Made-to-order wall bed vs DIY murphy bed kit: what you actually get
Search for "IKEA wall bed" or "murphy bed kit" and you'll find a mix of products: complete wall beds, mechanism-only kits where you build the cabinet yourself, and furniture hacks. They're very different jobs. Here's what to check before you buy.
Three ways to get a wall bed
- Mechanism-only kit. You buy the steel frame and lift mechanism, then cut or buy the cabinet panels yourself. The cheapest option for the parts, but the most work. You need tools, accurate cutting and a plan for fixing it to the wall.
- Complete flat-pack wall bed, self-assembled. Cabinet, frame, mechanism and handles all arrive together with instructions. This is how every Alpha wall bed is supplied. You can assemble it yourself.
- Complete wall bed, delivered and installed. The same wall bed, carried in and installed by our own team, usually on the same day as delivery.
What comes with an Alpha wall bed
- Cabinet in your choice of 21 colours, made to order
- Steel bed frame and spring lifting mechanism, with the springs matched to your mattress weight
- Handles in silver or black
- Step-by-step assembly instructions (also downloadable)
- Optional: fold-down desk, side cabinets and bookcases, mattress, delivery, assembly and installation
Things DIY kits leave to you
- Wall fixing. A wall bed must be fixed to the studs or another structural part of the wall. Timber, brick, concrete and steel-stud walls each need different fixings.
- Weight. An Alpha wall bed is about 200 kg packed. Getting the cabinet upright and in place takes at least two people.
- Spring tension. The lift springs have to suit the weight of the mattress (and a desk, if you add one). Too little tension makes the bed heavy to lift. Too much makes it hard to pull down.
- Squareness. The cabinet must be square and level for the doors to line up and the bed to close properly.
When DIY makes sense
If you're handy, have a helper and a timber stud wall, a complete flat-pack wall bed is a reasonable DIY job. That's why every Alpha wall bed comes with instructions and assembly & installation is optional. If you'd rather not, our team installs it for $600 ($760 with a desk), usually on the same day as delivery.
Try before you decide
You can't easily try a kit before you buy it. You can try every Alpha model, with working beds and real colour samples, in our Gladesville showroom at 1A/28 Buffalo Road, open 7 days, 9am to 5pm.
See all wall beds and prices · Wall bed price guide · Assembly & installation
Questions
Can I install an Alpha wall bed myself?
Yes. Each one comes with step-by-step instructions. You'll need a helper, the right fixings for your wall and some DIY experience.
How much does professional assembly and installation cost?
$600 per wallbed, or $760 with a desk, including anchoring it to the wall.
See them working
Come and try our wallbeds in our Gladesville showroom at 1A/28 Buffalo Road. Open the bed, test the mechanism and see the colours in person.
- Monday – Sunday9am – 5pm
