Murphy beds have a reputation problem — a lot of people still picture the flimsy fold-down frames from decades ago that groaned every time they closed. Atlantic Furniture’s murphy bed chests are a different animal, and in 2026 they’ve become one of the more searched-for options for anyone trying to squeeze a real bed into a home office, studio apartment, or guest room that needs to earn its keep during the day. This guide walks through the actual size and finish decisions you’ll face, plus how these chests compare to other space-saving sleep solutions we cover across the site.
Atlantic Furniture Murphy Bed Chests Worth Considering
Atlantic Furniture Concord Murphy Bed Chest, Queen
- Solid wood construction, not particle board veneer
- Smooth spring-assisted fold mechanism
- Reads as real furniture when closed
- Heavy — needs two people to install
- Mattress sold separately
Atlantic Furniture Portrait Murphy Bed Chest, Full, Walnut
- Slimmer cabinet profile than queen versions
- Walnut finish hides scuffs well
- Full size still fits a standard mattress
- Full may feel tight for taller adults
- Assembly instructions are sparse
Atlantic Furniture Concord Murphy Bed Chest, Twin XL, Espresso
- Compact when folded up
- Espresso finish matches most bedroom furniture
- Good value versus the queen size
- Twin XL mattress can be harder to find locally
- Not ideal as a primary adult bed long-term
Atlantic Furniture Murphy Bed Chest with Charging Station, Queen
- Built-in USB/outlet panel
- Same sturdy Concord-style mechanism
- Doubles as a nightstand-free solution
- Priced higher than the base Concord model
- Outlet placement isn't adjustable
Atlantic Furniture Bordeaux Murphy Bed Chest, Full, White
- Bright finish opens up small rooms visually
- Full size mattress-ready
- Matches white or light-toned decor easily
- White finish shows fingerprints on cabinet edges
- Slightly lower weight capacity than Concord line
Atlantic Furniture Concord Murphy Bed Chest, Twin, Antique Walnut
- Most affordable size in the lineup
- Same reliable fold mechanism as pricier models
- Fits narrow rooms easily
- Twin is snug for adults sharing the bed
- Antique walnut finish variation between units reported
Novogratz Tallulah Memory Foam Sofa Bed (Alternative Pick)
- No wall mounting or anchoring required
- Faster setup out of the box
- More flexible for renters
- Less durable long-term than solid wood murphy chest
- Sofa cushion isn't as bed-like as a real mattress
What makes Atlantic Furniture’s murphy bed chests different
Unlike wall-bed kits that require a contractor to frame into your wall, these are freestanding cabinets — they look like a tall dresser or armoire when closed and fold down into a bed frame when you need it. That means no drywall work, no permanent wall anchoring beyond a simple safety strap in most cases, and the ability to take it with you if you move. The trade-off is weight: these are solid, heavy pieces of furniture, and you’ll want a second person for the install even though it ships mostly assembled.
Sizing: twin, full, twin XL, and queen
This is where most buyers get tripped up. The cabinet footprint doesn’t scale linearly with mattress size the way you’d expect — a queen chest isn’t just “a bit bigger” than a twin, it’s noticeably deeper and needs more floor clearance when folded down. Before ordering, measure not just where the cabinet will sit against the wall, but the full length of floor space the bed will occupy when open, plus at least 30 inches of walking room at the foot for clearance.
Finish and how it fits your room
Atlantic Furniture offers these chests in walnut, white, espresso, and antique walnut finishes across the Concord, Portrait, and Bordeaux lines. We’d steer darker finishes toward home offices and studies where the cabinet needs to blend in as “furniture,” and lighter finishes toward smaller or darker rooms where you want the closed cabinet to feel less like a wall.
Mattress considerations
None of these come with a mattress included, and that’s intentional — a standard innerspring won’t work well in a fold-down frame long-term because of the flex stress. Most owners pair these with a medium-firm memory foam or hybrid mattress in the 8–10 inch range; anything thicker can make the cabinet doors difficult to close flush. If you’re mattress shopping separately, our mattresses under $500 guide covers foam options that hold up well in murphy bed frames.
Murphy bed chest vs. other space-saving beds
| Option | Best for | Wall mounting needed | Typical price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Furniture Murphy Bed Chest | Studios, home offices, permanent guest rooms | Minimal (safety strap only) | $$-$$$ |
| Sofa bed / futon | Renters, casual overnight guests | None | $-$$ |
| Trundle bed | Kids’ rooms, shared bedrooms | None | $-$$ |
| Traditional wall-bed kit | Homeowners doing built-in renovations | Full installation | $$$$ |
Who should skip the murphy bed chest
If you’re renting and can’t guarantee you’ll have the same room configuration in a year or two, or if you move frequently, a convertible sofa bed like the alternative pick above may serve you better — it’s lighter, faster to set up, and doesn’t require the same floor clearance planning. Families with young kids sharing a room might also find a bunk bed or trundle setup more practical than a fold-down cabinet.
Related buying guides
- Sofa beds hub
- Trundle sofa beds
- Day beds
- Bed frames with storage
- Platform beds
- Mattresses under $500
- Bed sizes and dimensions guide
- How we test
See current Atlantic Furniture murphy bed prices
Compare sizes and finishes before you buy.
Check price on AmazonDo Atlantic Furniture murphy beds need to be bolted to the wall?
Most models only require a safety strap for tip-prevention, not a full structural mount, since the cabinet is freestanding and self-supporting.
What size mattress should I use?
A medium-firm memory foam or hybrid mattress between 8 and 10 inches thick works best; thicker mattresses can prevent the cabinet doors from closing flush.
Can one person install it alone?
It’s not recommended — these chests are heavy solid-wood pieces and most owners report needing a second person for the initial setup and wall positioning.
Is the queen or full size better for a home office?
Full size generally leaves more usable floor space when the bed is up, while queen suits people who plan to sleep in it regularly rather than occasionally.
How much floor clearance do I need when it’s folded down?
Plan for the full mattress length plus roughly 30 inches of walking space at the foot of the bed for comfortable clearance.
Do these come pre-assembled?
They typically arrive mostly assembled but still require final panel and mechanism assembly, which is easier with two people.
How do these compare to a traditional wall-bed kit?
Murphy bed chests are freestanding and movable, while traditional wall-bed kits are built into the wall permanently and usually cost more to install.
Will the finish match other bedroom furniture?
Espresso and antique walnut finishes tend to blend with traditional wood furniture, while white and lighter finishes suit brighter, more casual rooms.
Sophie Laurent
Sophie Laurent is TalkBeds' Beds & Bedroom Editor. With more than ten years covering home and furniture, she leads everything on the site that isn't the mattress itself: bed frames, platform beds, headboards, bunk and kids' beds, sizing, and the interiors decisions… Full profile & sources →