Submitted By Joy2Journey
M … is for Murphy Bed and it is finally finished and installed! Can I get a Woo Hoo?!
I have been asked quite a few times if I had finished my Murphy Bed, and the resounding answer is … Yes!
Let me take you back in time, if I may. I found a Murphy Bed plan on Ana White’s website (Ana-White.com) and thought, “I can make that!” I need an extra bed in the guest room for the little ones that come visit and this seemed to be the perfect solution. So began the “journey”…
Making the frame was the easiest part of the process for me, even though I had to adjust the plans to make it sideways instead of up and down.
Before I could attach it to the wall, I needed to paint the room. I had been wanting to do it since we moved in 3 years ago. It was a Salmon color … but I will tell you all about that later in another post 
This is the step that everything fell apart for me! I had this amazing idea (I thought I was going to wow the web world with my brilliance … HA!) I was going to do a decoupage of Paper bags and these really pretty napkins for the added color. I had the bags already and the napkins I got on sale. Woo Hoo, watch me go!
It seemed like a good idea at the time. If you look at this picture… you might even be impressed. Briefly. In a small area it was really pretty. This process by the way … takes FOREVER! I cannot tell you the amount of time that it took! Wrinkle up the paper just to lay it out flat again. Ugh! I try not to think of it as wasted time but, “as a learning experience”.
This bed front wasn’t turning out as I had hoped. I had in my mind’s eye what it would look like and this was not it! So I changed plans. DIY people need to think on their feet and change ideas when needed. At least that is what I do I found this upholstery fabric at Goodwill for $1.99 and it was just what I wanted. It had that Chevron feel and the colors were perfect for the Guest room.
Decoupage to the rescue again … This time to adhere the fabric to the bed front.
I wanted this bed to look like a dresser as it was going to be on it’s side, and there isn’t a dresser in the room. I will show you the whole room later … but the short version is, I have a luggage rack for guests. (Just like a Hotel) I attached drawer handles on the top two spaces to look like drawers. It also helps with opening and closing.
I stenciled the corners of the top “drawers” and then added the
lock. I do not want little ones getting hurt. (I still need to spray paint the lock a bronze color so that it matches the room.)
I attached the front portion of the bed with 4 door hinges.
I ended up getting a twin mattress and of course covered it with a mattress cover. Waterproof!
Are you ready for the big reveal?!
I love it! And it works too. I kid you not!!! I already used it just to see, and it is so comfortable.
So … comments? questions? observations? Share your thoughts with me.
I love this idea!! My boys just moved out and we took over their room for an exercise room, but I would like to have a place for them to come stay once in a while. This would fit the bill!! We have the slanted walls upstairs, and they are unable to accommodate a vertical version of the Murphy bed. I love how you made it look like a dresser. KUDOS!!
Terri,
Build away!!!
Our kids are grown now too but it is great for the little ones that come back with their parents to visit. (They usually want to sleep close to their parents) As they grow it will be the kids room where they can have slumber parties with their cousins
Hugs,
Bj
That looks great! I covered a table with paper bags and love it. It was a bit time consuming…mostly drying time. Looks like leather. Love how you made your bed look like a dresser.
Gina,
Obviously, I should have read your blog on the “how to”
I am happy with this look for my room. It fits in well 
Hugs,
Bj
That is so cool! I don’t have a guest bedroom yet, but when we do buy a house, I’ve been thinking that Perhaps my craft room might have to double as a guest bedroom (I also want to have a couple other beds stashed around the place that don’t take up room full-time, as I have a lot of family), and this would be just excellent! Is that a full-size twin bed? It looks shorter to me. Could just be the picture.
Naomi,
It is a standard Twin mattress. It must be the picture and how I took it. Sorry.
Hugs,
Bj
What a terrific project! I love it and WILL be stealing the idea!
Kathy … then send me pics. I would love to see what you do!
Hugs,
Bj
Fabulous! Love the idea of turning it sideways. And making it look like a dresser is just so cool.
I absolutely love it and I sure want one myself. Did you anchored the frame on the wall? Does the “drawer handles” scratched your floors when the bed is down? How did you anchored the mattress to the movable door?
I did anchor the bed to the wall, yes, to the wall studs. The handles are on the carpet and no problem. Because it fits so well I do not have to anchor it. It opens with the door. Look at the picture before I put the mattress on and you will see that there is a piece of wood on the back side that it rests on
Hugs,
Bj
so this is wonderful & efficient in so many ways, thank you for this idea, but how would the handles work on hard wood & how could it lay flat or would there need to be little legs somehow?
This is awesome! I totally need to do this when my daughters leave for college and I re-claim my craft room!
Love it! I have a M-bed in my office and wouldn’t want to be without it. The ‘dresser’ looks fantastic! Great job~
Great idea and love how it looks like a dresser .
Joy always does an A+ job on everything she designs. The Murphy bed is a great example of her workmanship.
~Bliss~
I love this idea!
I have a full size bed in my guest room and it seems to take up all the space.
I wonder how it would look as a full.
do the handles you installed not hit the ground and cause the front to not be flush?
