Horizontal Murphy Beds: Tight on Space, Never on Sleep

Horizontal Murphy Bed FAQs

• What is a horizontal Murphy bed? +

  A horizontal Murphy bed (also called a sideways Murphy bed) folds up against the wall in landscape orientation, with the head and foot of the bed parallel to the wall rather than perpendicular. This design needs less ceiling height than a vertical Murphy bed, making it ideal for rooms with standard 8-foot ceilings.

• What is the difference between a horizontal and vertical Murphy bed? +

  A vertical Murphy bed stands upright when stored (portrait orientation) and requires ceiling height of at least 85 inches. A horizontal Murphy bed folds sideways (landscape orientation) and only needs about 55-60 inches of clearance, making it the better choice for lower-ceiling rooms. Both accommodate twin, full, queen, and king mattresses.

• What is a sideways murphy bed called? +

  A sideways Murphy bed is also called a horizontal Murphy bed or a landscape-orientation wall bed. Murphy Door manufactures horizontal Murphy beds designed to fold flush against the wall, maximizing floor space in rooms where vertical installation is not practical due to ceiling height.

• What mattress fits a horizontal Murphy bed? +

  Murphy Door's horizontal Murphy beds accommodate standard twin, full, queen, and king mattresses up to 11 inches thick. No special mattress is required; any standard innerspring, memory foam, or hybrid mattress works. Our hardware holds the mattress securely without compression or damage when folded.

• How much floor space does a horizontal Murphy bed take up when open? +

  When deployed, a horizontal queen Murphy bed extends roughly 60 inches out from the wall and spans about 80 inches along the wall. When folded up, the unit is typically 18-24 inches deep, freeing the remaining floor space for other uses such as a home office or workout area.