by Murphy beds are a type of bed designed to be stored vertically while not in use, either folded up against a wall or hidden inside a cabinet. These pull-down beds are typically used in small bedrooms or guest rooms to maximize floor space during the day. They can also be a great choice for a studio apartment or an RV. There are many different types of murphy beds, including multifunctional ones that incorporate a desk or shelves that can be used for storing essential items. For more detailed information, make sure to take a look at how a Murphy bed works and Murphy bed pros and cons. Every kind of bed has its own requirements for what kind of mattress can be used with it, and that includes Murphy beds. As a result, there are some key points that should be considered when shopping for a mattress for your Murphy bed. For example, you may be wondering if you can use a murphy bed with a Tempurpedic mattress.
You can use a murphy bed with a Tempurpedic mattress if you have the right murphy bed frame and mattress thickness. Generally, most types of murphy beds can fit Tempurpedic mattresses that are less than 12 inches thick. Tempurpedic recommends that you keep the mattress flat and that you do not fold the mattress vertically every morning.
You may also be curious why Murphy beds are so expensive. Below, however, we’ll discuss murphy beds and Tempurpedic mattresses in more detail to help you pick the right mattress for your murphy bed.
What Is a Murphy Bed?
Murphy beds can be folded during the day and unfolded at night to maximize floor space. Image from Amazon.Murphy beds (also referred to as wall beds, pull-down beds, or fold-down beds) are a type of compact bed that can be folded up against the wall during the day and pulled down at night for the owner to sleep in. This allows the user to free up floor space during the day while the bed is not in use.
Murphy beds were most popular during the late 20th century, but today they are commonly used in studio bedrooms, guest rooms, and minimalist homes around the world. Since they are practical and save lots of space, murphy beds have not lost relevance even though they are not as popular as they once were. Here’s a great minimalist murphy bed you can purchase on Amazon. We’ve also put together a list of 15 Murphy bed options for studio apartments, campers, and RVs that you may be interested in looking at.
Many murphy beds are also multifunctional. For instance, some murphy beds have shelves, closets, cabinets, or even desks that are attached to the bed. Most Murphy beds are designed to be folded up vertically against the wall so that the part of the bed that can be seen when folded up looks like a regular wall. However, some murphy beds are designed to fold up into a cabinet. That way, when the murphy bed isn’t in use, it looks into a typical cabinet and nobody will know that there is a bed hidden behind the cabinet doors. This bi-fold murphy bed comes with cabinets!
Some of the common types of murphy beds include typical vertical murphy beds that are installed vertically against the wall. Horizontal Murphy beds are similar to vertical ones, but they are installed horizontally. Some other types of murphy beds include murphy bunk beds, which have lower and upper bunks that can be folded or unfolded, and murphy beds that have a desk or sofa on the other side of the bed. With these types of multifunctional Murphy beds, the bed is converted into a regular desk or sofa when the bed is folded up. These allow you to have a separate work or lounge area contained within one piece of furniture. Make sure to take a look at choosing the right Murphy bed for your exercise room too.
If you don’t think a Murphy bed will work in your home, make sure to check out these 5 Murphy beds for rooms with low ceilings or our tips on choosing the right Murphy bed for a tiny home for some ideas. Also, take a look at our comparison guide to Murphy beds, daybeds, sofa beds, and futons for more ways to furnish your guest rooms.
What Are Murphy Bed Mattress Requirements?
Like all beds, murphy beds require a mattress that provides reliable support. While it is quite easy to choose a mattress for a regular bed, there are several aspects that should be considered when choosing a mattress for a murphy bed. Below, we’ll discuss some of the requirements you should keep in mind when purchasing a mattress for a murphy bed. We’ve written an in-depth guide to murphy bed mattress sizes and requirements.
Murphy bed mattresses should be less than 15 inches thick, made of dense materials such as latex memory foam that don’t compact over time, and meet the weight capacity of the Murphy bed frame.
The first thing one should take into account when purchasing a mattress for a murphy bed is the depth of the bed frame. Typically, the depth of a murphy bed varies from 15 to 19 inches (this includes the depth of the bed frame and a few inches of the cabinet to which it is mounted). Therefore, we suggest not using a mattress that is more than 12 inches thick with a murphy bed. This will ensure that the mattress fits well into the murphy bed frame.
Even if you select a mattress that’s a suitable thickness for your murphy bed, you should still note the material that the mattress is made with. This is important because most mattresses are designed for regular beds, not ones that hang vertically during the day. For instance, a very soft mattress without coils or structural elements can be perfectly fine for a regular bed, but it won’t be suitable for a murphy bed. Mattresses that are too soft or lack structure will start slumping over time if they’re used in a murphy bed. This will not only make it challenging for you to slide up the mattress every time you unfold the bed, but it will also damage the mattress and significantly decrease its lifespan.
