Build a Library Murphy Bed with Ease

A Murphy bed pulls up to conceal your mattress when it's not in use. This is ideal for small environments like dorm rooms and cramped apartments. When you make your own Murphy bed, incorporating bookshelves creates a Murphy library bed. Making your own Murphy library bed gives you storage for books and other items.

Things You'll Need

2 bookshelves
1 iron bed frame with mattresses
Assorted nuts and bolts
2 spring hinges
Hand drill
Wooden slat
Self-tapping hook
Nylon strap
Threaded upholstery needle

Step 1

Place two heavy-duty bookshelves side by side. Space them apart according to the width of the bed you're using, plus 1 inch on each side. For example, if you're using a full-size bed, you will need 56 inches of space between the bookshelves. That is because a standard full-sized bed is 54 inches wide , and you need 1 inch of leeway on either side.

Step 2

Slide the assembled bed frame between the two bookshelves, centering it. Keep the mattress and box spring to the side for later use. Stand in the opened middle of the bed frame and select four, 3-inch, self-tapping bolts along with the spring hinges. The spring hinges should be mid-sized, about 5 inches long and 3 inches wide.

Step 3

Attach one side of one of the spring hinges to the edge of the bed frame railing coming from the headboard. There are holes in metal frames where this is possible. Use a single, 3-inch bolt to connect the frame to the hinge. Pull the other side of the spring hinge to the outer edge of the bookshelf, which should be no more than 1 inch away from the frame where the other end of the hinge is attached. Drill another 3-inch bolt into the hinge, this time connecting it into the frame of the bookshelf.

Repeat this step with the second hinge on the other side of the bed frame.

Step 4

Insert the box spring and mattress into the frame as you would normally. Stand on the bed between the two bookshelves near the headboard area. Place a heavy-duty, wooden slat across the top of the bookshelves. Screw a 5-inch bolt into each end of the slat connecting it to the shelves. The slat should measure at least double the width of your bed, and be at least 2 inches thick.

Step 5

Install a self-tapping wall hook into the front center of the slat, facing outward and making the crook of the hook aim upward. To do this, drill a starter hole into the face of the wood and then finish by screwing the hook into place firmly.

Step 6

Step off of the bed and then pull it upward against the wall between the bookshelves. The spring hinges will engage and snap the bed upward and inward. Stand on a stool to sew the nylon strap measuring 1 foot long to the front center face of the box spring upholstery. Use at least 6 inches of thick upholstery thread on each end of the strap, connecting it to the mattress with a durable stitch.

Secure the stitch by squeezing a dot of hot glue down each side end of the strap and letting it dry for 15 minutes.

Step 7

Hook the strap over the upward aiming hook at the front of the wooden slat. This helps hold the bed in place more since the mattress and box spring are heavier than the frame, which is held in place by the heavy-duty spring hinges.