by A murphy bed is a space-saving type of bed that is typically folded into a wall, cabinet, or closet when it’s not in use. Since they’re almost invisible when they’re put away, murphy beds free up lots of space in a room while the bed is not being used. Due to the design and features that they offer, murphy beds are commonly known as wall beds or pull-down beds. Murphy beds are especially popular for studio apartments or rooms that lack lots of free space. This is especially true for tiny homes and campers. Our guide to choosing the right Murphy bed for a tiny home and are Murphy beds comfortable in studio apartments or RVs will give you lots of additional information. When folded up, the surface of a murphy bed can feature shelves or decorative items to make the wall more appealing to the eye. Because murphy beds save floor space, you might assume that they are quite tall and therefore incompatible with rooms with low ceilings; however, this is not the case. Many people use murphy beds in rooms with low ceilings without any problem. Below, we’ll discuss 5 examples of murphy beds for rooms with low ceilings.
The most popular murphy beds for rooms with low ceilings include a bookcase murphy bed with under bed storage drawers, a murphy cabinet bed with under bed storage drawers, a white bi-fold murphy bed, a wooden murphy bed with storage shelves on both sides, and a solid wood bi-fold murphy bed.
In this article, we will discuss apartments with relatively low ceilings and the compatibility of these types of rooms with murphy beds. We’ll also give you 5 examples of murphy beds that are ideal for rooms with low ceilings.
What Is a Murphy Bed?
A typical murphy bed with shelves on both sides of the bed. Image from Joss & Main.A murphy bed is a type of bed that folds into a wall, closet, or cabinet when not in use. Murphy beds are popular because they provide extra space in studio apartments or small bedrooms by allowing extra floor space to be used during the day.
Modern Murphy beds can be customized and equipped with a wide array of stylish and beneficial features, such as shelves, storage, integrated closets, desks, and even couches. There are also some great options for choosing a Murphy bed for your exercise room.
Murphy beds are handy not only for small apartments but also for multi-purpose spaces and even minimalist homes. Murphy beds are also great for guest rooms because they allow you to have free space when you don’t have overnight guests. When you have someone staying over at your place, you can simply pull the bed down and give your guests a place to sleep.
To learn more about murphy beds, check out this link to our comprehensive article answering some of the most frequently asked questions about murphy beds as well as how a Murphy bed works, why Murphy beds are so expensive, and this list of pros and cons to having a Murphy bed in your home.
Types of Murphy Beds
Just like any other kind of furniture, there are many different types of murphy beds on the market. You might prefer a particular type of murphy bed based on the type of room or space you’ll be using it in or just based on your personal preferences.
Types of murphy beds include the following:
- Vertical murphy beds
- Horizontal Murphy beds
- Murphy bunk beds
- Bi-fold murphy beds
- Multifunctional murphy beds with desks or sofas on the other side
To create a pleasing and cozy atmosphere in your bedroom, it is essential to select a murphy bed that suits your needs and matches the overall design of your bedroom. It’s also important to know the weight capacity of the Murphy bed you buy. To make it easier for you to choose the correct type of murphy bed for a room with low ceilings, this section will describe several common types of murphy beds that you should consider.
In case you’re wondering about Murphy bed mattress, frame, and bedding sizing, you should check out our article.
Vertical Murphy Beds
A vertical murphy bed with a minimalist design. Image from Amazon.Vertical murphy beds are murphy beds that are installed vertically. These are the most common kinds of murphy beds and are ideal for apartments with relatively high ceilings. Vertical murphy beds can also be used in apartments with lower ceilings, but only if the height of the ceiling is at least 2.5 inches taller than the height of the murphy bed. In general, vertical murphy beds range from 82.75 to 87.75 inches tall.
Some vertical murphy beds come with side cabinets; these are quite similar to regular vertical murphy beds, with the only exception being that they have a cabinet next to the bed. This cabinet can be used as a closet or as a storage unit for various essential items that you need to have next to you while you sleep or rest in bed. Instead of a cabinet, there might also be some shelves for books, decorations, or anything else you want. Vertical murphy beds with side cabinets are typically between 79.25 to 84.25 inches tall. Vertical versions can also support a Tempurpedic mattress. Take a look at our article on using a Tempurpedic mattress with your Murphy bed for more information.
