Murphy Bed vs Pull-out Couch
 

Our friends in Michigan have used a Murphy bed for a long time in their finished basement and we've slept on it a few times. It was just as good as my bed. They put the best mattress they could on it and was so much better than the old hide a bed couches and sleeper sofas. I would go with the Murphy bed.

We considered a murphy bed versus a sleeper sofa for our guest bedroom. Since we're only seasonal residents, we thought the murphy bed was too expensive.

We bought a pull-out sofa. Which was actually comfortable to sit on, but not to sleep on. So then we bought a foam pad about 8 inches thick which solved the problem.

First thing we bought was a Murphy bed for the third bedroom. It is like sleeping on a normal bed and way way better than any sofa hide-a-bed.

However, when we have guests it is usually our daughter and her family and we need four beds and, because the Murphy bed takes up the too much of the 3rd bedroom, three rooms (BR 2 , BR 3 and DR) in addition to the master where we sleep. Air Beds work great and in a pinch you can get three into a bedroom.

The air beds for $85 at Wal-mart are just as good as the $300 air beds (our daughter in Denver has one). We haven't moved furniture into our place yet as we only use it for a week or so a couple times a year; when we are by ourselves we sleep on an air bed instead of the Murphy bed, mainly because of the master bath and there isn't much difference between the Murphy bed, or any bed, and the air mattress except height. The $85 air beds are about 50% higher than the camping air mattresses and are no problem getting in or out.

If we could do it over, we would save the $2000 and not buy the Murphy bed.


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We also use air beds. We just store them under the bed in our guest bedroom. Very cheap and comfortable.

I never considered a Murphy bed but I can see where it limits the use of a room. We opted for a single size sofa bed in the "office"..fits the room, great for kids. Queen size bed in the guest room and lots of air beds for more kids...grown-ups get the real bed. Works well.

do you put fitted sheets on the air beds or just flat ones? just curious if the fitted sheets would stay on the bed.

Yes the fitted sheets work just fine on the air beds. Most of the air beds blow up to be about the same thickness as a regular mattress...not the pillow top type.
:)

I just bought an air mattress that is 2 feet tall and has gussets(?) to hold the fitted sheet snug. Blows up with it's own built in pump and is reasonably comfortable for short hauls. Only $50 at a close out place in RI. I think keeping the 'den' as an office is the way to go unless you expect company all the time.

We purchased a sleeper sofa from Southern Lifestyles which has a 3-4" air mattress with a pump that tops the mattress and can be easily inflated when company is staying with us. Gives us three separate sleeping areas in our villa which is especially nice if the grandchildren are in residence with their parents.

We had a built-in Murphy bed put into our 3rd bedroom which we use as a den. It allows more flexibility for the use of the room. We have only used the Murphy bed for guests about 3 times in 2 years but it is very useful when you need it. It takes up very little wall space.

Ours takes up nearly all the usable wall space.

If you put a box on a 14' long wall that is 6' long by 6'-6" high by 18" deep all that is left is 4 feet on either side of the box that can't be used for much because when the bed is down the bi-folding Murphy bed doors take up 2' of the available 4' on each side.

However, we use ours every time we are in town and may be impacted by it more. Hopefully, when we are around more and have to use it less, it will cease to be an issue.


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We bought good quality mattress pads and use fitted sheets and they work fine.



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Murphy Bed
 

Hi JoC,
Take a look at this link it is a home for sale in the Villages that I think Maxed out the floor room and made use of the room for a hole lot of stuff
I would give them a A+ but that is up to you
the Murphy Bed in this room works great I think, let us know if that helps

take the tour and see for yourself

http://www.thevillages.com/homes/vls...asp?vls=205393

Sgt Mac

Russ, did you find it at Ocean State Job Lot? If so do you think they have any more?

Here's a solution to those horrible sofa bed bars. www.sleeperhelper.com This one is kind of pricey @ $79 but I'm sure I've seen them for less!! Try Linens and Things as they are going out of business and may be discounting them BIGTIME!!!