The 18 best DIY Murphy Bed Ideas to Maximize Your Space

Space is always a consideration, no matter where you live. It simply seems like we never have the space that we want in our homes. Maybe you live in a studio apartment where you are trying to make the most of your limited space, or perhaps you need a place for your guests to sleep when they visit you from out of town. Well, have you ever considered DIY Murphy bed ideas to make the most of your living space?

18 Cute and Creative DIY Murphy Bed Ideas for Small Spaces

Last summer I had my goddaughter visit for a month, but having the air mattress on the floor during the entire time became tedious. Before her trip this year, I decided to look into some DIY Murphy bed ideas so that I can create a space where she can sleep at night that can be easily hidden during the day. Some of the ideas and designs that I encountered folded into the wall, while others left behind a dresser or shelving that can be used during the day.

If you are having trouble with the space in your home, consider these 18 DIY Murphy bed ideas to help. If you find a bed design that fits your needs and style, use it, or you can transform one of the concepts in this gallery into your own design. Let’s take a look at some of the Murphy bed ideas that caught my eye.

1. Pine Murphy Bed Hidden in a Bookshelf

This clean and easy Murphy bed is great for any kid’s room or for a nursery or guest room. The directions are laid out very clearly, and what you are left with is a beautiful, light wood bookshelf for all your children’s favorites. With its slender and functional design, it will fit right into any space.

2. Rustic Bed Dresser Combination for a Guestroom

A dresser is a perfect way to tuck an additional guest bed into a room while keeping the décor looking natural and on a theme. This beautiful bed dresser allows you to host a few extra guests and is especially good if you have families with small children as regular house guests.

3. Tall Cabinet with a Murphy Bed Front

If you are looking to save space and possibly multi-purpose your guest room as either a home gym, an office, or a studio, then this Murphy bed will work great for you. Its narrow width allows it to fit snuggly against virtually any wall, and its height gives some depth and dimensions to your room.

4. DIY Murphy Bed Ideas for a Budget

If you have dismissed getting a Murphy bed because of the outrageous cost, then take a look at this DIY Murphy bed for under $150! If you are even a little handy, it is always worth checking online to see if there are any great DIY tutorials like this one before either giving up or spending a crazy amount on new furniture.

5. Twin Bunks That Stow Away

This Murphy bed project is a two for one, teaching you how to create your own hideaway bunk beds. These horizontally mounted beds will only take up about as much wall space as if you were doing one bed vertically, yet they can host double the sleepers! Just be sure to carefully consider where to place your bed; nooks and crannies are better than closets.

6. Mantle by Day, Murphy Bed by Night

A lovely way to hide a bed, this tutorial encourages you to consider customizing your wood and paint colors. A fantastic element that makes this one unique among Murphy beds is that it has storage spaces designed to be used with the bed, giving your guests a nice place to stash away their belongings.

7. Wooden Hatch with a Queen-Sized Bed

Designed to fit any farmhouse-themed home, this Murphy bed adds a wonderful element of fun and functional rustic décor. Adding memorable accents like the large black hinges and distressed wood make this piece your own, and the bed can be modified to fit just right into your home office or guest room.

8. A Wooden Murphy Bed Within a Bookshelf

A perfect project for the more advanced DIYer, this hideaway bed also functions as a bookshelf and storage unit. With built-in lighting, nightstands, and shelf space, this is not a far stretch from the feel of a standard bed unit, making guests feel cozy and well take care of.

9. Murphy Bed Idea for an Office Space

The best thing about a Murphy bed is its adaptability. It can turn any room in your home into an instant guest bedroom. When thinking about combining your home office with a guest room, get inspired by this chic DIY bed that will fit well into any traditional home office space.

10. Green Storage Cabinets with a Bed Inside

This farmhouse cottage-inspired bed is a ray of sunshine with its fun and bold coloring and quirky barn door appeal. If you are looking for a Murphy bed to add to a bright and sunny nursery space, this design is perfect. Consider modifying the color to go with your little one’s shared space.

11. A Murphy Bed for Your Den

The perfect Murphy bed is one that blends seamlessly into its surroundings. That is what you get with these plans, where the bed appears flush with your wall. Simply make or find the perfect little nook, and your bed can look more like a closet than a large piece of furniture.

12. Ceiling to Floor Storage Unit with Bed

If you want to create a work and storage space around your hidden bed, then these plans are just what you are looking for. This DIY bed includes everything you need in a home office (desk, drawers, and shelves), plus the perfect secret sleeper tucked away in the middle of it all.

13. A Cozy Murphy Bed for Two

Many Murphy beds fold out from the wall in such a way that the design of the outside case has to be quite tall. If you are looking to add a bed, but don’t want a six-foot storage hutch, consider instead building this bed that folds out sideways from the wall, thus giving you a much more manageable mantle.

14. Double Murphy Bed Encased in a Closet

Appearing as just an ordinary hutch-style closet, you can tuck this bed away quickly following these simple DIY plans. The clean and standard exterior of this design makes it all the more fun when you reveal that it is no closet at all, but a double bed ready and waiting to be slept on.

15. A Hidden Bed for Guests to Enjoy

Sick of offering your guests a blow-up mattress but don’t have room for a permanent guest bed? These plans help you solve that problem by tucking away a full-sized mattress in a simple yet elegant wardrobe-esque hutch. Place some homey trinkets on top and you have yourself the perfect hidden gem.

16. A Discrete Bed Behind a Wooden Panel

Making the most of your guest space means making it multi-functional. Of course, this is hard to do with a big bed taking up most of the floor space. This wood-paneled Murphy bed will let you have the best of both worlds (guest room and hobby space) while also providing some hidden storage shelves along the inside wall for guests.

17. A Homey Bed with Great Overhead Lighting

If you aren’t ready to DIY your own Murphy bed, consider following these plans to improve pre-made furniture. This design takes a pre-made cabinet and merges it with a pre-made Murphy bed frame to create an elegant finished piece. Making modifications to premade furniture can be a big time saver and can often result in a cleaner finished product.

18. A Single Bed Bookshelf Combination

If you’re typically hosting a single guest, consider this slender twin size Murphy bed that has the appearance of a beautiful armoire. The smaller bed makes construction easier and less time intensive while still providing a fabulous end result. This is a great way to add a bed to any room without having to rearrange everything just to make space.