your Murphy bed for daily use without it wearing out quickly. If anything, the bolts that help it fold up may wear out, but replacing those is a quick and affordable fix. You can ensure it lasts longer by keeping the joints oiled and never forcing the bed opened or closed.
Since Murphy beds are more substantial than futons or rollaway cots, you won’t mind using them as your regular bed. Because you can use standard mattresses, you’ll sleep comfortably. The bed frames are solid so you won’t feel metal struts poking your back like you can on a cot or sofa bed.
Types of Murphy Beds
There are several designs of Murphy beds. You can choose different types, such as those that store the mattress horizontally or vertically, depending on the space available in your room. These methods keep the mattress flat at all times. When you close the bed, you’re lifting the entire mattress so it presses against the wall.
Folding Murphy beds free up more space in your home, but they might not be as comfortable as flat Murphy beds. The mattresses used in folding Murphy beds must be thinner than typical mattresses. They are more similar to futon mattresses, which are often flimsy and uncomfortable.
When you’re choosing your Murphy bed, decide if you prioritize a good night’s sleep or having more space available. Both have their benefits. You can store folding Murphy beds in small cabinets, which will keep your room more open. Flat Murphy beds can come with storage so you get the most out of your space.
You can choose Murphy beds with bookshelves or storage built around the frame, which makes them look more like a regular piece of furniture in your home. Some even have space where you can plug in and store a TV. Frames like these will add purpose to your space so you can use them even when you tuck the mattress away.
Some Murphy beds come with an entire room setup. The bed frame tucks into shelving that will store your books and other items. Designers built a dresser into the side to store your clothes. A desk and extra surface space turn the corner so you can have all of the furniture you need in one major item.
You can buy all of these furniture pieces separately, but they might be more expensive and take up more room. Because designers built the Murphy room systems together, you know they fit well together and will maximize your space.
Do You Need a Special Mattress for a Murphy Bed?
You don’t need a special mattress for a Murphy bed. In fact, you’ll want a regular mattress because it will ensure you or your guests get the best sleep possible. The only reason you’d need a special mattress is if you choose a Murphy bed that folds up into a smaller cabinet.
If you choose a folding Murphy bed, you’re limited to the standard folding mattresses used on futons and sofa beds. You might not have as many choices when it comes to thickness and comfort layers.
Since the bed’s frame doubles as a box spring, you don’t have to worry about the additional height a box spring would add. You also don’t need to choose a mattress that has a bottom box spring later. This is true for both folding and standard Murphy beds.
Even though you’ll be tucking your mattress away in the Murphy bed, you don’t have to worry about these motions ruining your mattresses. A good mattress should last about 10 years, and a Murphy bed frame can last this long as well. Therefore, when it’s time to replace one, you can replace both. There’s no need to worry about the bed ruining your mattress.
Buying the right mattress will protect it from the wear and tear of the Murphy bed. If your mattress safely fits in your bed’s frame and stays strapped securely in, it won’t shift and you open and close it.
Rotate your Murphy bed mattress just as you would a mattress on a stationary bed. This will ensure that the pressure points are getting rotated so the mattress will wear evenly. It will prevent your mattress from sagging too soon.
You’ll have to check the depth of your Murphy bed frame, but it is most likely able to support any mattress up to 12 inches deep. Standard innerspring mattresses will fit easily in Murphy bed frames, but some memory foam or specialty mattresses can also fit.
What Type of Mattress Do You Need for a Murphy Bed?
Standard mattresses are seven inches deep, which means you can use any of those in your Murphy bed. Thick mattresses start at 12 inches deep, so you might find one within that limit that has several layers.
Most mattresses have two layers: the base layer and the comfort layer. The base layer is the foundation that makes your mattress durable. This foundation should make up at least half of your mattress’s depth. For example, a 12-inch mattress should have at least six inches of base.
While the base layer of the mattress ensures it will last longer without sagging, the comfort layer is what you’ll feel the most. These layers are usually two or three inches thick. Manufacturers make these sections out of cotton, foam, or other plush materials.
