History and Use of the Murphy Wall Bed

A bed is a necessity for restful sleep, but large beds can take up too much living space. The Murphy wall bed can help solve space issues that are related to bed size. A Murphy wall bed, also known as a fold-away bed, is based on a simple design concept. Hinges are located at the headboard, and the bed can be folded into a vertical upright position to increase living space. At night, the Murphy wall bed can be folded down into the position of a traditional bed for sleeping. The Murphy wall bed was invented in the late 1800s by William L. Murphy. Murphy was born in Columbia, California in 1876, but around 1900, he moved to San Francisco.

There, he met his wife and moved to a tiny one-bedroom apartment. The apartment was so small that a standard bed practically filled the room. Murphy wanted to entertain guests in the apartment, so he needed to find a solution to his space issues. Consequently, he began developing various prototypes of folding beds, and the Murphy wall bed was created. Murphy patented the Murphy wall bed in 1916, and the first Murphy wall beds were manufactured in 1918. Initially, the Murphy wall bed was designed to pivot on a doorjamb. From there, it could be lowered into the position of a traditional bed.

The popularity of the Murphy wall bed reached its peak in the 1920s. In 1925, the company that manufactured the Murphy wall bed relocated to New York City. Later, production of the Murphy wall bed became limited due to the demand for steel during the war. However, after World War II, production did not immediately increase. The government had chosen to offer VA mortgages to returning veterans, and construction of single-family housing was popular. Young homeowners had the ability to purchase larger homes and were not concerned about space-saving furnishings. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Murphy wall bed was typically only sold as a special request from builders. In the 1970s, however, the view of the Murphy wall bed changed. A recession and high interest rates made it difficult to live a lavish lifestyle. Many Americans began focusing on ways in which they could save money and space.

The Murphy wall bed business experienced a resurgence as families were unable to afford spacious housing. People who lived in metropolitan areas preferred the low cost of studio apartments. Nowadays, the Murphy wall bed is even used in fire stations, dorms, hospitals and hotels. The Murphy wall bed is a convenient, space-saving alternative to traditional beds. In local fire stations, the Murphy wall bed allows firemen to sleep at the station without having critical space taken up by beds. The Murphy wall bed can be stored out of sight during the day and then pulled out at night. During normal business hours, the Murphy wall bed does not restrict normal firehouse activities. College dormitories offer very restricted living space.

In fact, few furnishings can fit comfortably inside of the average dorm. Yet, the living space can be quickly expanded by using a Murphy wall bed. Hospitals also have limited space. Most of the area of a patient’s room is reserved for hospital equipment and the hospital bed. Sometimes, a patient’s family member who is concerned about the condition of his loved one stays overnight at the patient’s bedside. A Murphy wall bed offers a non-intrusive solution for hospital room guests. Hotels also use the Murphy wall bed. Family members may share the same hotel room, but hotels typically limit the number of traditional beds in each room to two. A Murphy wall bed within the hotel room can offer additional bed space.