You can even find murphy beds on Amazon. Here’s one for ~$800!
Horizontal Murphy Beds
A regular horizontal murphy bed and a horizontal murphy bed with a side cabinet. Images from Lori Wall Beds and Inn Finest.Horizontal Murphy beds are murphy beds that are flipped horizontally, rather than vertically like typical murphy beds. Although vertical murphy beds are perfect for narrow bedrooms with high ceilings, horizontal murphy beds can be used in rooms with lower ceilings as long as they are wide enough to accommodate the bed. Horizontal Murphy beds usually range from 47.5 to 68.5 inches tall, depending on the type of bed.
As we mentioned earlier, vertical murphy beds can include side cabinets; this is also the case with horizontal murphy beds. Since the height of a typical horizontal murphy bed is less than that of a vertical Murphy bed, the side cabinets of a horizontal murphy bed might not be able to be used as a closet. Instead, there might be shelves for you to store essentials right next to your bed. Horizontal Murphy beds with side cabinets usually range from 43 to 64 inches tall.
Murphy Bunk Beds
Some types of murphy bunk beds have only one bunk that can be folded out (left), whereas sometimes both bunks can be folded out (right). Images from Wall Bed Place and Miles to Style.A typical murphy bunk bed has one bed frame stacked on top of another. The primary difference between murphy bunk beds and regular bunk beds is that either one or both bed frames can be folded up and out. This type of murphy bed can be relatively high compared to the other murphy beds discussed in this article. Therefore, murphy bunk beds might not be suitable for apartments with low ceilings. If you happen to find a murphy bunk bed that fits in low-ceilinged rooms, murphy bunk beds are perfect for kids’ bedrooms because they allow them to have much more free space to play during the day. However, be careful not to let children fold or unfold a murphy bed on their own, as this could injure them. For more information about how to prevent unintentional child injury in the home, see this study.
Bi-Fold Murphy Beds
A bi-fold murphy bed when folded up (left) and folded out (right). Images from Wayfair.Bi-fold Murphy beds are one of the most space-saving and multifunctional murphy beds available on the market. These beds are designed so that the bed is placed inside a cabinet, while sliding doors are used to cover the bed when it’s not being used. This type of bed takes up less space and provides additional shelving for storage or decoration.
Sometimes there are no sliding doors featured in bi-fold murphy beds; rather, regular side cabinets on both sides allow the user to make the most of the bed. Bi-fold Murphy beds are typically either 85.5 or 92.25 inches tall.
Multifunctional Murphy Beds with Desks or Sofas on the Other Side
Murphy beds with desks or sofas on the other side allow you to use the other side of your murphy bed when it’s not in use. Image from Beds Ideas.Multifunctional murphy beds that have a desk or sofa on the other side are ideal for individuals who need a workspace or lounge area during the day but do not have enough space in the room to accommodate a separate desk or sofa along with a regular bed. When folded up, these murphy beds are converted into a regular desk or sofa.
Desk and sofa murphy beds are ideal for low-ceilinged apartments since they commonly come in a horizontal arrangement. You get a 2-in-1 piece of furniture with these murphy beds, allowing you to purchase a single piece of furniture rather than buying a desk, bookcase, or sofa separately in addition to a bed. If your Murphy bed includes a bookcase, make sure to take a look at how to hide a bookcase bed for some tips and tricks as well.
You may also be interested to know how to replace a Murphy bed mattress or what Murphy bed accessories you should have. Take a look at those articles for more information!
Why Would a Room Have a Low Ceiling?
There are many apartments and houses that have rooms with low ceilings, which can make it somewhat challenging to find suitable furniture to fit these rooms. There are several reasons that a room would have a low ceiling.
A room would have a low ceiling because the owner might have customized the apartment or house to have a low ceiling to match their personal preference. A room would also have a low ceiling because the apartment or house was built during a time when low ceilings were more common.