Despite the fact that murphy beds can hold mattresses that are quite heavy, it is not recommended to use ones that are too bulky. Too much extra weight will make it hard to fold and unfold the bed daily. However, using a very light mattress is not advised either; as we just mentioned, very light mattresses do not have enough structure and weight to keep their vertical position when the bed is folded up. Plus, it is better for some weight to be distributed along the bed frame while the bed is unfolded and in use. Make sure to also take a look at our article on how to replace a Murphy bed mattress.
What Is a Tempurpedic Mattress?
A typical Tempurpedic mattress consists of three layers: a support layer, a comfort layer, and a knitted cover layer. Image from Amazon. Tempurpedic mattresses are often listed as a good type of mattress to use with murphy beds. But what is a Tempurpedic mattress?
A Tempurpedic mattress is a type of memory foam mattress that has three main layers: a support layer, a comfort layer, and a knitted cover layer. These three layers make Tempurpedic mattresses solid, reliable, and comfortable to sleep on.
“Tempur” is a soft but durable material that was originally developed by NASA. Later, this formula was researched and improved upon by a Swedish company specializing in foam production. They then created the patented “Tempur-Pedic” material, which is made of polyurethane and viscoelastic materials. Currently, mattresses made from this material are referred to as “Tempurpedic.”
Although Tempur-Pedic claims that their products are made with exclusively formulated tempur material, the material of Tempurpedic mattresses is quite similar to memory foam. As a result, the terms “Tempurpedic” and “memory foam” can be used interchangeably.
Can You Use a Murphy Bed with a Tempurpedic Mattress?
You can use a murphy bed with a Tempurpedic mattress. Make sure your mattress will fit inside the murphy bed frame and not exceed the weight capacity of the murphy bed frame. A 12-inch Tempurpedic mattress will fit most Murphy bed frames that have weight capacities over 500 lbs. Do not fold the mattress into the wall every morning, according to Tempurpedic.
Official guidelines for using Tempurpedic mattresses with Wall Beds provided by Tempurpedic can be found here. Navigate to the “Products and Warranties” tab.
When using a Tempurpedic mattress with a murphy bed, you need a relatively light and thin mattress that does not take up too much space. If the mattress is too bulky, it might be difficult to fold the bed up correctly. Improper use of a murphy bed can be hazardous to your health and might even lead to injury or death (for more information about how using a bed improperly can be dangerous, see this study). The mattress must also have enough structure and firmness to stay in a vertical position while the bed is folded up. Luckily, the three layers of a Tempurpedic mattress give it exceptional firmness and softness simultaneously.
Even though Tempurpedic mattresses are not that wide, they provide reliable support and can improve the quality of your sleep (see this study to learn more about how different sleep surfaces can affect sleep quality). Generally, Tempurpedic mattresses are 10 to 12 inches thick, but in some cases there is an additional inch or two for additional comfort. If your Tempurpedic mattress is less than 12 inches thick, you can absolutely use it with a murphy bed. For example, this Tempur Cloud Prima is 10 inches thick and weighs less than 100 lbs.
Additionally, your Tempurpedic mattress can be used with a murphy bed as long as it isn’t too light or too heavy. Generally, murphy bed frame weight capacities are higher than 500 lbs, so your 12-inch thick Tempurpedic mattress will fit.
Examples of Tempurpedic Mattresses That You Can Use with Murphy Beds
Since we have concluded that Tempurpedic mattresses are suitable for murphy beds, you might want to know where to purchase them.
To make it easier for you to select the right Tempurpedic mattress, we have compiled a list of 5 memory foam mattresses that you can use with murphy beds.
| Product Name and Link to Amazon | Why Does This Work Well with Murphy Beds? | Price |
| TEMPUR‐Cloud Prima Medium-Soft Mattress | This Tempur-Pedic brand mattress is 10 inches thick and made of patented tempur material for adaptive support and pressure relief. The mattress is less than 100 lbs so it should fit most Murphy Bedframes | $900-$2000 |
| TEMPUR-Adapt 11 inch. Mattress | The Adapt has a cooling cover and a comfort layer in addition to Tempurpedic material. The king-size mattress is less than 100 lbs and 11 inches thick (less than 12) so it will fit your Murphy bed. | $1700-$3000 |
| TEMPUR-ProAdapt 12 inch Mattress | Similar to the Adapt, the Pro also has a lot of comfort features and is 12 inches thick. We don’t recommend a thicker mattress than this one for a Murphy Bed. It weighs approximately 125 lbs. | ~$3700 for King SIze |
You also need to know are Murphy beds safe? Make sure to take a look at our related guide to find out more.