Are Murphy Beds Safe? What You Need to Know
If you've ever seen a slapstick comedy where someone gets folded inside a Murphy bed, you might have some concerns about safety. The good news is that modern Murphy beds — when built correctly and used properly — are very safe. Here's everything you need to know.
Can a Murphy Bed Fall Down on Its Own?
This is the most common safety concern, and it's a reasonable one. The answer is: no, a properly built Murphy bed with a quality mechanism will not fall down on its own.
Modern Murphy bed kits use gas struts — the same technology used in car bonnets, office chairs, and a wide range of industrial equipment. These struts are calibrated to the weight of the mattress and provide constant counterbalancing force. The bed stays firmly in the raised position until you intentionally pull it down.
The key word is 'properly built'. Following the installation instructions carefully — particularly around mechanism positioning and wall fixing — is essential to safe operation.
How Are Murphy Beds Fixed to the Wall?
Murphy beds are wall-mounted, which is a crucial safety feature. The cabinet is secured to wall studs (the structural timber inside your wall framing) using heavy-duty fixings. This anchors the entire unit and prevents it from tipping forward when the bed is lowered.
It's important to locate your wall studs accurately and use fixings rated for the required load. The Easy Fold Murphy Bed instruction manual provides guidance on this. If you're unsure about your wall type — particularly in older homes or those with plasterboard over concrete — it's worth getting advice before mounting.
Is It Safe to Sleep In?
Yes. Once lowered, a Murphy bed functions like any other bed. The platform is solid, the mattress is stable, and there is no risk of the mechanism activating while someone is sleeping in the bed. The gas struts don't have enough force to lift a loaded bed — they're designed to assist with the weight of an empty mattress only.
Some people wonder whether the bed could fold back up while they're sleeping in it. This isn't physically possible — the combined weight of even one adult far exceeds what the mechanism can lift.
Is It Safe for Children?
Murphy beds are generally safe in homes with children, but as with any furniture, supervision and basic safety habits are important:
• Children should not play with the folding mechanism unsupervised
• The bed should always be fully latched in the raised position when not in use
• Small children should not be left in a Murphy bed unattended, just as they shouldn't be left in a standard bed
Beyond these common-sense precautions, the mechanism itself poses no unusual risk.
What Makes a Murphy Bed Unsafe?
The most common causes of Murphy bed issues are:
• Incorrect installation — not following the instructions, particularly around wall fixings
• Attempting to modify the mechanism
• Using a poor-quality or worn-out kit from an unknown manufacturer
Choosing a quality kit with a well-engineered mechanism, following the instructions carefully, and mounting securely to wall studs are the three things that matter most for safe operation.
The Bottom Line
Murphy beds have an excellent safety record when correctly built and used. The technology is well-established, and quality kits like Easy Fold Murphy Bed are designed with safety in mind at every step. If you follow the instructions and mount the unit properly, you'll have a bed that's just as safe as any other in your home.