Murphy beds are designed to be functional and comfortable. But since they involve lifting, folding, and storing, you might worry they would make creaking and groaning noises.
Also, since these beds have many springs, you might wonder if they are noisy and could keep you up at night.
Are Murphy beds noisy? Well, it depends on how they are built. Beds with piston lift mechanisms are very quiet, almost whisper-quiet. However, beds with regular spring mechanisms might creak more and be noisier.
These might also need some maintenance or oiling to stay quiet. Manual beds, which don’t have any lift mechanisms, are less quiet but also heavier.
Are Murphy beds noisy when being moved up and down?
Most Murphy beds are very easy to fold up and down. Their lifting systems are designed to make it easy for you to store the bed or set it up for sleeping every day. Did you know that Murphy beds use different lifting systems and materials to do this?
The two most common types of hardware in Murphy beds are piston and spring lift mechanisms. These help you move the bed smoothly.
Piston Lifting Mechanisms
Gas piston lifting mechanisms in Murphy beds use high-pressure gas or air to move the bed up and down quietly, slowly, and safely. They also have locking systems that keep the bed securely in place, even if you pull on it. This helps prevent the bed from accidentally falling or flipping back up.
However, if pistons need maintenance or get damaged, or if they lose their strength over time, you will have to replace the whole mechanism, not just one part like a spring.
While pistons are quieter, they don’t last as long as other types and they are more expensive.
Spring Lifting Mechanisms
Spring mechanisms in Murphy beds are known to stay strong and last a long time. Unlike gas pistons, springs use their tight force and resistance to keep the bed in place and move it up and down gently.
Because they don’t use gas, these systems are a bit more manual and sturdy, which means they’re less likely to wear out or break. However, they do require a bit more effort to operate.
If a spring does wear down, replacing one or two springs is much simpler than replacing an entire gas piston system.
Keep in mind, though, that springs can be noisier, especially after they’ve been used for a few years.
Are Murphy beds noisier than regular beds when you sleep?
Depending on how your bed is made, the squeaking of your mattress might be louder or quieter. Spring Murphy beds can be a bit louder, especially when you fold and store them. When you’re in bed, the mattress might creak a little, but the bed frame should be pretty quiet.
Murphy beds are built to be strong and durable because they go through a lot of wear and tear. If you’re worried about a noisy bed while tossing and turning, you shouldn’t hear more noise than from a regular bed.
Over the years, both wood and metal beds might get noisier as they start to loosen or wear down. If you’re concerned about this, handle your bed gently and make sure to tighten or oil any hinges or springs to prevent noise.
How to make a Murphy bed completely silent
Murphy beds are often thought to be completely silent when you can fold them up and down and sleep on them without any noise.
While no bed is ever completely silent, you can get it pretty close with the right materials and maintenance.
If your Murphy bed isn’t as quiet as you’d like, it might be due to a few reasons:
Lifting System: If you want a really quiet Murphy bed, consider investing in a piston lifting system. These systems are often praised in reviews for being “whisper-quiet.” Many customers prefer to pay a bit more for piston hardware instead of springs because of this.
If you already have a piston lift system, make sure to keep up with maintenance. Replace any parts that aren’t as strong as they used to be. Over time, they will lose their resistance, which can be frustrating if you can’t get your bed to lock in place the way you want.
Bed Materials: Wood and metal are both strong materials for building a bed. However, if they are not well cared for, they might start to creak and moan over time. As mentioned before, metal frames might squeak, loosen, or even rust if they rub against themselves. If this happens, you should oil and maintain the metal as soon as possible to prevent further issues.
Wood can also have problems if the hinges or bolts become loose or stripped. It might start to fray, thin, or creak.
Taking good care of your bed’s material is very important to help it last a long time. If you think your bed might wear down after several years of use, try to be gentle with it and maintain it as much as possible.