To plan a Murphy bed around your ceilings and baseboards, start by measuring the ceiling height in several spots, the wall width above the baseboards, and the depth the bed needs when it is open, then note every heater, vent, outlet, switch, and piece of trim on that wall. Vertical wall beds usually need a ceiling of around 8 feet, horizontal wall beds can work with lower ceilings, and freestanding cabinet Murphy beds avoid most ceiling and wall limits altogether.
This guide is for anyone in Calgary planning a Murphy bed for a basement, a bonus room under a sloped ceiling, a condo with baseboard heaters, or an older home with thick trim and uneven floors. It explains how the main types of Murphy beds differ, what each one needs from your ceiling, how baseboards, heaters, outlets, and moulding affect the fit, and how to measure so there are no surprises on delivery day. If you are planning a room that needs to work as both an office and a guest room, our companion guide on adding guests without losing your office covers that layout in detail.
Why Ceilings and Baseboards Matter When Planning a Murphy Bed
A Murphy bed is one of the few pieces of furniture that has to fit a room in two positions. Closed, it needs to sit neatly against the wall without blocking a window, outlet, or heater. Open, it needs enough depth and headroom for someone to sleep and sit up comfortably. That means the room's details, not just its floor area, decide whether a particular bed will work.
Ceilings and baseboards are where most fitting problems start. A vertical wall bed that is a few inches too tall for a basement ceiling cannot be installed at all. A thick baseboard can push a wall-mounted cabinet away from the wall, leaving a gap at the top or a cabinet that is not quite plumb. A baseboard heater can sit exactly where the bed needs to go. In older homes, uneven floors and walls can throw off measurements by an inch or more. Planning around these details before you shop is the simplest way to choose a bed that fits the first time, opens smoothly, and looks like it belongs in the room.
Murphy Bed in Calgary Homes: Wall-Mounted and Cabinet Styles
When people talk about a Murphy bed in Calgary, they usually mean one of three styles. Vertical wall beds stand upright against the wall and fold down from the head of the bed, so the mattress opens out into the room lengthwise. Horizontal wall beds lie on their side and fold down from the long side, so they are wider and shorter when closed. Both are wall-mounted systems that are usually anchored to the wall studs for safety and often installed by professionals.
The third style is the cabinet Murphy bed, sometimes called a sleeper chest. It looks like a chest or console when closed, and the mattress unfolds out of the cabinet onto a built-in frame. Because it is freestanding, it does not need to be attached to the wall, and it can be moved to another room later. Each style asks something different of your room. Wall beds depend heavily on ceiling height, wall strength, and a clean, flat wall, while cabinet beds depend mostly on floor space and the room's open depth. Knowing which type you are considering is the first step in planning around your ceilings and baseboards.
Vertical Wall Beds and Ceiling Height
Vertical wall beds need the most ceiling height, because the full length of the mattress stands upright when the bed is closed. As a general guide, a queen vertical wall bed cabinet often stands around 87 to 89 inches tall, while twin and full sizes are a little shorter, around 82 to 87 inches. King vertical beds can reach about 89 to 92 inches. Most manufacturers recommend leaving a few inches of space above the cabinet for installation, often at least 2.5 inches and ideally more.
In practice, that means most vertical queen wall beds need a ceiling of around 8 feet, or 96 inches, to fit comfortably. Many Calgary main floors and newer homes have 8 or 9 foot ceilings, which suit vertical beds well, but older homes, basements, and some condos may fall short. Measure the ceiling in at least three spots along the wall, left, centre, and right, since ceilings and floors are rarely completely level. Use the lowest number. If that number is close to the bed's closed height plus a few inches, consider a horizontal wall bed or a cabinet Murphy bed instead.
Horizontal Wall Beds for Lower Ceilings
Horizontal wall beds turn the bed on its side, so they need much less ceiling height. As a general guide, a horizontal queen cabinet stands around 65 to 70 inches tall when closed, a horizontal full around 62 to 64 inches, and a horizontal twin around 45 to 48 inches. That makes them a popular choice for basements, attic rooms, and rooms with low or sloped ceilings, where a vertical bed would not fit.
