The Murphy bed has been around for over 100 years. Its utility and style ensure that it will be around for at least another 100.
If you’re looking to conserve space in a small apartment or to give yourself an additional guest space without adding a new room to your house, the Murphy bed can be the perfect solution.
Adding a Murphy bed to your home is an investment that can add value for years to come. With the proliferation of online stores and low shipping costs, you might be tempted to save money by purchasing a DIY kit from an online retailer rather than getting a custom bed and working with a professional installer. However, don’t let your excitement for this savvy space saver lead you to make any hasty decisions.
Why should you avoid online DIY kits and get your Murphy bed installed by a professional?
DIY Murphy Bed Kits vs. Professional Installation
With more people moving to urban areas, space is at a premium and many people are learning to adjust to living in smaller homes/apartments. In fact, urban apartment sizes have begun to trend down for the first time in years.
In this environment, the Murphy bed has seen a resurgence in popularity. Many customers who purchase a DIY Murphy bed kit expect a quick and easy assembly, but the installation of a Murphy bed requires specific training and product knowledge to ensure the bed is functional, comfortable and safe.
We’ve put together a few reasons why you should purchase your Murphy bed from a company that provides professional installation:
1. A higher-quality Murphy bed.
For starters, it’s very difficult to evaluate the quality of a complex and unfamiliar product online shopping. Based on an online review alone, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to determine:
- How the cabinetry looks in person
- How it might blend in with other cabinetry units in your home
- How easy it is to raise and lower the Murphy bed
- How heavy and sturdy the bed is
- How comfortable the mattress might be
There can be a big difference in the quality of cabinetry and Murphy bed mechanisms available. Visiting a Murphy bed showroom in person is the best way to understand exactly what you are getting for your investment.
2. No hassling with heavy shipments.
Murphy beds are heavy and can be difficult to receive without a loading dock. That’s a good thing. In order for a Murphy bed to be stable and support a high weight capacity, it needs to be built from high quality (and hence, heavy, materials).
Murphy bed cabinets, mechanisms and mattresses are heavy – very heavy. They also involve a lot of bulky packaging and many complex parts. The same features that make Murphy beds functional and safe also make them a bear to install on your own.
Another issue with online/DIY Murphy bed kits is the process of managing inaccurate or incomplete shipping. If you receive a bed kit with missing parts or with cabinets that arrive in the wrong size or finish, it can be nearly impossible to manage the return/replacement process on such a heavy and bulky item.
The last thing you want is your incomplete, non-functional space-saving bed taking up valuable storage space in your garage!
3. A faster Murphy bed installation process.
On average, it takes two, experienced professional installers six hours, to deliver and install a Murphy bed in a customer’s home. Committing yourself to be available for that period of time can already be a challenge if you have a busy schedule or work away from home.
Imagine how much more time it takes to complete a self-installation. Homeowners without training and prior experience can take much longer and become much more frustrated as they go through the installation process for the first time.
And, in addition to taking time and energy, trying to complete an amateur installation can be unsafe, both for yourself as you manage the heavy components and for future users of your Murphy bed.
4. Managing intricate adjustments.
When a Murphy bed is being assembled, it’s a little more complicated than just looking at a manual and putting in a few screws. A proper installation requires a multitude of adjustments and can be a very delicate balancing act.
Murphy bed installers are professionals who have a background in carpentry. When they complete a Murphy bed installation, they are actually installing it in a way that accounts for the bed and the surrounding area of your house, checking for:
- Walls that may not be plumb
- Whether walls are weight-bearing
- Floors that are unlevel
- Wiring and pipes that may be hidden in the walls
By ensuring the floor is level, for example, you avoid sagging issues as weight is placed on the bed. If you place the bed on a wall that is not weight-bearing, you may put your bed, yourself/guests, and your home’s structural integrity in danger.
A professional installer’s assessment and management of your space allows the Murphy bed to fit into your home, giving you confidence that it will operate correctly and will be safe and comfortable for your guests.
5. Ensuring seamless operation.
Professional Murphy bed installers know just how to adjust the springs on your Murphy bed in line with the weight of the mattress so your guests can raise and lower the bed with ease.
Too many springs can make a bed hard to deploy, while not enough springs can cause it to deploy too quickly. Spring adjustments are difficult to make and require a special tool, another reason why they are best left to an experienced installation team.
Many people consider installing a Murphy bed on their own to save a little money on their projects. However, trying to complete the Murphy bed installation on your own may cause more trouble than it’s worth.
In worst-case scenarios, it can even end up increasing the overall cost once you add up time, your own labor, supplies, potential damage and more. Avoid DIY Murphy bed kits and instead let More Space Place Austin’s professional Murphy bed installation team handle the heavy lifting, technical installation and clean up so you can relax and enjoy the newest addition to your home.
Decide which Murphy bed option is the right one for you. Download our bed planning guide or schedule a consultation and space assessment with a member of our design team.
