Murphy Beds for Studio Apartments: What to Check Before You Buy

A Murphy bed can return valuable floor area to a studio apartment, but the right choice starts with fit and installation—not a long list of extras. Before buying, map the bed in both its closed and open positions and verify the exact requirements for the model you are considering.

Measure the room in both bed positions

Record wall width, ceiling height, baseboard depth, nearby doors, windows, outlets, and the floor area the bed will occupy when open. Then check the manufacturer’s dimensions rather than assuming every vertical or horizontal wall bed uses the same clearance.

Verify how the unit must be installed

Murphy beds are moving furniture systems, so installation details matter. Follow the exact manufacturer instructions for wall type, fasteners, mounting points, floor requirements, and any professional-installation recommendation. If you rent, confirm what mounting your lease or property manager allows before ordering.

Check mattress compatibility before choosing a mattress

Wall-bed systems can specify mattress size, thickness, weight, or construction limits. Verify those limits first. Also check how bedding is secured when the bed is raised and whether pillows need to be removed before closing the unit.

Plan the daily opening path

A floor plan can look comfortable while the bed is closed and become awkward when it is open. Leave a practical walking route around the sleeping surface and make sure chairs, coffee tables, rugs, and storage pieces will not need to be moved every night unless that routine works for you.

Choose integrated features only when they solve a real problem

Some Murphy-bed designs combine shelving, a desk, seating, or storage. Those features can be useful, but they also change dimensions, installation, and daily operation. Compare the exact model rather than assuming a Murphy bed automatically includes those functions.

Murphy bed or sleeper sofa?

A Murphy bed can make sense when reclaiming daytime floor area is the priority. A sleeper sofa may be easier when seating is the bigger need or wall mounting is not practical. See our sleeper sofa guide for small apartments for a room-by-room comparison.

Quick buying checklist

• Closed and open dimensions fit the room.
• The installation method works with your wall and housing situation.
• The approved mattress specification fits your needs.
• The opening path does not block essential circulation.
• Any desk, shelving, seating, or storage feature is verified on the exact model.
• Delivery access is checked before purchase.

For more flexible pieces designed to do more than one job, browse Viva’s Multi-functional Furniture collection.