Hello Friends!
We’re so thrilled to be sharing our finished office/guest room space! We tackled two projects during this latest lockdown, and it was definitely an adventure! If you missed our design plans, you can check them out here! This room and Murphy Bed project came together thanks to Easy DIY Murphy bed and the hardware kit they generously gifted us!
Before
The whole reason for this project was to add guest sleeping space to our office, because our nursery is taking over our guest room. Because we don’t have guests over all the time (or at all right now during a pandemic!) we wanted a space that could be multi-functional. Brian is currently working from home from our den/office, so we wanted to continue to have a usable office space that could easily turn into a guest room.
Easy DIY Murphy Bed
We ended up going with the vertical double murphy bed kit from Easy DIY Murphy Beds, because the smaller bed fits our space a bit better. Each kit comes with plans to use plywood or MDF, but we decided to use the MDF plans due to lumber prices, and the overall limited access to lumber in Ontario during the COVID lockdown. The great thing about this kit is not only does it come with the key hardware you need to make a murphy bed function safely, but it also has a cut list and supplies list, and detailed instructions for building the bed! I recorded quite a bit of our process in my Instagram stories, but I should note that Brian did the majority of the cutting and construction of this project – so he’s the real MVP here! Being almost 8 months pregnant at the time of construction didn’t make me the most useful helper!
We really liked how we didn’t have to think about any logistics or do any math for this part of the project, because everything was already planned out. All we needed to do was cut all of the pieces to the appropriate size, and assemble each section based on the instructions. It took a lot of the guess work out of the project – which is typically my least favourite part!
The Murphy Bed Hardware that it comes with is also really cool! It’s super high tech and feels extremely safe. It also makes it so it’s not heavy to pull down and put back up, because the piston system it uses takes a lot of the weight. So this pregnant mama-to-be can easily open and close the unit on her own! Win!
Overall, we would definitely recommend getting a kit! The only thing that made this project take way longer than anticipated was just sourcing the supplies we needed. Not only was the wood/MDF hard to find, but there were times where we would run out of small things like glue or nails, and then would have to wait 2-3 days for our curbside pickup order to be ready. I also recommend reading ahead in the instructions, because there are some substitution suggestions that pop up in the instructions that aren’t in the initial supplies list. You don’t need to go with the substitutions, but some of them worked better for our space/tools we had, so this also caused us some delays when we had to source more supplies.
Our Customizations
We decided to get a few extra pieces of MDF so that we could build bookshelves surrounding the murphy bed frame. I’m SO happy we did this, because it looks so good, but it was our first time building built-ins like this, so it definitely took some extra time, tools and supplies! We measured the space to see how much room we had on each side in order to figure out how wide to make the shelves. By looking at the Murphy Bed Plans, we already knew the depth the unit would be, so it was easy to match up the dimensions.
We first primed the MDF with oil-based primer, and then used Valspar Ultra White semi-gloss paint to paint the cabinets and murphy bed. We used a foam roller to apply everything for an even finish, but next time (if we had the space for it) we would totally have used a paint sprayer to speed up the process!
In addition to the bookshelves, we also decided to add trim to the front of the Murphy Bed. We bought a pack of pre-primed MDF from Rona, and used a nail gun compressor to attach it to the frame once everything was assembled. To fill the holes we used DAP wood filler, and then we painted over everything with the Valspar Ultra White.
The Finished Space!
Overall we’re so happy with how this space turned out! It’s SO functional now, and I love that it can easily be transformed from office space to guest space so quickly. The bed is so easy to pull down (even for a preggo!) and everything is so solid and sturdy. I also love having the desk in the centre of the space when the bed is not in use – it feels way more open and inspiring than having the desk pushed up against the wall. When we want to pull the bed down, the desk can easily be pushed up against the wall, and there’s still enough space to walk by.
We still need to add some window/door coverings and a new light fixture, but I’m SO excited to have guests now! This space is finished just in time with lockdown ending and our baby arriving. This room will get lots of use in the coming months with grandparent visits! Brian and I might even have a little staycation down here before the baby arrives. I just love how bright and cheery this space is, and I’m getting serious boutique hotel vibes!
So if you need a multi-functional guest space, I would definitely recommend using the Easy DIY Murphy Bed hardware and plans! Feel free to send any questions you have, and I’d be happy to answer!!
Cheers!
