murphy bed
Textured surface. Give that Murphy bed wall more visual interest by applying cut-to-fit boards of weathered wood or a textured or wood-look wallpaper. Hire a pro or DIY? Either of these effects can be achieved by homeowners with some DIY savvy, but it’s certainly not a project for everyone. If you don’t feel like spending hours precisely matching borders or measuring and sawing wood, hire a paper hanger (for wallpaper) or a carpenter or trusted handyperson (for boards) to get it done. Cost: Expect to spend between $100 and $300 per roll on wallpaper plus installation. Weathered wood (like old barn wood siding) can cost around $3.50 to $7 per square foot — try to find a local source to avoid high shipping charges.
Design quandary: How to disguise a Murphy bed? When a Murphy bed is put away, the wall where it is stored tends to be a great big blank spot. You can’t use it to store books or hang framed artworks, since they would just fall off when you open the bed. Wall mural. As a creative custom touch, these homeowners had a photographic mural applied to the entire wall where the bed is stored.
Design quandary: How to disguise a Murphy bed? When a Murphy bed is put away, the wall where it is stored tends to be a great big blank spot. You can’t use it to store books or hang framed artworks, since they would just fall off when you open the bed. Wall mural. As a creative custom touch, these homeowners had a photographic mural applied to the entire wall where the bed is stored.
Planning tips: You will need about 6 or 7 feet of space, including the cabinet where the bed is stored and the space for the length of the bed when extended. If you have a longer wall but not as much floor space, you can choose a Murphy bed that extends horizontally from the wall instead of vertically. In addition, plan to have room for a guest to walk around the bed — if one side is not accessible because of space constraints, that’s OK, but at least one side and the foot of the bed should be easily reachable. Cost: From $1,000 (for a no-frills twin-size Murphy bed) to $3,000 plus installation for a ready-made unit. For a custom or semicustom Murphy bed, plan to spend $5,000 and up.
Small-space layout tip: Keep your Murphy bed hidden in plain sight by using that wall space for a dining table, console or sofa. As long as the piece is relatively light (or better yet, on casters), it shouldn’t be too hard to move it aside when guests come. And in the meantime, you can feel good knowing you’re putting every inch of your space to work.
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