Simple Tips For Office Murphy Bed Ideas
With working from home becoming more common, many of us are looking for ways to transform spaces in our homes into offices. One clever solution is to install a murphy bed, allowing you to convert a spare room or bedroom into a guest sleeping space and workspace. But what exactly are murphy bed office ideas, and what design tips help maximize their usefulness?
We'll suggest murphy bed types ideal for offices, provide placement and styling ideas, review important features to consider, and answer common questions.
Save Precious Office Space
One of the biggest perks of using a murphy bed in your home office is the amount of space they save. Folding vertically into the wall when not in use, these beds maximize room capacity for desks, filing cabinets, and other office furniture. Their space-saving functionality also allows entire rooms to serve a dual-purpose.
For example, your home's small guest bedroom could double as a home office with a murphy bed. During the day, simply fold up the bed to convert the room into your workspace. At night, lower the bed to accommodate overnight guests. Murphy beds essentially allow you to repurpose rooms based on your needs at the time.
This flexibility makes murphy beds ideal for modestly-sized houses or apartments where space is limited. Even large rooms can benefit from a murphy bed when you want the option to create open areas for meetings or brainstorming sessions.
Creative Layout Ideas
- Place desk and murphy bed perpendicular to each other
- Incorporate room dividers or partitions
- Build custom cabinetry for concealed storage
Enhance Office Productivity and Appearance
Murphy beds aren't just functional when it comes to saving space in your office - they can also boost productivity and aesthetic appeal.
Having access to a comfortable mattress means employees can take quiet breaks when needed to refresh their minds. This can improve concentration, creativity, and efficiency when working. Murphy beds also provide useful spaces for private phone calls, virtual meetings, or even resting post-lunch.
In terms of aesthetics, murphy beds integrate beautifully into professional office spaces when closed. With a vast array of styles and finishes available, its easy to find options matching your brand image and design vision. Murphy beds can even become focal points when decorated with eye-catching headboards or linens.
Materials and Finishes
- Wood veneers like oak, maple, walnut
- Painted MDF in custom colors
- Metal frames with powder coating
Murphy Bed Placement Tips
To function properly, murphy beds require adequate clearance when opened and enough wall space when closed. When determining the optimal location, examine room dimensions and account for desk sizes, traffic flows, and potential obstructions.
We recommend installing murphy beds on walls without windows or doors. Walls spanning 8-12 feet work best to accommodate a queen or full-sized mattress. Ensure at least 2 feet of clearance around beds when open, allowing you to make them easily. Consider traffic flows in the room so the bed doesn't block desks or equipment when accessed.
Key Measurements
- Queen murphy beds need 10x12ft clearances
- Full murphy beds need 10x10ft spaces
- Twin murphy beds need 6x10ft areas
Get accurate room dimensions, accounting for baseboards and moldings. Experts can help you map layouts digitally to test murphy bed placement scenarios.
Style Your Murphy Bed
One of the best parts of incorporating a murphy bed into your office is selecting its style. With so many designs and decor options, it's easy to choose beds aligning with your brand image and workspace aesthetic.
We recommend selecting murphy bed frames and finishes complementing existing elements like flooring, furniture woods, cabinets, and wall colors. For example, a white painted MDF murphy bed pops beautifully against gray office walls and medium-toned bamboo flooring.
Consider cabinetry finishes that match built-ins as well. Wood panel accent walls provide the perfect backdrop for beds in natural wood veneers like oak or maple. Don't forget about bedding - customize murphy beds further with stylish headboard fabrics and bedding showcasing your company colors and logo.
Headboard Options
- Tufted fabric in neutral or vibrant shades
- Wooden headboards matching cabinetry
- Upholstered headboards for softness
- Creative materials like corkboards or chalkboard paint
Mattress Options for Comfort
Murphy bed mattresses come in sizes like twin, full, queen, and king. Measure your bed dimensions to choose appropriate mattress lengths and widths. Typically, mattress depths around 6 inches allow beds to fold vertically with ease while providing comfort. Consider employee preferences and room guest needs when selecting from following options:
- Firmness: Medium forms accommodate most sleep styles
- Materials: Spring, foam, hybrid mattresses
- Thickness: 6-8 inches for easy vertical folding
If budget allows, we recommend premium mattresses like those from top brands Casper and Tuft & Needle. Investing in high-quality mattresses improves sleep comfort, beneficial for overnight office guests.
