The ever-cool, and ever-efficient Murphy bed. Maybe you know it as a hidden wall-bed, or a pull-down bed, but whatever you call it, you know how space-saving and sort of magical they can be. If you’re living in close quarters or just want to create spaces that have multiple functions, the “Disappearing Bed” might be the option you're searching for. But where does the Murphy bed come from? What even is a Murphy bed?
The Murphy Bed, also known as a hidden wall bed, fold down bed or pull down bed, is a bed that is hinged at one end so it can be folded up and stored vertically or horizontally against a wall or in a closet. It’s useful in situations where floor space is at a premium, like studio apartments, dorm rooms, city living where space is premium, HDB, small condominiums or kids’ rooms.
Many have asked why the hidden wall bed is called Murphy bed, especially with the big cap M. The bed is named, no surprise, after a guy named William L. Murphy. The son of a gold-seeking 49er, Murphy worked a few different jobs around California before he came up with his invention. He broke in horses for a while, drove a stagecoach, and even served as sheriff of a little pioneer town. At the turn of the 20th century, he made his way to San Francisco and rented a tiny one-room apartment on Bush Street, which inspired his leap into the bed business. The manufacturer of one of the earliest space-saving devices--the fold-into-the-wall Murphy bed--was founded by Murphy about 1900 in San Francisco under the name Murphy Wall Bed Co. of California Inc.
The Murphy bed caught on quickly. The ever-growing population and shrinking of living space made for good timing on Murphy’s part. His original design was patented in 1911 and has since become a staple in homes as well as on the big screen. Charlie Chaplin famously tangoed with one in his 1916 silent hit, One AM. The Three Stooges, Mel Brooks, Roger Rabbit, and even James Bond have all shared a screen with Murphy’s star invention.
Due to its space-saving benefits, it should come as no surprise that the Murphy bed is enjoying its popularity due to the current craze for tiny houses. But tiny-house-hunters aren’t the only ones who have rediscovered the genius of the Murphy bed: According to CBS News in 2010, Murphy beds have been reappearing in some high-end hotels like the St. Francis in San Francisco and interestingly in Disney World, where the resort hotel had a giant statue of Roger Rabbit just outside the room, and inside the room is the Murphy bed.
There are many companies making Murphy beds today, including many local cabinetmakers. Sometimes, side cabinets or shelves are added to enhance the function of the bed and to provide some storage when the bed is closed; often, you would hardly know there was a bed there unless someone told you! Consider using a Murphy or hidden wall bed in places where space is at a premium and in room you typically use for another purpose. Adding a Murphy bed to a home office, an open loft space, a studio apartment, a family room, or even a child’s bedroom brings a second purpose to the space and adds another sleeping space to the home. They can also be extremely useful in cabins or vacation homes where extra sleeping space is often required for guests.
