11 Money-Saving DIY Murphy Bed Projects

Build a Murphy Bed for Less

Technically, a true Murphy bed has a spring or piston lifting mechanism that helps swing the bed platform up and down. The hardware does take the effort out of opening and closing, but it can more than double the cost of making the bed.  If you’re willing to sacrifice a little convenience to save money, consider ​the Lori Wall beds kit. It’s a mechanism-free solution that makes it possible to create a custom Murphy for much less money.

How does the Lori Wall Bed open and close? The design relies on good old fashion muscle power. To help counterbalance some of the weight, the bottom of the bed frame has rounded “rocker” edges that double as shelving when the bed is closed. Each Lori wall bed kit comes with building plans and assembly fittings (more than 200 hinges, screws, connectors, and bolts). Customers can pick from two types of bed orientations—vertical or horizontal—and from three different bed sizes—twin, full, or queen.