Additional Murphy Bed Features
Beyond choosing mattresses and style elements, consider functionality boosting murphy bed features:
- Lighting: Reading lights, sconces, or track lighting
- Power: Outlets, USB ports
- Storage: Drawers, cubbies, shelves
- Other: Cup holders, locking casters, safety straps
Task lighting ensures guests and employees using murphy beds have sufficient illumination for reading, working, etc. Built-in power outlets and USB ports allow convenient device charging.
For offices with limited storage, take advantage of murphy beds with drawers, cabinets, or open shelving. Use hidden spaces to organize office supplies, minimizing clutter.
Safety Considerations
While murphy beds improve office space exponentially, its critical understanding proper installation and operation to prevent injuries or damage.
We advise hiring experienced contractors for murphy bed installations, ensuring beds fold/unfold easily without sagging. Never overcrowd stored beds exceeding weight limits. Use locking mechanisms on vertical beds to prevent accidental closures.
Train employees on proper murphy bed procedures, including where to grasp beds, speed of openings/closings, and securing locking bolts. Position beds away from other furniture to prevent collisions. Following safety precautions keeps overhead storage beds operating smoothly for years.
Key Tips
- Hire professional installers
- Check specified weight limits
- Use locking bolts when stored
- Practice safety procedures
Costs and Budgeting
Murphy beds range dramatically in price from a few hundred dollars for basic models to several thousands for customized systems. Several factors impact murphy bed costs:
- Size: Queen and king beds cost more
- Design complexity: More elements mean higher prices
- Quality: Better materials and finishes increase costs
- Add-ons: Special features add expenses
Evaluate needs versus wants when budgeting for office murphy beds. Consider longevity and durability as well, avoiding the cheapest frames prone to breaking. DIY-savvy businesses can purchase murphy bed kits as cost-effective options, handling professional installation themselves.
Search major retailers like Ikea and Wayfair for murphy bed sales too. For more quality at lower price-points, consider buying factory-direct or commercial-grade beds in bulk.
Save on Murphy Beds
- Buy simple designs with fewer features
- Choose smaller bed sizes
- Shop sales and buy in bulk
- Install DIY murphy bed kits
Top Brands and Reviews
Searching top retailers gives you extensive selections of office murphy beds spanning styles and prices. But specialty brands focusing exclusively on murphy beds also provide quality options worth considering. Here are two top reviewed companies to check out:
Wayfair Sleep
Boasting 4.6 stars from over 4500 reviews, Wayfair Sleep murphy beds withstand daily office use. We love their classic selection with desk combinations, maximizing productivity. Adjustable shelves, USB ports, and lights provide exceptional convenience as well. Expect pricing ranging $1600-$2500 for their queen and full-sized murphy bed systems.
Bestar
For more basic murphy beds under $1000, Bestar garners 4.5 stars from buyers impressed with budget prices without sacrificing style. Their Wall Bed Clic Clacs allow you to fold beds away in seconds, perfect when workspace is key. Steel frames with eco-friendly finishes nicely blend into modern or industrial offices.
When reading murphy bed reviews, look for feedback regarding quality of materials, ease of assembly, delivery times, appearance, and pricing. This helps determine ideal brands fitting your office space needs and budget.
FAQs About Office Murphy Beds
For those new to murphy beds, its normal having lots questions about functionality and logistics. Here we answer some frequently asked questions from office owners and managers about incorporating foldaway beds:
How much weight do murphy beds hold?
Most murphy beds support 450-500 lbs when properly installed. Some industrial-strength hold up 750 lbs or more. Reference capacity limits before purchasing.
Do I need special bedding for a murphy bed?
Standard bed sheets, mattresses, duvets, and pillows work for murphy beds. Just ensure chosen mattress depths fold easily. Consider extra-durable bedding able handling frequent movements.
How do I clean a murphy bed?
Use a handheld vacuum with brush attachment to remove crumbs and dust from murphy bed hardware and surrounding crevices. Spot clean mattresses as needed. Some murphy bed mattresses feature removable zippered covers, simplifying washing.
Can I DIY install a murphy bed?
We don't advise DIY murphy bed installs unless you have construction experience. The complexity of assemblies and special mounting hardware make professional guidance prudent. Poor installations impact functionality and safety over time.
Murphy beds prove clever, space-saving additions for transforming offices, homework spaces, and guest bedrooms. When incorporated thoughtfully using above tips, these innovative beds can vastly improve room versatility without sacrificing comfort or style. From small apartments to expansive commercial spaces, murphy beds inject multifunctionality into rooms instantly.
As working from home increases in coming years, expect to see murphy beds growing in popularity for home office spaces. Their flexibility allows customizing rooms to changing needs, benefiting businesses and families alike. With quality murphy beds on the market spanning all budgets, you can easily actualize dreams creating double-duty spaces.