Murphy beds — a bedroom that folds away
Mount a Murphy bed on any wall, choose the mattress size, and toggle it open to check the room still works.
A Murphy bed is the classic small-space move — a real bed by night, a slim cabinet by day. RoomSketch3D models both states: closed, it's a shallow cabinet against the wall; open, it folds down to the true depth of the mattress you choose, and Smart Flow Check makes sure the room still walks.
This page covers adding a Murphy bed, setting the mattress size and fold direction, and checking the open footprint.
What you'll need
- •A room with a free wall long enough for the mattress you want
Step by step
- 1
Place it on a wall
Search the catalog for Murphy, pick the bed, then tap the wall it mounts on. The cabinet snaps flush to the wall.
Closed, it's a slim cabinet against the wall. - 2
Pick mattress size and orientation
Inspector → choose Twin through Cal King, and whether the bed folds down vertically (narrow cabinet, deeper projection) or horizontally (wide cabinet, shallower projection).
- 3
Flip it open and closed
Toggle the open state to see both footprints. Open it while furnishing to make sure the bed clears the sofa, desk, or dining table sharing the room.
- 4
Check the room in 3D
In 3D the closed bed reads as a clean cabinet; open, the mattress folds down into the room.
The cabinet reads clean and flush in 3D.
Tips
Check the open footprint
Flip the bed open and watch Flow Check — a Queen folds down about 80 in. Make sure there's a clear path around it open, not just closed.
Sideways fold for a low wall
Under a window or a sloped ceiling, a side-folding Murphy needs less height. Set the fold direction to match the wall.
Common mistakes
Planning only for the closed state
It's easy to fit the cabinet and forget the bed. Open it and confirm the room still has a walkway — that's the whole point of the Flow Check on it.
Two Murphy beds that can't both open
If two Murphy beds share a small room, Flow Check warns when their open footprints collide. Stagger them so both can fold down.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a Murphy bed?
Search the catalog for 'Murphy', add the bed, and tap the wall it mounts on. Closed, it's a shallow cabinet.
What mattress sizes are available?
Twin through California King. Select the bed and pick the size in the Inspector.
Does the plan account for the bed when it's open?
Yes — flip it open and Smart Flow Check checks the room against the open footprint, warning if the walkway is blocked.
Can it fold down sideways?
Yes — choose vertical or sideways fold in the Inspector, whichever your wall allows.
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