What Is a Murphy Cabinet Bed and How Does It Work?

A Murphy cabinet bed is a space-saving bed that folds into a compact furniture-style cabinet when it is not being used. It provides a comfortable sleeping surface when needed while allowing the room to remain available for other activities during the day.

Unlike a traditional Murphy wall bed, the freestanding Murphy cabinet beds offered by Gala Futons & Furniture do not require permanent attachment to a wall. This makes them especially useful in guest rooms, home offices, apartments, studios, and other rooms that serve more than one purpose.

### How Does a Murphy Cabinet Bed Work?

When closed, the sleeping platform and folding mattress are stored within the cabinet. To prepare the bed for sleeping, the cabinet opens and the supporting platform extends outward. The included folding mattress is then unfolded across the platform.

Depending on the model, the entire process can take less than a minute. When the bed is no longer needed, the process is reversed and the mattress and sleeping platform return to the cabinet.

Because the bed folds into a relatively compact cabinet, much of the floor space required for sleeping becomes available again when the bed is closed.

### What Sizes Are Available?

Murphy cabinet beds are available in Twin, Full, and Queen sizes depending on the model. The amount of floor space required when closed and fully opened varies considerably, so both measurements should be considered before choosing a bed.

Some models also provide additional features such as storage drawers, folding side trays, built-in power and USB connections, or desk functionality.

### Why Consider a Murphy Cabinet Bed?

The main advantage is flexibility. A room does not have to remain a dedicated bedroom simply because you occasionally need an additional place for someone to sleep.

A home office can become a guest room at night. A studio or hobby room can provide sleeping accommodations when family visits. An apartment can add an extra bed without permanently occupying the floor space required by a conventional bed.

At Gala Futons & Furniture, we have helped customers with space-saving furniture solutions since 2003. One of the most important things we recommend considering is not simply where the cabinet will fit when closed, but whether the room provides enough comfortable clearance when the bed is fully opened.

The other pages in our Murphy Cabinet Bed Buying Guide explore sizes, room measurements, mattresses, features, and comparisons with other sleeping solutions in greater detail.