Julie
29 Comments
Laura
August 12, 2022 at 5:52 amThis room is GORGEOUS, great job!! Could you tell me where you got that shallow cabinet with the four drawer pulls? I need something like that for a tiny guest room/office. Thank you!! ☺️
Julie
August 12, 2022 at 12:09 pmThank you so much! It’s actually an Ikea hack!
http://lavenderjulep.com/shoe-cabinet-ikea-hack/
Lauren Katz
July 27, 2022 at 7:39 pmHi! What is the width of your shelving? Thanks!
Julie
August 22, 2022 at 12:01 pmIt is 24”wide, and 16” deep!
Christian drerup
July 23, 2022 at 4:19 amCould you please post where you bought the blanket?
Julie
July 25, 2022 at 11:39 pmI got it in Iceland years ago, but I’m pretty sure it was from here: https://icelandicstore.is/collections/icelandic-blankets
Edrirosa
June 15, 2022 at 5:36 pmI absolutely love the shelving addition. Totally something would’ve done too! Curious what the depth of all of it is. Very interested in the kit but want to know if the depth would work for my space or not. Thanks!
Julie
July 25, 2022 at 11:45 pmIt’s about 16.5 inches deep
Ashley
June 9, 2022 at 6:04 amMay I ask where the desk is from?
Julie
July 25, 2022 at 11:45 pmIt’s from ikea! https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/lisabo-desk-ash-veneer-30299070/
Natsu
May 8, 2022 at 11:33 pmCan you share a copy of the cutting guide and item list please?
Julie
May 16, 2022 at 6:38 pmHi! I definitely recommend checking out the linked website for the plans! They let you customize based on bed size and layout.
Kristen
February 10, 2022 at 4:23 pmHi! I am pretty sure this is the rug in the pics! https://www.wayfair.com/rugs/pdp/chris-loves-julia-x-loloi-jules-oriental-naturalocean-area-rug-w004268857.html
Julie
July 25, 2022 at 11:44 pmThat’s the one!! Thank you
Anne Laurence cocco
December 29, 2021 at 4:35 pmIs there a specific video or website you guys followed to build the built in shelves, I really love how you guys did your shelves, and I would want to replicate it. Thank you 😊
Jacqui
December 27, 2021 at 11:57 amThis space is beautiful AND so functional! I love it. Can I ask please what the room dimensions are? I also love the side cabinet/ draws! 😍 Thanks you!
Julie
July 25, 2022 at 11:38 pmThank you so much! It’s 10×10
Ines
January 7, 2023 at 2:20 pmHi! Beautiful project and super inspiring, we are pulling our lid from daycare due to health issues and the guest bedroom is also becoming a nursery, so we are trying to keep his playroom flexible as a guest bedroom.
I am 7 months pregnant, can you share how long it took you from start to finish to build the pieces of furniture?
Thanks!
Rachael Beadle
December 22, 2021 at 12:43 amBeautiful! Just what I need for one of our spare rooms/office. Do you have instructions?
Julie
May 16, 2022 at 6:39 pmI recommend checking out the Easy DIY Murphy Bed website! They have instructions and hardware 😊
Maritza
December 5, 2021 at 12:08 amLove how everything came out. Just a quick question, how thick is the mattress does it matter?
Julie
July 25, 2022 at 11:36 pmI don’t think it matters, but ours is just a regular mattress in a box!
Lauren
November 3, 2021 at 3:10 pmWhere did you get the bookshelves?
Julie
May 16, 2022 at 6:41 pmWe made them! Hoping to post a tutorial soon!
Julia
November 1, 2021 at 8:59 pmGorgeous! Can you link the rug please? I’ve been looking for something similar for the bedroom!
Julie
July 25, 2022 at 11:36 pmIt’s Loloi – the jules rug in natural/ocean
Coco
September 23, 2021 at 6:47 amThis is gorgeous! I am going to do this in my husbands office! Can you tell me about what it cost for the whole project? Including your cool book shelves?!
Julie
September 24, 2021 at 6:04 pmThank you so much! We were gifted the hardware, but all of the lumber and MDF came to around $400, and then primer, paint and other supplies probably came to around $200. It was during a lockdown here though, so sourcing wood was extra expensive! I think you could probably do it for much cheaper now!
Julie
May 16, 2022 at 6:40 pmI would say around $500!