Materials to Make a Murphy Bed

Mechanism

• One of the essential components for a Murphy bed is the lift mechanism. It consists of metal parts that are strong enough to support the weight of the bed. Large metal springs provide the energy needed to raise the bed while a series of hinges give the mechanism the range of motion it needs to take its up and down, or closed and open, positions. You can build your own Murphy bed mechanism if you're mechanically inclined, but in other cases you'll need to buy a Murphy bed kit and construct the rest of the bed yourself.

Wood

• A Murphy bed's frame is a relatively simple wooden structure. It consists of a frame made from lumber, such as two-by-fours, and a flat surface that forms the wall when it's closed and the base when it's in its down position. This surface can be made from plywood or fiberboard. The sides of the bed frame are generally made from the same material, giving the bed a finished edge and containing it in a box that fits into the wall opening.

Hardware and Finishing Materials

• Wood screws are appropriate for securing the wood that makes up your Murphy bed's frame. You'll need heavy-duty screws to attach the frame to the lift mechanism and the lift mechanism to the wall, although thee screws may come with the mechanism itself. A Murphy bed's frame sides will be visible when it's down, and the flat bottom will be visible as a wall panel when it's closed. You can finish these surfaces with paint or stain or by applying an adhesive veneer.

Bedding

• The bedding that your Murphy bed will use should be one of the first things you select. Its thickness will determine the height of your bed's frame, as well as the depth of the wall opening you need to create. Slim-profile beds that combine a box spring and mattress are best since they not only reduce the size of the frame and wall opening, but also make the bed lighter and easier to raise and lower. As with the Murphy bed's mechanism, unless you have special skills, you'll want to buy prefabricated bedding and install it yourself into the homemade frame.