Understanding Murphy Bed
William Lawrence Murphy invented the fold-up bed in San Francisco around 1900, reportedly because the one-room apartment he rented was too small to entertain the woman he was courting — social norms at the time deemed it improper for a woman to enter a man's bedroom. His ingenious solution was a bed that could disappear into a closet, transforming his bedroom into a parlor. He patented the design in 1911, and the Murphy Wall Bed Company has been in continuous operation ever since. Modern Murphy beds use a spring-loaded or piston-assisted mechanism that allows one person to easily fold the bed up or down. They are available in all standard mattress sizes (twin through king) and increasingly come integrated with surrounding cabinetry — side shelving units, fold-down desks, fold-out sofas, and storage systems that create a complete multifunctional wall unit.
Murphy Bed in Interior Design
Murphy beds have surged in popularity as urban living spaces shrink and multi-use rooms become the norm. In studio apartments, a Murphy bed transforms a bedroom into a living room or home office during the day. In guest rooms, it allows the space to function as an office or exercise room when guests are not visiting. Modern Murphy bed designs have evolved far beyond the basic fold-down frame — high-end models feature built-in LED lighting, USB charging ports, and surrounding cabinetry that forms a seamless wall unit indistinguishable from a custom closet when closed. The Murphy bed with an integrated desk (the bed panel doubles as a desktop when vertical) is particularly popular for home offices. Design-forward manufacturers offer Murphy beds in contemporary, mid-century, and traditional styles to match any interior.
