Moving to a bigger home or adding on a new room are space solutions not always in the budget. But you still may be able to get added space within the existing footprint of your home. The solution is as simple as acquiring another piece of furniture — a really versatile furniture like a Murphy bed or a wall bed.
It’s a practical solution also for those wanting to downsize.
“I went from a two-bedroom to a one bedroom-apartment,” said Nancy White. “I don’t like dressers and chest of drawers. They take up too much space and end up holding clutter. The wall bed has been my solution for years.”
Murphy beds first came on the scene commercially in the early 1900s. Folded up, the unit masquerades as a two door-closet. The Murphy became popular and was a great source of slapstick comedy in the days of silent movies.
More recently, the Murphy evolved into a sophisticated piece of furniture, both in design and function. “The design trend is now sleek and flat,” said Steve Archer, president of Wall Beds Systems in Wapakoneta, Ohio.
From a cost and practical standpoint, “They can serve as the second bedroom in a one-bedroom condo or timeshare,” Archer added.
“The wall bed is perfect for a guest room or home office, where economy of space is a need,” said Alison Heath, marketing director at Hardwood Artisans, with stores in Rockville and Alexandria, Woodbridge and Chantilly, Va.
Design options have expanded from plain closet doors to multishelved library units and media walls. Shelving slides apart to reveal the secured bed. With the bed up and away, the library shelves slide flush together leaving the appearance of a seamless wall unit.
The furniture can be built with overhead reading lights and electrical outlets in the headboard. The furniture is available in laminates or all wood.
The challenge for manufacturers, said Archer, “ is staying ahead of the design trends, which now are sleek and flat.”
And there is cost. The biggest expense is the lift mechanism that provides the now-you-see-me-now-you-don’t aspect. That can cost $800 or more.
The rising cost comes with improved balance and newer safety measures that make the so-called pinch points child-proof and less likely to cause injury.
Typically, the furniture comes in pieces and is assembled in the customer’s room. Queen or king size will easily fit in a room with 8-foot ceilings. For rooms with lower ceilings, the bed can be designed with a horizontal day-bed profile allowing the mattress to easily fold up on its side. The furniture also can be custom made to accommodate longer mattresses for today’s NBA-sized children.
While wall beds may not fill every design conversion, Heath says “they are a steady seller.”
