Question about Murphy/Wall beds

[kandj]

What is the difference between a Murphy Bed and a "Wall Bed"? Can we use a memory foam (TempurPedic knock-off) mattress with either of these?

[K9-Lovers]

The term "murphy bed" is used now for all types of stow-away beds, much like people say Kleenex for tissues, and Xerox for a copy machine.

Some beds bolt to the floor, and some bolt to the wall. Some use spring mechanisms and some use piston mechanisms. I have one that bolts to the wall and uses a spring mechanism, just my preference -- all are good. The piston mechanisms make it easier to put up and take down the bed and if you are not strong, get one with pistons.

We love tempurpedic beds and wanted to use one as well, but you cannot. When the tempurpedic bed is stored upright, the layers of foam begin to separate. The tempurpedic people will not warranty a mattress that has been stored in a "murphy bed". It just "slumps" too much, even with the straps holding it in. Plus, tempurpedic mattresses are so very heavy, that it would be hard to put the bed up and down. What we did is buy a high quality mattress with springs in it, and then bought a high quality 3" memory foam topper for it and our guests marvel at the good sleep they get on that bed. Be sure to measure correctly the depth of the mattress and the foam topper, or your bed cabinet may not close all the way. Get a thin mattress, not one of those with the thick fluffy top sewn in.

We hunted and searched for the best foam topper, and found a fantastic one at Sam's Club. The ones at Bed Bath & Beyond look good, but they are not as dense. You know what I mean if you have a tempurpedic.

Another thing we did after having the framework installed, was to screw plywood to the platform before putting the mattress down so that the mattress was not sitting on top of metal framework, but instead on top of a smooth wood surface. This helps tremendously.

One more tip if you get a wall-mounted bed: before the workers screw the frame into the wall, put some of those little stick-on pads on the framework. you know, the precut little self-stick felt pads that come in a pack and you can use them under a lamp base to keep from scratching your table. Our wall was a little uneven (everything else is perfect in TV) and the frame was rubbing and making a squeaking noise when someone laid in the bed and shifted their weight. So we had to undo the frame and put in the pads. It was very, very difficult to do after the fact, so be pushy and make the guys wait while you apply the pads. You can get narrow pads instead of round ones so they won't show after the frame is installed.

[rubicon]

K-9 lover. Great information. I have a couple of questions. First where did you buy your Murphy bed? Second my wife's concern has been that before we install our Murphy bed we need to replace the carpet. I did not know there were two types of Murphy beds. So my question, if we buy a wall mounted bed does that eliminate the need to worry as to when we replace the carpet? For that matter suppose you have a carpet and need to replace it. Does a wall mounted bed prevent that replacement? Will the floor mounted type hamper replacement? Are the options of spring vis a vis piston available to either a floor mounted or wall mounted type bed? Thank you for your anticipated help

[K9-Lovers]

I can't remember the name of the company where we bought our bed. We wanted one with solid oak doors to exactly match an existing cabinet in the same room, so I did a lot of research online and got quotes from a bunch of places. Then I found a website for a place here in Florida. It turned out that the place provides most of the beds for the stores here in TV. The storefronts here order from them. My old files are packed away in a storage unit, so I apologize for not knowing the vendor. If I can remember or if I can find it online again, then I'll PM you.

We have a wall-mount, and in order to install it flush to the wall so there is no airspace gap showing, we had to remove the baseboard so the cabinet to fit tightly to the wall. Whether you have a wall mount or a floor mount, if there is carpet installed, I imagine you would also have to remove the tackstrip that holds the carpet in place next to the baseboard so the cabinet would sit flat on the floor and not be tilted forward. (the tackstrip is higher than just carpet alone) We have tile floors so I'm not sure of this, but am guessing that the installers would want to remove a portion of that tackboard where the sides of the cabinet sit on the floor. Then they would relay the carpet flush with the wall and tack on the baseboard.

With that said, you will want to have your carpet installed first. Even though part of the tackstrip will have to be removed, you don't want to install carpet around the base of the bed because once the bed is open, your guests will be able to see under the bed and directly to the floor below the cabinet. There is a gap between the slanted "headboard" and the mattress and you can easily see right down to the floor. I'm a picky person, and I don't want my guests to see an unfinished floor under their headboard, nor would I want them to see two different colors of carpet. But that is just me. If you don't mind it, then install the carpet after the murphy bed is in place. The carpet installer will just put the tackstrip all around the murphy bed frame. But for me, whether it is a wall mount or a floor mount, I would install my new carpet first.

You can get a piston or a spring loaded bed with either a floor or wall mount.

There are two murphy/wallbed places here in TV. Why don't you go look at their models and try out both the spring and pistons and see which you like better. The pistons are very quiet and easy to use. The springs are noisy when the bed is opened or closed, but they don't wear out as fast as the pistons. When I know company is coming, I always pull out the bed and have it made up before they arrive, so they never hear the little spring noises anyway. And the springs are easy enough to operate, so that's why we chose them. If you need to open and close the bed every day while your guests are visiting, then you may want the pistons.

[K9-Lovers]

Let me explain just a little more . . .

The wall mount frame is attached to the wall with little "L" brackets screwed into wall studs on the very top of the cabinet, and the very bottom under the mattress area. Then the pistons or springs are attached to the insides of the cabinet.

With floor mount, the front part of the cabinet that holds the bed frame is actually attached to the floor. In TV with all the floors being on a concrete slab, that may not be possible.

There is also another option besides the tall "cabinet" look. A bed that opens horizontally, so that you can put an artwork above, little knickknacks on top of the frame. This would work best with a twin bed:
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff104/johnnnie56/WallBed_02_Graphiccopy.jpg

[kandj]

Wow K9, thanks for all the info! I never even thought about the "slumping" of the mattress. I'm glad I asked this before we brought the mattress down. Looks like my son will be getting more stuff from us!

[K9-Lovers]

You are welcome. Glad to help out when I am able.

[mrfixit]

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[kandj]

Thanks for the info MrFixit. I know folks either love or hate the sleepnumber mattresses. We fall into the latter catagory. We tried them out at a hotel two different times and I couldn't get comfortable no matter what it was set at.

I already have a Bob-o-pedic (Temperpedic knock off) set in a queen size and was hoping to use the mattress in a murphy bed so we use the guest room as a dual purpose.

[rubicon]

k-9 lover thank you so much. There is a lot to consider.

[K9-Lovers]

Yes, Rubicon. I did my research before buying. But we are entirely happy with the result and have a versatile 2nd bedroom that is also used as a computer room, craft room, art studio and on and on. When guests arrive, it easily is a bedroom and so much more comfortable than a hide-a-bed sofa. One of our best decisions!

[Bernieb]

Just go into Create More Space in Ladylake, same shopping center as Verizon and they will answer any question you have about Murpy Beds vs Wall/Panel Beds. You will be impressed with the education you will get without any pressure.