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Are Murphy Beds as Comfortable as Regular Ones?

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A Murphy bed is a convenient way of saving space in a small room. Whether you're living in a loft apartment in New York or a mobile home in California, when space is at a premium, a Murphy bed makes a lot of sense. Wall beds are very convenient but are they affordable and what about comfort? You might spend eight hours a night in bed. You need to get a restful night's sleep. Can you expect that in a bed that folds up into the wall space and uses wire mesh instead of box springs?

Murphy v Regular Beds

When William Murphy invented this type of bed, he wouldn't have been too concerned about its comfort levels. He'd have been more interested in how the bed folds up and stays in place. Today, the bed's comfort is just as important as its convenience. As well as sitting on different springs to regular beds, Murphy beds are also different because they don't have headboards, footboards, or bed rails. To get the most out of them, you should fold them up in the morning to reclaim the space. If that's going to be a chore, stick with a regular bed.

Mattresses

One of the biggest differences in Murphy beds and regular beds comes from the mattresses used. Most Murphy beds will only accommodate 12-inch-deep mattresses. That's fine for most sleepers as anything over eight-inches should give enough comfort but heavier people won't find that comfortable so a 14-inch mattress is needed. You can choose from memory foam or innerspring hybrid or even gel-infused foam mattresses so there's no other limitation with Murphy beds than the depth of the mattress.

Murphy v Sleeper Sofa

If you're trying to save space, why not consider a sleeper sofa? After all, you need a couch in your place so why not have on that converts into a bed? The truth is that most sleeper sofas are less comfortable than Murphy beds so they're far worse than regular beds for a restful night's sleep. With a four- or five-inch mattress that needs to fold in on itself several times, there's never going to be much comfort from a sleeper couch.

Cost

Let's consider the cost of a regular bed and a Murphy bed to see how they compare. The Murphy bed will cost you more than a regular bed for several reasons. Before you get your hands on the bed, you'll have to pay more to ship it than a regular bed thanks to heavy mechanical parts needed to elevate the bed and keep it locked in place. There may also be an installation charge. Most regular beds can be put together yourself if you have a screwdriver and the time. You'll need a little more skill to put a Murphy bed together.

What's Best?

For most of us, a Murphy bed is comfortable enough but probably not quite as convenient as a regular bed. You have to pack it away and there's a very good chance that a Murphy bed won't last as long as a regular bed because the mechanism could break as it wears out over time. They free up a lot of space which can make a bedroom or a living room into a very useable area but the same can be said for sleeper sofas.