The trade-off is wall width and side access. A horizontal queen needs a wall roughly 85 to 90 inches wide, and because the long side of the mattress sits against the wall, it can usually be accessed from only one side. On the plus side, a horizontal bed projects less into the room when open, often around 65 to 70 inches for a queen, compared with about 85 to 90 inches for a vertical queen. The lower cabinet height also leaves room for shelves or artwork above, and may clear a window that would block a vertical bed. If your basement ceiling sits under 8 feet, a horizontal design is often the most practical wall bed choice.
Cabinet Murphy Beds: Freestanding With No Ceiling Limits
Cabinet Murphy beds solve most ceiling problems, because they are much shorter than wall beds. The cabinet Murphy beds at Showhome Furniture, such as the Cape Cod, Stockholm, Tuscany, and Manhattan, measure about 64 inches long, 41.5 inches high, and 23 inches deep when closed, and about 80 inches deep when open. They include a 6 inch high-density mattress, a roomy 10 inch storage drawer, and a top surface you can use like a console, and they are designed to support up to 500 pounds.
Because these beds are freestanding, they do not need to be anchored to the wall, and they do not depend on stud locations or a completely flat wall. That makes them a good fit for basements with low ceilings, rooms with awkward trim, rentals, and condos where drilling into walls is not ideal. Final assembly is quick, at about 10 minutes for these models, and they can be moved if your needs change. Some models, including the Stockholm, Tuscany, and Manhattan, also have a USB charging station. For many Calgary homes, a cabinet bed is the simplest way to add a guest bed without worrying about ceiling height at all.
Basement Ceilings, Bulkheads, and Ductwork
Basements are one of the most popular places for a Murphy bed in Calgary homes, since they often hold a family room, office, or guest space. They also have the most ceiling challenges. Basement ceilings are often lower than main floor ceilings, and many have bulkheads that box in ductwork, plumbing, and beams. A bulkhead running along the wall you want to use can cut the usable height by a foot or more in that spot.
Measure the ceiling height directly under any bulkhead, beam, or duct along the wall, not just in the open middle of the room. If the lowest point is under about 8 feet, a vertical wall bed may not fit, so look at horizontal wall beds or a cabinet Murphy bed. Check for cold air returns, heat registers, and the furnace room door near the wall, since the bed should not block airflow or access. Basement floors can also be cool and slightly uneven, so a level surface and a rug under the open bed help. A cabinet bed placed along a wall without a bulkhead is often the easiest basement solution.
Sloped Ceilings in Bonus Rooms, Attics, and Upper Floors
Many Calgary homes have bonus rooms over the garage, finished attics, or upper bedrooms with sloped ceilings. These rooms are often ideal for a guest space, but a slope changes how you plan a Murphy bed in Calgary bonus rooms and attics. A vertical wall bed needs its full height at the wall, so it usually only fits on the tallest wall of a sloped room. A horizontal wall bed can sometimes fit under a gentler slope, as long as the cabinet top clears the lowest point of the ceiling where it meets the wall.
A cabinet Murphy bed is often the easiest choice under a slope, since its cabinet is low. Place the cabinet, which forms the head of the bed, against the wall where the ceiling is highest, so the person sleeping has the most headroom when they sit up. Avoid placing the head of the bed under the lowest part of the slope, where guests could bump their heads. Measure the ceiling height at the wall, at the point where the bed's head will be, and at the foot of the opened bed. Mark the open bed on the floor with painter's tape and sit in that spot to check the headroom yourself.
Ceiling Fans, Light Fixtures, and Sitting Up in Bed
Ceilings also matter once the bed is open. A vertical wall bed swings down in an arc as it opens, so a low ceiling fan, a pendant light, or a hanging fixture in that path can be hit by the bed frame. As a general guide, leave at least a few inches of clearance between the swing path and any ceiling fixture, and more for ceiling fans. Check the fixture's lowest point, not just where it attaches to the ceiling.
