With many options on the market, it can be tricky to determine the right model for your home. At this point in your research, you’re probably wondering what is a Murphy bed?
If you’re new to the wall bed market, this guide will walk you through all the basic elements before making your Murphy bed purchase.
A Wall Bed vs. A Murphy Bed
While the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a subtle difference between a wall bed and a traditional Murphy bed. A regular Murphy bed is wall- or floor-mounted and uses elaborate springs and metal frames to raise and lower the mattress.
A traditional wall bed also uses a spring mechanism and includes cabinets on either side of the bed, so the bed appears as a regular wall when in the upright position.
The Lori Bed Difference
Unlike the traditional Murphy beds or wall beds, the Lori Bed has no mechanical aids to lift and lower the platform. This is because these metal spring mechanisms are cumbersome, expensive and aren’t needed for the bed to lift with ease.
Instead of using the force of springs or pistons, the Lori Bed can be lifted and lowered by hand using your and your lifting partner's strength. It is an innovative yet simple system. It is easier to install since you don’t have to connect a spring system. Lori Beds even provides a comprehensive step-by-step building guide and video tutorial that clearly illustrates the installation process.
One person can install the bed in less than four hours, and with a partner, it could take less than two hours — that’s less time than it takes to clean out and reorganize most closets.
Wall vs. Floor Mounted
The most common Murphy bed options are floor-mounted or wall-mounted, which indicates where the bed will be secured. Floor mounting is required by traditional spring mechanism systems, making it stable but usually causes permanent damage to the floor. Floor mounted units are also more difficult to remove once installed.
The majority of Murphy beds on the market need to be secured to a wall. Wall-mounted units attach to studs and can generally be moved without causing much damage. Traditional wall-mounted Murphy beds rely on gas piston lifting mechanisms to raise the bed platform up and down.
If you want to preserve your floors, baseboards and molding, the Lori Bed is a better alternative because it doesn’t operate with a lifting mechanism that needs to create tension near the bed’s base to lift the mattress. The bed uses a standalone platform that only attaches to the cabinet when it’s in the upright position, meaning there’s very little weight, if any, pulling against the wall.
Mattress Types
People often wonder if you need a special mattress for a Murphy bed. The good news is that virtually any mattress can be used in a Murphy bed. Just keep in mind considerations such as mattress thickness, firmness/comfort and mattress weight.
Another distinction to keep in mind is that Murphy beds and wall beds don’t have box springs. Instead, the mattress attaches to the bed frame with a retention system, like an elastic strap to hold the mattress in place in the upright position. Slumping (or the folding up a mattress while in the upright position) can be mitigated by keeping the mattress strap tight. A tight strap helps the mattress stay straight when it is stored upright.
The Lori Bed can accommodate any mattress up to 12 inches tall. To preserve the integrity of the mattress for the long-term, the company recommends choosing a thicker mattress. Thicker mattresses are less likely to bend or slump than a thinner option since the wall acts as a support if the mattress is thick.
Do you have a specific question about purchasing a wall bed? Feel free to reach out to us directly at info@loriwallbeds.com. You can also check out our additional comprehensive guides below.
