5 Real Murphy Bed Makeover Stories for Small Apartments

I'll never forget the day I walked into my 300-square-foot studio and realized my bed took up 40% of the floor space. That's when I started deep-diving into murphy bed installations — and over the past two years, I've helped five friends install their own. Here are the real stories, the messy parts included.

Story 1: The 300 sq ft Studio That Gained a Living Room

The problem: Maya, a graphic designer in Brooklyn, was working from her bed because there was literally nowhere else to put a desk. Her 300 sq ft studio had a bed, a tiny nightstand, and that was it.

The solution: We installed a full-size murphy bed with a bookshelf surround. During the day, the bed folds up and disappears behind built-in shelving that holds her design books, plants, and a pull-down desk surface.

The before: "I used to eat cereal sitting on my bed because I had no table," Maya told me. "I felt like I was living in a dorm room, not a real apartment."

The after: She now has a dedicated work area, a reading nook, and — get this — can actually do yoga in her own place. The murphy bed bookshelf design makes the whole wall look intentional, not like a bed hiding in a cabinet.

What she used:

• A horizontal full-size murphy bed kit with a white oak finish
• Floating shelf brackets for the side bookshelves
• LED strip lighting behind the shelving for that "cozy bookstore" vibe

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Story 2: The Bunk Bed Disaster Turned Smart Solution

The problem: My friend Jake and his partner were sharing a 400 sq ft apartment with a bunk bed. Yes, a bunk bed. They're both in their late 20s. It was... not ideal.

The solution: They ripped out the bunk bed and installed a queen-size murphy bed with a built-in desk. During the day, the wall is a home office for two. At night, the desk stays level (magic!) and the bed folds down over it.

The "before" quote: "I kept hitting my head on the top bunk when I got up to use the bathroom at 3am," Jake said. "Also, we're adults. Adults don't sleep in bunk beds."

The after: Their apartment feels twice as big. The desk is huge — enough room for two monitors each. And the bed is actually comfortable, which was a huge surprise.

Pro tip from their installation: They reinforced the wall with extra plywood studs before installing the bed frame. Their building is from the 1920s and the walls are basically cardboard. Better safe than sorry.

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Story 3: The Home Office That Secretly Sleeps Guests

The problem: Priya has a spare bedroom she uses as her home office. Her parents visit once a month, so she needs a guest bed — but she refuses to have a room that's 80% bed and 20% office.

The solution: A built-in murphy bed cabinet that looks like a bookshelf when closed. When her parents visit, she takes the books off the shelves (they slide into storage below) and folds down a twin XL bed.

The best part: Her mom still hasn't figured out where the bed comes from. "It's like you live in a magic apartment," her mom says every time.

Installation cost breakdown:

• Murphy bed hardware kit: $250-$400
• Custom cabinetry (they hired a local carpenter): $1,200
• Mattress: $300
• Total: ~$1,900

That's less than a fancy sofa bed, and way more comfortable.

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Story 4: The Kid's Room That Doubles as a Playroom

The problem: My sister's kid has a bedroom that's 8' x 10' — tiny. She wanted a bed, a play area, and a little art desk. A standard twin bed would have eaten the whole room.

The solution: A vertical twin murphy bed installed low to the ground (so a 7-year-old can operate it). During the day, the bed is up and the floor is clear for Legos, art projects, and pillow forts.

The surprise hit: The side shelving unit holds all the art supplies and books. Everything has a home, which means less yelling about cleaning up. (Well, slightly less.)

Safety first: They added a soft-close mechanism and a safety lock at the top so curious little fingers can't accidentally drop the bed. Worth every penny.

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Story 5: The "I Did This Myself" Budget Build

The problem: Carlos, a teacher in Chicago, had a $500 budget and a bedroom that also needed to be his classroom for remote teaching.

The solution: He built his own murphy bed using a hardware kit, pine plywood from Home Depot, and a lot of YouTube tutorials. Total cost: $487.

The honest truth: "It took me three weekends and I swore a lot," Carlos admitted. "The first time I tried to lift it, I almost dropped it on my foot. But now? It works perfectly. I'm weirdly proud of it."

His #1 tip: Watch at least five different installation videos before you start. Every kit is slightly different, and you want to know what you're getting into before you have a bed frame leaning against your wall at 9pm.

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Common Problems Everyone Hits (And How to Fix Them)

After five installations, I've seen the same issues pop up again and again. Here's what to expect:

1. "My wall isn't strong enough."
Most apartment walls have studs somewhere — you just need to find them. A good stud finder is worth its weight in gold. If you're really worried, add a horizontal plywood backing board between studs to distribute the weight.

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2. "I measured wrong and now the bed doesn't fit."
Measure twice, cut once. Measure three times if you're me. And don't forget to account for baseboards!

3. "The mattress keeps slipping."
Use a mattress specifically designed for murphy beds — they have straps or Velcro on the bottom to hold them in place. Regular mattresses will slide around and eventually fall out.

4. "My landlord is going to kill me."
Be upfront with your landlord. Most are fine with murphy bed installations as long as you repair the walls when you leave. Offer to leave the bed if they want — it's a upgrade to the apartment.

Final Thoughts

Every single one of these people told me the same thing: "I wish I'd done this sooner." A murphy bed isn't just a space-saving trick — it changes how you live in your apartment.

You go from "I live in a box" to "I have a home with different rooms for different things." That mental shift is worth every hour of installation and every dollar spent.

If you're on the fence, start small. Look at some hardware kits, measure your wall, watch a few videos. And if you're handy? You can absolutely do this yourself. Carlos did, and he once assembled an IKEA bookshelf backwards.

The key is to stop thinking about your apartment in terms of what it is right now, and start imagining what it could be.