Think about the sleeper, too. Someone sitting up to read in bed needs comfortable headroom, especially in a basement with a low ceiling or under a slope. A ceiling fan directly over the bed can feel too close in a low room. If possible, place the bed so it opens away from fans and low fixtures, or swap a hanging light for a flush mount. Wall sconces or a lamp on the cabinet top give guests a reading light without adding anything above the bed. Planning these details now means guests can sit up, read, and sleep comfortably without anything hanging over their heads.
Baseboards: Why a Few Inches Matter
Baseboards are easy to overlook, but they affect almost every Murphy bed. When you measure wall width, measure above the baseboards as well as at floor level, since thick baseboards or trim in corners can reduce the usable width by an inch or more. Measure the wall at the floor, at mid-height, and near the top, and use the smallest number.
Wall beds are usually anchored flat against the wall, so a baseboard can leave a gap behind the cabinet or tilt it slightly. Installers often deal with this by removing or notching the baseboard behind the cabinet, or by adding spacers so the cabinet sits plumb. Ask how this will be handled before installation day, especially if your baseboards are tall, decorative, or original to an older home. Freestanding cabinet Murphy beds simply sit in front of the baseboard, which pushes them slightly away from the wall. That gap is usually small, but add the baseboard thickness to the open depth when you measure, so you know exactly how far the bed will reach into the room.
Baseboard Heaters, Vents, and Cold-Air Returns
Some Calgary condos and older homes are heated with electric or hot water baseboard heaters, and these need special care. Never place a Murphy bed, cabinet, or mattress tight against a baseboard heater. Follow the heater manufacturer's clearance guidelines, which often call for several inches of open space in front of and above the unit, and keep bedding and mattresses from resting against it. If the only good wall has a heater, choose a different wall, or talk to a professional about moving the heater before installing a wall bed.
Forced-air homes have their own details. Floor and wall heat registers should not be covered by the bed, since blocking them reduces heat in the room and can strain the system. Cold air returns, often on interior walls and in basements, also need clear airflow. Before you choose a spot, check the wall and the floor under where the open bed will sit for registers and returns. A cabinet Murphy bed is easy to place a little to one side of a register, while a wall bed may need careful planning around it.
Crown Moulding, Chair Rails, and Window Trim
Trim adds character to a room, but it can complicate a wall bed. Crown moulding along the ceiling can reduce the usable height by several inches where it projects from the wall, which matters for tall vertical cabinets. Chair rails and picture rails partway up the wall can stop a wall bed cabinet from sitting flat. Wainscoting and decorative panels can add depth that needs to be planned for.
Windows and their trim are another common obstacle. A vertical wall bed usually needs a full-height section of wall, so it rarely fits beside or under a window. A horizontal wall bed or cabinet bed may fit under a window, as long as the cabinet clears the windowsill and trim. Showhome's cabinet beds stand about 41.5 to 44 inches tall, so compare that to your windowsill height before you choose a spot under a window. Keep blinds and curtain cords out of reach of the opened bed. Taking a photo of the wall, with every piece of trim marked on it, makes these details easier to discuss when you shop.
Outlets, Light Switches, and Thermostats
Electrical outlets, light switches, and thermostats are easy to forget until the bed covers them. A wall bed cabinet installed over an outlet or switch can make it hard to reach, and some installers will need to relocate it or plan the cabinet around it. A thermostat behind a cabinet will not read the room temperature properly, so it should stay uncovered and clear of the bed.
Plan for power as well. Guests will want to charge a phone, plug in a lamp, or use a fan, so it helps to have an outlet within reach of the opened bed. Some of Showhome's cabinet Murphy beds include a built-in USB charging station, which needs an outlet nearby for power. If you are placing a cabinet bed, leave a little room behind it for the cord, and avoid pinching it against the wall. Note the height and location of every outlet, switch, and thermostat on your measurement sketch, so you can choose a spot that keeps everything easy to reach whether the bed is open or closed.
