The Murphy bed got its name from its inventor, William Murphy, a Stockton, Calif., stagecoach driver. He and his wife didn't have enough room to entertain in their small San Francisco home, so he created a way to make his bed disappear when company was over.
Murphy patented his invention in 1912, and the space-saver became instantly popular in apartment buildings nationwide. Architects would design buildings with closets large enough to fit the popular bed. By the 1920s, Murphy had showrooms across the country.
During the Depression, Murphy consolidated his business and moved to New York City. Unfortunately, his wall bed design lost popularity, especially after World War II when Americans moved into large homes in the suburbs. The Murphy, as the bed is sometimes known, didn't see a resurgence until the late 1970s and early 1980s when the oil embargo kicked in and Americans downsized, says Eugene Kolakowski, vice president of Murphy Bed Co. Inc., of Farmingdale, N.Y.
The bed became even more widespread after a 1989 court ruling, in which Murphy beds lost trademark protection. At that point, knock offs entered the market in droves.
By the 1990s, the Murphy bed evolved into a sophisticated system complete with cabinetry. Empty nesters put them in home offices or dens for visiting grandchildren, while landlords began retrofitting 1950s-era originals.
The beauty of a Murphy bed lies in its ease of use and versatility. Today's models are customizable and very easy to open and close. They can turn an office or sewing room into guest quarters with just a few minutes of preparation.
We are in the process of building a new home and are including two Murphy beds in our design for when our extended family and friends come to visit. One will be located in the home office and another in our bonus room above the garage. We think it's a smart use of space for a home.
What are your thoughts? Have you thought of using a Murphy bed in your home or do you own one? We'd love to hear from you.
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