
Have you got a spare bedroom at home that you want to keep for guests (or visiting grandkids) but that you’d like to be able to dual purpose as an office or crafts room? If so, a Murphy bunk bed is one of the better bed designs you should consider.
A Murphy bunk bed saves space in two ways. It is vertical, making use of the available space above the first bed. And when the beds are not in use, they can be folded to make space for other activities.
Do you have kids sharing a small bedroom? Do you have a home office or library you want to be available for accommodating guests? Then this is the right home improvement project for you!
Be inspired by viewing our gallery of Murphy bunk beds and watch the video demonstration below. You can also find the link to the tutorial by DIY Network!

Is this going to be your next big project?
Materials:
- 5 sheets of prefinished birch 3/4″ plywood
- wood shims
- wood glue
- 3/4″ birch edge banding
- 8 bronze flanged-sleeve bearings for 5/8″ shaft diameter, 7/8″ OD, 1/2″ length
- 4 alloy steel shoulder bolts, 5/8″ shoulder dia., 1 1/2″ Shoulder, 1/2″-13 thread
- 4 steel coupling nut, 1/2″-13 thread size, 1 1/4″ length
- 4 fully threaded hex head cap bolts, 1/2″-13 thread, 1/2″ length
- 16 flat washers, 1/2″ hole size, 1 1/4″ OD
- 1 heavy-duty piano hinge with holes, unfinished, .042″ thick, 1 1/16″ Width, 2′ length
- two-part epoxy
- 24′ of 1×4 poplar
- trim paint
- 60 pocket screws
- 100 15-ga. 1 1/4″ finish nails
- 2-1/2″ bunk mattresses
- (2) gate latches
Tools:
- hand-held drill and bit driver set
- tape measure
- framing square
- 7 1/4″ circular saw or table saw
- pocket screw jig
- level
- band saw or hacksaw with metal blade
- household clothes iron
- 15-ga. finish gun
- wrench and socket set
- 7/8″ paddle or Forstner bit
- safety glasses
- dust mask
- work gloves
- earplugs
Click on any image to start lightbox display. Use your Esc key to close the lightbox.
Thanks to DIY Network for this great project. You can get step-by-step instructions here…