How to Plan a Home Office With a Murphy Bed

Plan a home office with a Murphy Bed around two layouts: your everyday workspace and the room with the bed open. Check that the desk fits your equipment, that the chair has room to move, and that guests can reach the bed and storage.

Start with the bed open

Choose a wall for the bed and mark its full open footprint on the floor with painter’s tape. Use the dimensions of the model you are considering, allowing for any side cabinets or shelving.

Our Office / Guest Room queen configuration, for example, lists an open-bed projection of 89½ inches. You will need additional space to walk around the bed and use nearby furniture.

Add the desk and chair to your plan. Test the layout with the chair pulled back, then check that room and closet doors can open freely. Our measurement guide explains cabinet dimensions, ceiling height and open-bed clearance.

Choose a desk for the work you do

A laptop and notebook need less desk space than a desktop setup with two monitors. Consider what stays on your desk during a normal workday before choosing where it will go.

A separate desk can be worth the extra space if moving your computer would mean unplugging several cables every time someone visits. For an attached desk, watch how the bed opens and closes before deciding whether it suits your setup.

Check the desk depth and equipment layout

Measure your equipment and check the work surface’s depth as well as its width. You need room to position the screen at a comfortable distance and use the keyboard and mouse without reaching awkwardly.

Occupational therapists suggest roughly an arm’s length as a starting point for monitor distance, adjusted to the individual. Their keyboard guidance recommends keeping the keyboard in front of you, with relaxed shoulders and elbows close to your body.

Plan lighting and access to outlets around the desk position. Route cords away from the bed’s moving parts and walking paths, following the instructions for your configuration.

Decide where you will work while guests stay

For an occasional weekend visitor, you may be happy to take your laptop to another room. A guest staying through the working week needs more planning.

If you will share the room during the visit, agree on working hours and privacy. If the desk becomes unavailable when the bed is open, choose another place to work and keep the equipment you need together. That might mean a drawer for your laptop and charger, with work files stored nearby.

Keep work files and guest belongings separate

Use closed storage for office supplies and reserve a shelf or drawer for visitors. If you handle confidential work, include storage you can secure.

Check which drawers and cabinet doors remain accessible with the bed open. The storage you need during a visit should be easy to reach. Include a place for a suitcase and a bedside surface in your floor plan.

Choose the hardware before finalizing the cabinetry

At Murphy Wall-Beds Hardware Inc., we have specialized in wall-bed hardware since 1975. For a custom office project, choose the hardware before your cabinet maker finalizes the drawings. The frame, mechanism and mattress requirements will guide the cabinet design.

Give your cabinetmaker the installation instructions early. Our wall beds attach to structural wall members, such as studs, and mounting the bed’s front panel requires access to both sides. A layout that blocks one side may prevent the panel from being mounted safely.

Settle the mattress requirements before ordering, too. Its dimensions and weight need to suit the selected system.

Explore configurations with our Build-A-Bed tool, or contact our team with your room measurements and desk requirements.