Mattress, nuts & bolts figure strongly into Murphy bed purchase

"New ideas are one of the most over-rated concepts of our time. Most of the important ideas that we live with aren’t new at all." Andrew (Andy) A. Rooney (1919) — American writer and humorist.

Q: Our guest room is very small and must serve several purposes. We have our computer in there and currently have a regular bed for company. The room is so small we are considering getting a folding or wall bed to give us more space when we don’t have guests. We have seen some that seem cheap looking and wonder about the mechanics of the units. Can you offer any guidance about purchasing a folding bed? We appreciate your advice.

A: I totally understand your situation. We all feel truly blessed to have that extra room, but getting the most bang for your buck when furnishing it is troublesome.

Just as with most other things, there are worlds of options when purchasing a folding or Murphy-type bed. The original Murphy bed was invented by William Murphy around 1900. He lived in a one-room apartment and wanted more room to entertain. Murphy began experimenting with a folding bed and, finally being satisfied with his labors, applied for a patent and the rest is, well, history. Many beds have been tucked away since then, and the folding bed remains a staple for small or multiuse spaces.

I recently visited a company called The Murphy Bed Factory here in Las Vegas and, as the name implies, it manufactures these magic beds. Owners Sandra and Bernie Merritt gave me a quick tutorial on shopping for their custom-made beds and furnishings.

Not only should you consider the style, wood and size of the bed, you also should consider nuts-and-bolts issues, literally.

The mechanism itself is the key to a successful folding bed. Pay attention to the type of mechanism, the adjustability and the quality. The perfect mix of these nuts and bolts produce a bed that will transition easily from folded to open.

The Murphy Bed Factory beds come with mattresses specially designed for them. They are designed to spend many lonely nights in an upright position. Apparently, regular mattresses will work in the closed-up position for a while but are not made to handle the stress of being folded up and will eventually sag.

The mounting mechanism is a very important part of the unit. Some units are attached to the floor, causing damage to floors, carpets or whatever happens to be there. The Murphy Bed Factory beds are attached to their cabinetry on the bottom and to the wall with two screws.

The other major consideration is the intended use of the room. Some manufacturers can customize their units to accommodate offices, a craft space, bookcases, drawer units, or whatever you desire.

As with most other products we talk about here, I encourage you to do your homework and shop around. Keep in mind the features you need to consider and ask questions. The perfect folding bed will behave well when closed, and be dreamy when you have guests. The comic relief we used to get from watching the Three Stooges get closed up in folding beds is not what we are looking for today.

For more information on living in small spaces, see our feature in the upcoming August issue of Home & Garden magazine.

Happy Shopping!

Carolyn Muse Grant is the editor of Southern Nevada Home & Garden magazine. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home & Garden section of the Review-Journal. Check out other decorating tips in Southern Nevada Home & Garden magazine, published the first Saturday of each month. Send questions to cgrant@reviewjournal.com.