Floors: Carpet, Hardwood, and Levelling
The floor under a Murphy bed matters as much as the walls and ceiling. Wall beds rest on the floor when open, so an uneven floor can make the bed sit unevenly or close less smoothly. Older Calgary homes and some basements have floors that slope slightly, which is why levelling is an important part of installing a Murphy bed in Calgary's older bungalows and infills. Check the floor with a level along the wall and where the foot of the open bed will rest.
Carpet adds another layer. Thick carpet and underlay can make a freestanding cabinet sit slightly lower or rock, so place it on a firm, flat spot, and consider a thin, solid board or furniture pads if needed. On hardwood, laminate, and vinyl, use protective pads under any feet that touch the floor, so opening and closing the bed does not scratch the surface. If the room has different flooring in different areas, avoid placing the bed across a transition strip. A flat, stable floor helps the mechanism work smoothly, keeps the bed steady, and protects your floors every time a guest stays over.
Measuring the Room: Wall Width, Ceiling Height, and Open Depth
A few careful measurements prevent most Murphy bed problems. Measure the wall width at the floor, mid-wall, and near the ceiling, and use the smallest number. Measure the ceiling height on the left, in the centre, and on the right of the wall, under any bulkhead, beam, or moulding, and use the lowest point. Then measure the open depth from the wall into the room, since the projection of most beds is about 80 to 90 inches when open.
Next, plan clearance around the open bed. As a general guide, leave about 30 to 36 inches at the foot of the bed and 24 to 30 inches on at least one side, so guests can get in and out easily. Check that doors, closets, and dresser drawers can still open with the bed down. Mark the closed and open footprints on the floor with painter's tape, and note every outlet, switch, heater, vent, window, and piece of trim on a simple sketch. Measure everything twice. Bringing this sketch and a few photos to the store makes it much easier to compare models and confirm that a Murphy bed in Calgary stores will fit your room.
Comparing Wall Beds in Calgary, Cabinet Beds, and Calgary Storage Beds
Once you know your room's limits, it is easier to compare options. Wall beds in Calgary are often custom-built and professionally installed, which can suit a room with high ceilings, a strong wall, and space for side cabinets or shelving. When you compare wall beds in Calgary showrooms or custom shops, ask about ceiling height, baseboard handling, stud anchoring, and the maximum mattress thickness each mechanism supports.
Cabinet Murphy beds are often the better choice for rooms with low ceilings, bulkheads, slopes, heaters, or tricky trim, since they are freestanding and short. If the room will mainly be a bedroom, other beds in Calgary showrooms, such as daybeds, platform beds, or Calgary storage beds with drawers or lift-up bases, may be a better fit than a fold-away design. Comparing a few beds in Calgary stores side by side helps you see which suits your room. Like many Calgary storage beds, a cabinet Murphy bed also adds storage, with a drawer below and a usable top surface, so the room stays tidy when the bed is closed.
Murphy Bed in Calgary: A Ceiling and Baseboard Checklist
Before you shop for a murphy bed in Calgary, run through this checklist so you can compare options with confidence:
- Decide between a vertical wall bed, a horizontal wall bed, or a freestanding cabinet bed.
- Measure the ceiling height in three spots and under any bulkhead, beam, or moulding.
- Allow around 8 feet of ceiling for most vertical queen wall beds.
- Choose a horizontal wall bed or cabinet bed for low or sloped ceilings.
- Measure wall width above the baseboards and use the smallest number.
- Ask how baseboards will be handled for a wall bed, and add baseboard depth for a cabinet bed.
- Keep clear of baseboard heaters, registers, cold air returns, and thermostats.
- Note outlets, switches, windows, and trim on a simple sketch.
- Plan about 80 to 90 inches of open depth, plus room at the foot and side.
- Check the floor for level and use pads on hard floors.
How Showhome Furniture Helps You Plan Your Murphy Bed
At Showhome Furniture, we have helped Calgary families furnish their homes since 1987, and we know that a Murphy bed has to fit a room in more ways than one. Our cabinet Murphy beds are freestanding, so they work in basements with bulkheads, rooms with sloped ceilings, and condos where you would rather not drill into the walls. In our showroom, you can see cabinet Murphy beds in person and get a feel for how much space they need when open. Call ahead if you want to see a specific model.