Mattresses can have other layers as well, called transition layers. These layers might have special features that help the mattress breathe or support your back. Mattresses that are slimmer than 12 inches can have these features, but you might have to shop around for them.
The good thing is that any depth of mattress can be comfortable as long as you have a substantial base layer and a top comfort layer. You don’t need to buy the deepest mattress available to get a decent sleep.
If you’re trying to decide between a standard mattress or a deep mattress, consider these aspects:
- Sleeping position
- Body type
- Total weight
Sleeping Position
If you sleep on your side, you’ll want a 12-inch mattress to properly cushion your hips and shoulders. Ideally, this mattress will have a thicker comfort layer so you don’t hurt those joints on the foundation.
Sleeping on your back or stomach means you can be comfortable on a mattress that is 10 inches deep. You won’t need as thick of a comfort layer in these positions because you don’t want the mattress to compress beneath you, causing you to sink into the bed.
Body Type
Different mattresses will feel better depending on your body type. If you weigh less than 130 pounds, thicker mattresses will be more comfortable. The extra comfort layers will alleviate pressure on your body. This means you’ll want a 12-inch mattress to fit your Murphy bed.
If you weigh up to 230 pounds, a 10 to 12-inch mattress is the ideal choice for you. You can find different layers in mattresses this thick, so you might want to test some at the store to see what comfort layers feel best with your body.
People who weigh more than 230 pounds should choose a 12-inch mattress made with thick comfort layers. These layers will prevent your body from sinking into the base layer. They will also help your mattress keep shape with use.
In addition to your weight, consider any medical conditions or body pain you experience. People with back pain can benefit from standard depth mattresses that have medium-firm layers. The layers prevent your spine from sinking into the mattress too much when you’re sleeping. Some layers, like memory foam, will curve with your spine and relieve your back pain.
People who have arthritis or hip trouble benefit from softer mattresses. Since you’re limited to 12 inches deep with your Murphy bed, you’ll want a mattress with thinner comfort layers made of cotton or other plush materials. The light layers will take the pressure off of your joints so you wake up without arthritis pain.
Total Weight
Your weight and body type influence what type of mattress you’ll be most comfortable on, but you also need to consider the total weight the mattress needs to hold. Do you sleep with a partner? If so, you’ll want a 10 to 12-inch mattress.
Unless the pain you experience when you sleep prohibits it, you’ll also want to opt for a firmer mattress. This is because two people sharing a mattress will apply more pressure, which can cause the mattress to sag.
What Size Mattress Do You Need for a Murphy Bed?
Murphy beds come in every standard bed size, such as twin, full, queen, and king. There are even Murphy bunk beds you can install in a children’s room to give them plenty of floor space to play.
If you’re buying a Murphy bed for yourself, you might only need a full-sized bed. If you sleep with a partner, you’ll want something bigger. When buying a Murphy bed for guests, it’s better to err on the side of a larger bed if you have space available. You want your guests to be comfortable when they stay over.
Keep in mind that, while Murphy beds tuck away and don’t take up much space, you need to have the wall area available to the right mattress size. If you want a king bed for your comfort, you’ll have to make sure you have enough wall space for a king-size mattress.
Measure your walls according to the standard mattress sizes. You’ll also need to add a little room on the sides for the frame. If your Murphy bed has shelves or storage around it, you’ll have to add those measurements as well.
Final Notes
Unless you’re getting a folding Murphy bed, you won’t need a special mattress. You can choose a standard mattress that feels most comfortable for your body type. You can even get a mattress up to 12 inches thick that has extra comfort layers.
Because the Murphy bed has straps that keep the mattress in place, you don’t have to worry about the mattress separating from the bed frame. The straps will hold down the mattress and stay hidden by the bed’s fitted sheet.
Invest in the right style of Murphy bed for your home, whether it’s big or small. You and your guests will sleep comfortably and you can take advantage of all the space this unique bed frees up!