Woo Hoo, that is awesome! What did it cost you to build it? I know Murphy beds run in the thousands.
I didn’t keep track but my guess is about $100.00. (Not counting the mattress and bedding) The front is plywood (formaldehyde free from Home Depot), Pine wood, door hinges, and 1.99 for the material. I had the stain already along with the clear poly. Great questions!
Hugs,
Bj
This is a fantastic idea, the project turned out great! I will be pinning this for future reference. Good job!!
well, isn’t that clever!
great job Joy2Journey!
gail
Woo hoo! Now this is one remodeling endeavor that deserves two thumbs up!
OMG this is such a great idea, I love that you did it sideways. You are so talented.
I love this it looks great. But are any of those outlets electrical? Switch to solid ones so its safer for your young guests!
One of the outlets is electrical and as you can tell they have the childproof guards on them. The younger grand babies sleep on the big bed with child railings and the older ones will sleep on the Murphy bed. Good to use child safety and a good reminder to talk about it! Thank you.
ok … I just have to thank all the rest of you that didnt have questions but had such sweet comments! You all are the Best!!! and I so appreciate all of your comments!
Hugs,
Bj
you make an amazing stuff
Hi, fantastic idea!!
I haven’t seen anything like it! Everywhere I look I see $300+ for the hinge set to have it swing out on its own! This a a great idea and no need to spend so much!
Quick question: would you kind posting your measurements so we don’t have to recreate the wheel (or Murphy, in this case!)
Thank you again for posting!
Trisha
This is really awesome! Measurements would be really helpful
Love the bed but I need to make one that goes vertical for a very small room. I have 10 foot ceilings and would like to incorporate legs so that it is not on the floor. Anyone have any ideas???
I would love measurements as well. I absolutely love the idea that you made it to look like a dresser!! Pure genius! Thanks so much for sharing!
I absolutely love this idea! I want to build one for my room in my sorority house in the fall. My only qualm is you said you anchored it to the wall. How unstable do you think it would be if it weren’t attached? Also, to what extent did you modify your design from the original? Thanks so much for sharing your handiwork.
I think this is an awesome idea. I, as do many others, need one for my craft room. But, alas, I need measurements. Can’t make stuff the right way without them. Care to share? Thanks, Cheryl
I really love this bed… I just don’t understand how you got it leveled when it is open. I see the hinges and so maybe the handles are about the same height on that end so that the platform is level when open. Sorry, I just don’t have much vision for some things. You did an excellent job and lots of ingenuity. I bookmarked your site.
what an awesome idea lovethe side vs the stand howdo get the plans for it
Super idea! I’ve been wanting to put a murphy bed in my spare room, but to buy one is waaaay out of my price range. This looks like something I could do. Love how you made it look like a dresser!
I loved this idea. I had always wanted a murphy bed and my wife was so against it until I showed how creative you made it. Was a wonderful weekend project to do with the wife. Theres not spot to show my picture of what i did or else i would post it. We used a full mattress so tweaked some things a bit but its fantastic.
Love Love This, expecting family for Christmas. This is just what I need. Been checking back
for the measurements? Please Help
Thanks
Linda, I talked to Joy and she said that she used the measurements from this Ana White murphy bed plan. All she did different was build it on its side. Good luck and I hope that helps.
So, it looks like the bed just sits on the floor once lowered. I like the dresser idea but don’t want guests to sleep on the floor. If I wanted that, I would just use an inflatable bed. The other concern is the length of the dresser. It would need to be 80 inches( 6′ 8). That’s one long dresser. I guess I can’t have it all. It has to be vertical or one long horizontal dresser. I sure like your idea a lot, it just needs to be off the floor somehow.
WOW! The other sites make it out to be a difficult project requiring a lot of tools but you did it effortlessly! Well, except for the decoupage! LOL I have to say that your version looks MUCH nicer than the other sites I saw! Great job and thanks for the inspiration!!
Woo Hoo!!! This is beautiful!! It is exactly what we were looking for for our grandson. You did a wonnderful job on this bed and I love your ideas.
Great job! I can hardly wait to tackle a similar project in our home!
What a clever girl you are! This is a great idea…
I love it too!
This is a BRILLIANT idea! My husband and I are moving into a new home and this will definitely be one of our first projects. I just repinned this. Thank you so much for the idea!
Love this , I’m going to make the front a chalk board for my kids !
Shelley, That sounds like a great idea! Thanks!
I’ve been planning on doing a murphy bed on it’s side for a dresser for years! I want to do a queen size and when Anna posted the plans I was excited for someone to help make it easier for me. However, I noticed you still had to buy the expensive hardware for the beds and so we never built it. Did you buy the specialty hardware? I don’t see it anywhere. Would I be able to get away with not using it on a queen size since it’s on it side too? I love the idea of the lock, I wondered how I was going to keep it safe for my kids. I’m definitely going to include a lock! Thanks so much! I’m glad I saw this post!
I absolutely love it! What a great idea!
Thanks for the comment Glenda!