Murphy Beds: Retractable Space Savers

If you live in cramped quarters, such as a one-bedroom tenement or an efficiency apartment, you probably find that you're constantly lacking appropriate living area. Oddly enough, many people can save some space by putting a bed right in the middle of their living room. You've seen those beds that just fold up into a wall, right? This is the concept of Murphy beds: they remove the idea of a bedroom by allowing you to fold up and store your mattress and box springs right into the actual wall.

The History
Murphy beds were originally invented over a one-hundred ago by William Murphy, and this new creation quickly became popular at the turn of the century, especially in urban areas where excess space was limited. So in order to have a comfortable place to sleep as well as an open area to entertain guests, these hinged beds quickly became commonplace in apartments. But now they have become popular in many houses due to their designer innovations over the years.

The Construction
Murphy beds are built with sophisticated spring-lift mechanics that account for stability, sturdiness, and balance. This makes them easy and convenient to raise and lower so that a single person can handle the chore, sometimes just with the simple lift of a finger. Plus, they're perfect if you live in a small apartment because when guests arrive you'll no longer have to pull out the air mattress, sleeping bag, or unfold the futon: now they'll have a real bed all to themselves.

And don't forget their function in larger homes as well. Room additions are expensive, and if you don't want to tack on a guest bedroom to your house, these wall beds are the perfect solution at a much more affordable price. If you have the extra floor space, why waste it? Instead, create an entire other room right in the same space.

Are They Easy to Install?
These units are easy to install on one's own because manufacturer's often sell different models in different packages. Some are more user-friendly than others, but these products have come a long way from simple storage closets. You can now get different sizes that fit into elaborate cabinet systems with hide-away doors, or some models come with beautiful furniture such as computer desks and bookcases that help camouflage the storage space. However, the more extensive the product, the more difficult it is to do yourself. So if you're going to invest all that money on an elegant Murphy bed system, why not invest in professional installation as well? Most handymen or employees of the manufacturer are more than capable of handling this project, so if you have doubts about your own remodeling skills, leave it to qualified experts.