Our team can help you compare cabinet Murphy beds with other space-saving options, such as sofa beds, daybeds, and storage beds, so you choose the right fit for the room and the way you will use it. Book a free design consultation, bring your measurements, your ceiling heights, and photos of the wall you are planning to use, including any baseboards, heaters, and outlets, and one of our designers will help you find a guest bed that fits your room the first time.
Visit Showhome Furniture in Calgary
Showhome Furniture is located inside North Hill Centre at 1616 14th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB, in a 70,000 square foot showroom where you can try cabinet Murphy beds, sofa beds, and other space-saving furniture before you buy. We are open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, closed Sundays, and our free design consultations run Monday to Saturday from 10:30am to 5:30pm.
We offer delivery through a trusted third-party partner, including white glove service and old furniture removal, and in-store pickup is also available. Every purchase includes a one-year manufacturer warranty, with an optional Guardsman five-year protection plan for extra peace of mind. Financing is available through Fairstone. With over 5,300 Google reviews and a 4.9-star average, our customers can tell you what it is like to furnish a Calgary home with us. If you are planning a murphy bed in Calgary, book a free design consultation and let our team help you plan around your ceilings and baseboards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much ceiling height do I need for a Murphy bed?
Most vertical queen wall beds need a ceiling of around 8 feet. Horizontal wall beds can work with lower ceilings, and freestanding cabinet Murphy beds, at about 41.5 to 44 inches tall, avoid most ceiling limits.
Can I put a Murphy bed in a basement with a low ceiling?
Yes. A horizontal wall bed or a cabinet Murphy bed usually works best. Measure under any bulkheads, beams, or ductwork along the wall first.
Do I need to remove baseboards for a Murphy bed?
Wall beds often need the baseboard removed, notched, or spaced so the cabinet sits flat. Cabinet Murphy beds sit in front of the baseboard, so add its thickness to your depth measurement.
Can a Murphy bed go in a room with a sloped ceiling?
Often, yes. A horizontal wall bed or cabinet bed can fit under a slope. Place the head of the bed where the ceiling is highest.
Can a Murphy bed sit near a baseboard heater?
Never place a bed or mattress against a heater. Follow the heater manufacturer's clearance guidelines, or choose a different wall.
Will a Murphy bed cover my outlets?
It can. Note outlet, switch, and thermostat locations before choosing a spot, and keep one outlet within reach for guests.
How far does a Murphy bed stick out when open?
Most beds reach about 80 to 90 inches into the room when open. Showhome's cabinet Murphy beds reach about 80 inches.
Do cabinet Murphy beds need to be attached to the wall?
No. Showhome's cabinet Murphy beds are freestanding, so they do not need to be anchored to the wall and can be moved later.
How much space should I leave around an open Murphy bed?
About 30 to 36 inches at the foot and 24 to 30 inches on at least one side is a good general guide.
What should I bring when shopping for a Murphy bed?
Bring your wall width, ceiling heights, open depth measurement, and photos of the wall showing baseboards, heaters, vents, outlets, and trim.
Where is Showhome Furniture located in Calgary?
We are inside North Hill Centre at 1616 14th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB, in a 70,000 square foot showroom.
What are Showhome Furniture's store hours?
We are open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm and closed on Sundays.
How do I book a free design consultation at Showhome Furniture?
Book a free design consultation with one of our designers, available Monday to Saturday from 10:30am to 5:30pm. Booking ahead is recommended, and bringing your room measurements and photos helps us make the most of your visit.
Does Showhome Furniture sell Murphy beds?
Yes. We carry freestanding cabinet Murphy beds with a 6 inch mattress and a storage drawer, along with other space-saving options.
Does Showhome Furniture deliver in Calgary?
Yes. We offer delivery through a trusted third-party partner, including white glove service and removal of your old furniture. In-store pickup is also available.
