For your bedroom to have the most storage space possible, you’re going to want to make sure that you maximize the walls and ceiling of your bedroom. With a Murphy bed and shelves underneath, not only will you have more usable space but you’ll also be able to save money on your energy bills by lowering your room temperature by several degrees at night when you’re sleeping. Let’s take a look at how to build a murphy bed with shelves underneath!
How do you design your murphy bed?
Designing your Murphy Bed can be tricky. The first thing you need to decide is if you want the bed to come down from the wall, or rise up from the ground. If you want it to come down from the wall, you will need two pieces of wood for each side of your wall that are about 4 inches wide and tall enough for your mattress plus 6 inches.
For example, if you want your Murphy Bed to be 72 inches wide and 36 inches tall, cut two pieces that are 80x40x6 inches. If you want it to rise up from the ground, you will need one piece of wood for each side of your wall that is about 4 inches wide and as tall as your mattress plus 6 inches (same dimensions).
What materials do you need?
I have found that the simplest way to make a Murphy Bed is by using boards, brackets, and an eye bolt. I would recommend using a drill for screwing in the boards but you could use other types of brackets as well. The first step is assembling all of your supplies.
You need 3 pieces of wood (1 long piece and 2 short pieces) that are about 3-4 inches wide and 12 inches high. You will also need 2 pieces of wood that are 4 inches wide and 6 inches high or low depending on how tall you want your shelf.
How many screws do I need?
This is not a question I can answer definitively, because there are many different ways of building Murphy beds. If you are using standard hardware store lumber, then it will take about 60 screws to put together the frame of the Murphy bed. Once you have assembled all the pieces for your Murphy bed and have attached them, you need to attach your platform and shelving unit.
This will likely require another 20 screws, but again this depends on how many boards you use and how precisely they fit together.
What tools are required?
To create your Murphy Bed, you will need the following tools:
- Measuring tape, pencil and paper.
- Square and level.
- Carpenter’s square.
- Sawhorses. (Optional but helpful) A jigsaw or hand saw is also helpful for cutting out the plywood if you have one available).
You will also need screws and wood glue (optional), a drill with various bits, wood clamps, sandpaper and paint or stain if desired.
Where should the mechanism be installed?
The Murphy bed mechanism should be installed on the wall that is farthest away from the door. This will allow you to open and close the bed without having to move past it. The Murphy bed should be installed so that when it is in the down position, it does not block any of the light switches or door frames.
When installing your Murphy Bed, make sure there are no pipes or cables near where you plan on installing it as this may cause issues during use.
Other considerations
Murphy beds are versatile pieces of furniture that can be folded out of the way when not in use and provide a comfortable sleeping area. They are also an economical option for homes where space is at a premium. Murphy beds are typically made by skilled cabinetmakers, but you can save money by building one yourself.
You will need access to basic carpentry tools and supplies such as wood boards, metal brackets, sheet metal screws, and hinges.
Measure your space to determine the size of the bed you want to create. Note that this should take into account any space taken up by other objects in the room such as chairs or sofas.