One of the common reasons for a ceiling being low is the fact that the owner designed the building in that particular way. This might have been due to personal preference or regulations in the area where the house was built. Another reason that apartments or houses might have a low ceiling is that buildings were commonly built that way in the past, especially in the 19th century. For that reason, there are many rooms with low ceilings worldwide. Typically, any room with a ceiling lower than 98.4 inches is considered to have a low ceiling.
For a room with a low ceiling, it’s essential to select suitable pieces of furniture. In this way, you can not only make sure that the purchased furniture fits your room but also make it look much more aesthetically pleasing and create an illusion of a larger room with a higher ceiling. For more information about how surfaces influence perceived room height, see this study.
What Murphy Beds Are There for Rooms with Low Ceilings?
As we discussed before, the height of a typical room with a low ceiling is about 98.4 inches. As a result, a murphy bed for a room with low ceilings should be no more than 95.9 inches tall.
Examples of murphy beds for rooms with low ceilings include a bookcase murphy bed with under bed storage drawers, a murphy cabinet bed with under bed storage drawers, a white bi-fold murphy bed, a wooden murphy bed with storage shelves on both sides, and a solid wood bi-fold murphy bed.
To make it easier for you to choose a murphy bed for a room with low ceilings, this section will provide 5 suitable examples that can be purchased on Amazon.
1. Bookcase Murphy Bed with Underbed Storage Drawers
A murphy bed with a bookcase headboard and under bed storage for more versatility. Image from Amazon.This luxurious wooden murphy bed with under bed storage drawers and a bookcase is ideal for any type of room with a low ceiling. Along with under bed drawers, there are two additional drawers within the bookcase headboard. The warm brown color of this bed will make the room feel even cozier and more comfortable to spend time in. Since this bed is 93 inches tall, it can fit well in rooms with low ceilings
2. Murphy Cabinet Bed with Underbed Storage Drawers
A horizontal murphy bed with under bed drawers that is convertible from a regular bed into a cabinet. Image from Amazon.This murphy cabinet bed with under bed storage drawers is among the best options for rooms with low ceilings. This bed can easily be converted into a regular cabinet when it’s not being used. This will not only save floor space but also create the illusion of a room with higher ceilings. This bed is 83 inches tall, and its horizontal arrangement makes it very suitable for rooms with very low ceilings.
3. White Bi-Fold Murphy Bed
A white bi-fold murphy bed that is characterized by exceptional durability. Image from Amazon.This bi-fold murphy bed, made with grade-A plywood and painted white, is framed with top-quality solid wood. This bed is perfectly suitable for small rooms and guest rooms and can easily fit into a room with low ceilings due to its 87.5-inch height. What makes this bed even more convenient to use is that it becomes invisible when folded up into the closet-like bed frame.
4. Wooden Murphy Bed with Storage Shelves on Both Sides
A murphy bed with storage shelves on both sides of the bed. Image from Amazon.This wooden murphy bed with shelves on both sides of the bed is ideal for small bedrooms. It can serve the purpose of a regular bed as well as a storage unit to hold some essential items or decorative elements. With a height of approximately 91 inches, this bed is perfectly suitable for apartments with low ceilings. This is one of the best space-saving pieces of furniture you can use in your small room.
5. Solid Wood Bi-Fold Murphy Bed
A solid wood bi-fold murphy bed with no cabinets or storage drawers on the sides. Image from Amazon.
This bi-fold murphy bed is made with high-quality solid wood. This bed is designed so that it can easily be converted into a regular closet when the bed is flipped up. The height of the bed is about 87 inches, which makes it perfectly fine for apartments with low ceilings. Since there are no additional storage units or cabinets on the right or left side of the bed, it is also suitable for relatively narrow rooms. The only issue with this specific murphy bed is that you might need to purchase additional storage separately. Other than that, this bed is ideal for saving space while providing exceptional comfort.
You may also be interested to see the list of 15 Murphy bed ideas for studio apartments, campers, and RVs for some more ideas (and pictures!).
Not sold on a Murphy bed? Take a look at our ultimate list of guest bed ideas and our complete comparison guide to Murphy beds, daybeds, sofa beds, and futons for your home.