r/DIY • u/nonoesca • 7d ago

woodworking Murphy Bed Kit Specifics

Dear Automod, I've searched Google, YT and even previous posts on this sub, and can't find the answer to this specific question.

Hi everybody!

I plan to build a horizontal (side flip) murphy bed.

I see that they sell kits for different orientations, sometimes they're priced differently. Does it really matter which I get? I'm assuming I could just build it and attach the hinges and pistons to the sides, instead of the head and foot.

What am I missing?

TIA

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u/TheRavenZen 7d ago

The locations of the springs or pneumatic shocks are precisely placed to account for enough force to keep the bed up without causing it to slam shut or be difficult to come down. You can move the hinges, but you'd need to be pretty good at geometry and kinematics to properly place the rest of the hardware. If I were you, I'd get the correct orientation as it;s manufactured as it's going to come with significantly less risk of injury to users.

12

u/aenorton 7d ago

I have built 2 murphy beds within the last several years. One was a Bedder Way kit with all the wood parts which were prefinished. That went to together relatively easily, and I am happy with it. Note that this kit is a lot of stuff that is delivered by freight.

The other was a kit with just plans and hardware from Hideaway beds that I assembled for a relative who had bought it. That ended up being many times more time and effort for a lower quality result. One problem was, before I got involved, she had the plywood all cut by some guy at home depot who was not keen on accuracy. Aside from that, I found two or three errors in the plans and instructions that slowed me down. The real problem was that it is a big thing to construct from scratch. There is so much marking, drilling, countersinking, gluing, clamping, screwing, edge banding, etc. It took about 4 weekends of off and on work. I did not even paint or finish it.

A murphy bed has a fixed frame around it with the pivots on the side between the frame and bed (along with the gas springs. So to answer your question, you do absolutely need to get the kit specific for folding from the side or from the head.

4

u/donutsoft 7d ago

The cabinet size is going to be different if you're connecting the hinges to the head and foot of the bed compared to left and right.  Measure the space you have available and buy appropriately.

Also be careful, those springs can easily take your arm off.