How to Build a DIY Murphy Bed with Desk and IKEA Bookcases

See how to build a full-size DIY murphy bed with a fold-out desk and IKEA Billy bookcases...perfect for a guest bedroom or craft room! We used a Create-a-Bed kit to make it small-space friendly and high-quality.

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We've had our DIY Murphy Bed in our craft room/home office for a few years now, and I can honestly say it's one of the best home improvement projects we've ever completed. It turned a rarely-used guest room into a functional, everyday space without sacrificing a spot for guests to sleep.

When we first planned this out, we had a tall order: we needed a guest bed, a desk for the kids, and plenty of storage. After a lot of brainstorming, we cooked up a solution using a Create-a-Bed kit, a custom fold-out desk, and our favorite IKEA Billy bookcase hack.

Why We Chose a DIY Murphy Bed vs. Buying Pre-Made

We priced out pre-made Murphy beds and - whew - the cost was easily $1,500-$2,000 before shipping. That was way out of our price range.

If you're on Pinterest, you'll see posts claiming you can build these for under $100. Please don't believe the "build a DIY murphy bed for under $100" posts. After doing this project, I don't see how you can safely build a functional, lasting bed for that.

If you're putting in the effort, invest in high-quality hardware so it actually lasts!

Part 1: Building the Murphy Bed Frame

Note: These steps are a summary of the Create-a-Bed instructions. Please follow their specific diagrams for safety!

Step 1: The Plywood Cut List

Don't be like us - get your cuts done at Lowe's or Home Depot for free! It saves a massive amount of time and heavy lifting. Label every piece with its corresponding letter (Part B, C, D, etc.) immediately.

¾" Plywood Cuts:

• Part B (2): 5-⅞" x 76-½" (Side Rails)
• Part C: 3" x 56" (Foot Rail)
• Part D: 7-⅞" x 56" (Head Rail)
• Part E (2): 29" x 76-¾" (Front Panels)
• Part G (2): 15-⅞" x 82-⅛" (Cabinet Verticals)

Step 2: Construct the Bed Frame

This is the "L" shaped strut assembly. Glue and nail your 1x2 struts together, then attach the frame sides. This part goes quickly - usually about an hour.

Step 3: Hardware Placement & Side Rails

Precision is everything here. You'll trace the rounded edge template onto your side rails (Part B) and cut it with a jigsaw. Use a ⅝" forstner bit for the leg pivot holes.

Expert Tip: Your measurements for the pivot plates must be exact, or the hardware won't line up. Measure twice, drill once!

Step 4: Final Frame Assembly & Painting

Once the rails are attached to the front panels (Part E), it finally looks like a bed! Before you install it, paint, caulk, and tape. I used a primer because birch plywood drinks paint. I also applied veneer tape to all exposed plywood edges using a standard iron - it's super easy and makes the wood look like expensive solid lumber.

Part 2: The IKEA Billy Bookcase Hack

To make this look like a high-end built-in, we added IKEA Billy Bookcases to both sides.

Prep the Base: We placed 2x8 and 2x4 scrap wood under the bookcases. This props them up so you can run your baseboards across the bottom of the whole unit for a seamless look.

Secure to Studs: IMPORTANT! This is a heavy unit. You must anchor the bookcases and the bed header to wall studs. If you don't, the bed can literally pull the wall down when you open it.

The "Secret Sauce" (Molding & Caulk): To truly hide the fact that these are IKEA shelves, we added crown molding to the top and baseboards to the bottom.

Full disclosure: crown molding is my worst enemy! My brain just doesn't do angles. But here's the trick: don't stress if your cuts aren't perfect. A little bit of finishing caulk and a coat of white paint will hide those uneven gaps and make the whole thing look like custom carpentry.

Lighting: We ran extension cords behind the cases before mounting them, then added these puck lights to the top shelves.

Part 3: Adding the Fold-Out Chalkboard Desk

Since this room is also my office, I needed a desk. We used a modified version of Ana White's flip-down desk plans.

Mounting: We bolted the desk frame directly through the front panels of the Murphy bed. To keep it closed, we used a simple latch at the top and heavy-duty magnets.

Assembly: We doubled the measurements to 48x32" and used 1x4" lumber.

The Finish: I used chalkboard spray paint on the bottom of the desk so that when the desk is folded "up," the front of the bed becomes a giant chalkboard for the kids.

This project was a ton of work and took us a couple of months to totally wrap up, but it is the hardest-working piece of furniture in our house. If you're looking to save space and your sanity, this is the way to do it!

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