The Story Behind Easy Fold Murphy Bed | Easy Fold Murphy Bed
Easy Fold Murphy Bed started with a fairly simple idea: build a Murphy bed that didn't require buying a bulky pre-built cabinet or relying on complicated hardware that was difficult to source.
Like many DIY projects, it began by trying to solve a problem for ourselves.
That first build eventually became the starting point for the Murphy bed kits we offer today.
Building the First Murphy Bed
The first Easy Fold Murphy Bed was built by hand by our founder in October 2024.
The goal was to create a Murphy bed that could be built using commonly available timber and normal DIY tools, while keeping the specialised lifting mechanism straightforward to install.
There were plenty of practical questions to solve along the way.
How should the bed pivot?
How much assistance should the gas struts provide?
How should the timber panels be sized?
And, perhaps most importantly, how could the process be made easier for someone building a Murphy bed for the first time?
Working through those questions on the original build helped shape the system we use today.
Developing the Hardware
One of the most important parts of the project was getting the pivot mechanism right.
Rather than relying entirely on generic hardware, we worked with a manufacturer on a pivot hinge design specifically for the Murphy bed system.
Our first production run was 100 units, and the design continued to evolve as we tested the mechanism.
One of those refinements was adding approximately 15 mm to part of the hinge to provide additional strength where testing showed it would be beneficial.
They're relatively small changes, but those details are important when you're developing hardware that needs to raise and lower a bed repeatedly.
From One Build to a Complete Kit
The original Murphy bed wasn't just about developing the metal hardware.
We also had to work out everything surrounding it: panel dimensions, fixing positions, gas strut setup and the sequence in which everything should be assembled.
That eventually developed into the complete kit system we offer today.
Each kit includes the specialised folding hardware along with detailed building instructions and a cutting list for the timber panels.
Instead of having to design a Murphy bed from scratch, customers can start with measurements and a mechanism that have already been worked through.
You still build the cabinet yourself, which means you can choose your own timber, colour, finish and overall style.
Making the Instructions Easier to Follow
One advantage of building the first Murphy bed ourselves was seeing the process from the same perspective as our customers.
If something wasn't obvious during the original build, it needed to be explained more clearly.
If a measurement was important, it needed to be included.
If one assembly order made the job easier than another, that needed to go into the instructions too.
The manuals have continued to develop as the kits have evolved and as we've received questions and feedback from customers completing their own builds.
What Hasn't Changed
The basic idea behind Easy Fold Murphy Bed is still the same as it was with the first build:
we supply the specialised Murphy bed mechanism and the information needed to build around it, while you create the furniture to suit your own home.
That keeps the finished Murphy bed customisable without requiring every customer to design the lifting system from scratch.
Today, our Murphy bed kits are available in multiple mattress sizes and configurations, helping DIY builders create guest rooms, home offices and flexible spaces in homes across different countries.
A New Zealand Owned and Operated Business
Easy Fold Murphy Bed is a New Zealand owned and operated business, with Murphy bed kits available across:
🇳🇿 New Zealand
🇦🇺 Australia
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
What started with one Murphy bed build has grown into a system designed to help other people create their own.
Browse our Murphy bed kits and start planning your build.