In our Pros and Cons series, we weigh the advantages and disadvantages of important decisions that apartment dwellers are making every day.
One of the problems many first-time renters face is how to use a small space for all their living needs, and multi-functional furniture is among the most popular options for doing so. One of the most recognizable pieces of multi-functional furniture is the Murphy bed, a bed that, when not in use, can fold up against the wall. Should you get a Murphy bed in your first apartment? Read on below to find out.
Pros of a Murphy bed in your first apartment
Save floor space
The first, most obvious benefit of a Murphy bed is that it helps save floor space for a small apartment or multi-functional room. If you live in a two-bedroom apartment, this gives you the flexibility to use your second bedroom as an office or entertainment room that can quickly be converted into a guest room when you have visitors.
Add storage space
In addition to saving floor space, some Murphy beds can actually add additional storage space by converting into shelves or drawers when standing up. Whether you use this as functional storage space or simply decorative shelving, it adds another level of space to your apartment.
Blends into the room
Another benefit of a Murphy bed is that, in addition to fitting easily in a room that isn’t always a bedroom, they can easily aesthetically fit in any space. If you just used a regular bed in your office or entertainment room, it would look out of place, but a Murphy bed can fold completely out of sight so the room still fits together aesthetically.
Cons of a Murphy bed in your first apartment
Less convenient
One downside of a Murphy bed is that you have to fold it out whenever you want to use it. This can be inconvenient, especially if you often have guests but need more space the rest of the time. If your apartment has enough space to get away with it, you’ll often be better off purchasing a normal bed or even a futon.
Reduced durability
Murphy beds are also less durable than traditional beds, as they have far more moving parts that can break. Pulling out and putting away the bed over and over again can lead to wear over time, so how long the bed lasts will really depend on how often you use it. If you need an extra bed very often, a Murphy bed might not be your best option.
Can be expensive
Murphy beds can be significantly more expensive than regular beds. Most Murphy beds cost upwards of $1,500 and as much as $5,000, so they’re simply not an option for many first-time renters. One way to solve this problem is to buy a conversion kit or try some DIY tricks to make a regular bed into a Murphy bed. This can be done for a few hundred dollars, but you won’t have the benefit of the storage and aesthetic design of a true Murphy bed without additional work.
