How To Build A Murphy Bed With A Floating Desk
A Murphy bed, named after the American engineer William Lawrence Murphy, is a bed that folds into a cabinet and is out of sight when not in use. This bed has various benefits and uses, especially in small spaces where it can be challenging to fit a regular-sized bed. Here’s how to build a murphy bed with a floating desk to give you the extra space you need in your home or office.
Planning Your Murphy Bed
Murphy beds are gaining popularity, especially among millennial. Not only are they space-saving, but Murphy bed can add character and charm to your home’s interior. They can be customized to the style of any room and act as an additional piece of furniture when not in use. While it’s best to think ahead when installing one of these systems, here are some simple steps to build your own Murphy Bed.
What You Will Need
- Murphy Bed Frame
- Desk Top
- Wood Screws
- Sheet of Plywood or Oriented Strand Board
- Metal Shelf Supports
- Box Cutter
- Drill
- Floor Leveler
- Polyurethane
Cut List
The materials list below is designed for building the Murphy Bed shown on page 5 of the PDF.
1x Metal Parts Packet ($45) – This includes all metal parts (railing and frame) and screws, nuts, bolts, washers, and pins. It does not include additional items (described below).
2x 3/4 Plywood sheets: 24 x 48 in ($17)
1x 4’x8′ Sheet of MDF ($12) – can be substituted for plywood.
Wood Glue – $5 for a 10 oz container of Hands. All wood glue should work fine.
Install The Frame Before The Base
How the Murphy Bed Works After it is folded up, the Murphy Bed comes out of its closed position to stand upright. Then the base of the frame sits in front of the wall, and the rack folds out until it reaches its vertical position. The headboard and footboard connect magnetically and sit 90 degrees from each other at about 5 feet high.
Before you build your Murphy Bed, figure out which side of your room you want the door on when it’s down, then measure along that side where you want to put a window so that you can have natural light come in during the day.
Install Casters So It Is Easy To Move Around.
Murphy beds can be significant in smaller apartments or houses. They are ideal for those who want a place to work at home or need somewhere that can sleep and overnight guests. However, sometimes they can be challenging to assemble, and the doors might not fit right when closed.
One way you can make your Murphy bed assembly easier is by adding casters on the legs so that you can move it around quickly when you have it fully assembled. The instructions below will teach you how to construct your Murphy bed with casters to fit any space!
Installing The Base
The first step in assembling the bed is finding the right spot for your workspace. Ideally, this should be out of the way but not so far that you can’t be quickly interrupted by people or phone calls. Find an outlet and make sure there is no furniture directly blocking it. Draw a line representing where the wall will go once the Murphy Bed is assembled against it. Mark off where any doorways are on either side of this line.
Final Assembly And Complete Project Walkthrough
Here is a look at the finished Murphy Bed with Floating Desk in all its glory. The design came together beautifully and created the perfect cozy workspace when needed. I like how it flips into the wall without too much intruding on the space. It has everything you need for an office and will also fit just about anywhere, saving space for more clutter in your room! I recommend this design if you want extra work space that doesn’t take up too much room.
Conclusion
Murphy beds are one of the most famous pieces of furniture, as they can be used as an extra sleeping space and a dual-purpose room divider. This multi-function furniture is perfect for small spaces, providing functionality without cluttering the place. You might have even seen one in your favorite trendy home design magazine or TV. The great thing about murphy beds is that they’re easy to clean and make great use of otherwise unused space in the home.
