You’ve been dreaming of a Murphy bed for your bedroom, and now you can make that dream a reality without breaking the bank. In this informative video by TheIdeaBox, you’ll learn how to create your very own DIY Murphy Bed using simple tools and hardware. With a total cost of materials under $80, this homemade folding bed is both affordable and functional, perfect for maximizing space in a small room.
The step-by-step tutorial includes cutting plywood, assembling the frame, creating a mattress box, and installing hinges for seamless operation. You’ll see how to make the bed sturdy and level, ensuring a comfortable and convenient sleeping space that can easily fold away when not in use. Follow along with the video and get ready to enjoy your new DIY Murphy Bed without the need for expensive hardware.
Materials and Tools Needed
To create your DIY Murphy Bed without expensive hardware, you will need several materials and tools. For the bed frame, you will require two sheets of 3/4 inch plywood, one sheet of half-inch plywood, and one sheet of one-fourth inch plywood. Additionally, you will need essential tools like a circular saw, a speed square, clamps, screws, a drill machine, a rasp, and a file. This project will allow you to build a homemade folding bed under $100, providing a comfortable sleeping solution for your space.
List of materials required for DIY Murphy Bed
- Two sheets of 3/4 inch plywood
- One sheet of half-inch plywood
- One sheet of one-fourth inch plywood
Essential tools needed for the project
- Circular saw
- Speed square
- Clamps
- Screws
- Drill machine
- Rasp
- File
Planning and Designing
Before starting the construction of your Murphy Bed, it is essential to sketch the design to visualize how it will fit into your space. Determine the dimensions of the bed frame and mattress box to ensure a proper fit. The frame should be 11 inches wide, 54 and a half inches tall, and 82 inches long, while the mattress box should be 6 inches wide, 37 and a half inches tall, and 79 and a half inches long.
Sketching the design of the Murphy Bed
Sketch out the design of your Murphy Bed to plan the layout and dimensions of the frame and mattress box.
Determining the dimensions of the bed frame and mattress box
Measure and calculate the dimensions of the bed frame and mattress box to ensure they fit seamlessly within your space.
Cutting and Preparing Plywood
Use a circular saw to make long cuts in the plywood sheets. Utilize the factory edges of the plywood as a straight guide and clamp them down before making the cuts. A speed square can be used as a guide for cross cuts to ensure accuracy in your measurements.
Using a circular saw to make long cuts
Utilize a circular saw to cut the plywood sheets to the desired lengths, ensuring precision in your measurements.
Using a speed square as a guide for cross cuts
Use a speed square as a guide for making cross cuts in the plywood, ensuring accurate dimensions for your project.
Assembling the Frame
Glue and clamp the plywood pieces together to assemble the frame of the Murphy Bed. Utilize homemade corner clamps for a secure connection and reinforce the joints with screws to ensure stability.
Gluing and clamping the plywood pieces together
Apply glue to the plywood pieces and use clamps to secure them together, creating the frame of the Murphy Bed.
Using homemade corner clamps for assembly
Construct homemade corner clamps to assist in assembling the frame of the bed securely and accurately.
Adding Support and Adjustments
To prevent flexing in the bed frame, add support pieces to reinforce the structure. Make adjustments for any irregularities in the wall or floor to ensure a proper fit and functionality of the Murphy Bed.
Adding support pieces to prevent flexing
Incorporate additional support pieces within the frame to prevent any flexing or instability in the structure.
Making adjustments for irregularities in the wall or floor
Adjust the design of the bed frame to accommodate any irregularities in the wall or floor where the Murphy Bed will be installed.
Building the Mattress Box
Assemble the mattress box using similar methods to the frame construction. Incorporate solid wood for additional support and reinforcement to uphold the weight of the mattress.
Assembling the mattress box using similar methods
Follow the same assembly methods used for the frame to construct the mattress box, ensuring a cohesive design for your Murphy Bed.
Incorporating solid wood for additional support
Use solid wood pieces to reinforce the mattress box structure, providing additional support for the mattress and ensuring durability.
Installing Hinges and Mechanisms
Attach a hinge to the bed frame to allow for easy folding and unfolding of the Murphy Bed. Add stop blocks to enhance stability and prevent any sudden movement when the bed is in use.
Attaching a hinge for the bed to fold down
Install a hinge on the bed frame to facilitate the folding mechanism of the Murphy Bed, allowing for seamless operation.
Adding stop blocks for stability
Incorporate stop blocks to prevent any unexpected movements of the bed and ensure stability when it is in use.
Securing to Wall and Floor
Secure the frame of the Murphy Bed to the wall using screws to maintain its position. Level the bed by adding scrap pieces under the legs on uneven floors to ensure a balanced structure.
Securing the frame to the wall with screws
Attach the bed frame securely to the wall using screws to stabilize the Murphy Bed and prevent it from shifting.
Leveling the bed with scrap pieces on uneven floors
Compensate for uneven floors by adding scrap pieces under the legs of the bed to level the structure and ensure a comfortable sleeping surface.
Final Touches and Finishing
Attach legs to the bed frame for additional support and stability. Make final adjustments for smooth operation of the folding mechanism and ensure that all components are securely in place for regular use.
Attaching legs for support
Install legs on the bed frame to provide support and stability for the Murphy Bed when it is in use.
Adding final adjustments for smooth operation
Make any final adjustments necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the folding mechanism and enhance the functionality of the Murphy Bed.
Conclusion
By following these detailed steps, you can successfully create a DIY Murphy Bed under $100 without the need for expensive hardware. With basic tools and materials, you can enjoy the benefits of a homemade folding bed that offers a space-saving solution and convenient functionality. Embrace the satisfaction of building your own Murphy Bed and wake up to a stylish and versatile sleeping arrangement tailored to your needs.
