Two Twin Murphy Beds: What Most People Get Wrong About Shared Guest Rooms

You're staring at that spare room. It’s too small for two "real" beds, but a single queen feels like a wasted opportunity when the grandkids come over or when you've got two buddies visiting for a weekend. The solution everyone jumps to is a bunk bed. Honestly? Bunk beds are a nightmare for anyone over the age of twelve. Crawling up a ladder at 2 AM to pee isn't exactly a luxury experience.

This is where two twin murphy beds enter the chat.

Most people think of Murphy beds as a single, hulking unit—usually a queen—that dominates a wall. But the real magic happens when you split that footprint. By installing two separate twin units, you’re basically turning a cramped office or a tiny guest suite into a high-functioning transformer. You get the floor space of an empty room during the day and the sleeping capacity of a hotel suite at night.

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Why the "Two-Twin" Setup Beats a Single Queen

If you put a queen Murphy bed in a 10x10 room, the room is "closed" the second that bed comes down. You can't walk around it. You can't open the closet. It's a wall-to-wall mattress.

But with two twin murphy beds, you have options. You can mount them on opposite walls to create a "dorm" feel, or side-by-side with a small gap in between. The side-by-side configuration is particularly clever because it allows for a shared "nightstand" area in the middle that stays functional even when the beds are tucked away.

Think about the users. Siblings who have outgrown the bunk bed phase? Perfect. Two adult friends who don't necessarily want to cuddle under a queen duvet? Essential. Grandparents hosting cousins? It’s a game-changer.

The Real Cost of "Cheap" vs. "Investment" Hardware

You'll see prices all over the map. You can go to a big-box site and find a "cabinet bed" for $500, or you can talk to a place like Resource Furniture or BredaBeds and see quotes closer to $3,000 per unit.

Why the gap? It's the "teeth-gritting" factor.

Lower-end models often use manual lift systems. Take the Lori Bed, for example. It’s beautiful, 100% real wood, and very eco-friendly. But it has no pistons or springs. You are the motor. To lift a twin mattress and the wood frame, you need a bit of muscle. For a guest room you use twice a year, that’s fine. For daily use? Your lower back might have some choice words for you.

On the flip side, brands like Bestar or BredaBeds use dual-piston or spring-balanced mechanisms. These make the bed feel weightless. You can literally pull it down with one finger. If you're planning a setup with two twin murphy beds for an elderly relative or a child’s room, the mechanical assist isn't a luxury—it's a safety requirement.

Planning the Layout: Vertical vs. Horizontal

This is the part where most DIYers mess up. You have two ways to orient these beds:

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1. Vertical (The Classic): The bed hinges at the headboard. When it's down, it sticks out about 80 to 85 inches into the room. This is great if your room is narrow but deep.
2. Horizontal (The Side-Sleeper): The bed hinges along the long side of the mattress. When it’s down, it only sticks out about 40 to 45 inches.

If you are trying to squeeze two twin murphy beds into a long, skinny room (like a converted attic or a sunroom), the horizontal orientation is your best friend. It leaves a wide walkway even when the beds are open. Brands like BredaBeds actually specialize in these horizontal "Urban" models, which are often used in studio apartments to keep the "hallway" open.

Customization and the "Built-In" Illusion

If you just slap two cabinets on a wall, it can look a bit... clinical. Like a doctor's office waiting room.

The pros—think California Closets or high-end custom shops—usually bridge the gap between the two units with cabinetry. By putting a tall bookshelf or a desk between the two twin murphy beds, the whole wall looks like custom millwork.

• Pro Tip: Always check your baseboards. Most Murphy beds need to be anchored directly to the wall studs for safety. If your baseboards are thick, you’ll either need to notch the back of the bed cabinet or remove a section of the baseboard so the unit sits flush against the wall. If there’s a gap, the bed can wobble, and over time, that's how you strip the wall anchors.

Real Talk: The Mattress Struggle

You can't just throw a 14-inch pillow-top mattress with a topper onto a Murphy bed. Most frames are capped at a 10-inch or 12-inch mattress thickness.

If the mattress is too thick, the bed won't close. If you force it, you'll put immense pressure on the hinge mechanism. Many owners of two twin murphy beds find that a high-quality 8-inch or 10-inch memory foam mattress (like a Zinus or a Tuft & Needle) works best because they don't "slump" when stored vertically for months at a time. Traditional innersprings can sometimes have their coils migrate toward the bottom of the bed if they stay upright too long.

Actionable Next Steps for Your Space

If you’re ready to reclaim that square footage, don’t just start clicking "Add to Cart." Do this first:

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1. Map the "Sweep": Use painter's tape on the floor to mark not just where the cabinet sits, but the entire "arc" of the bed as it swings down. Do this for both beds. Make sure they don't hit each other or a ceiling fan.
2. Locate Your Studs: Murphy beds are heavy. A twin unit can weigh 150+ lbs before the mattress. You must anchor into at least two studs per bed. If your studs aren't where you want the beds to be, you'll need to install a "header" board (a piece of 1x4 wood) across the studs first, then anchor the bed to that.
3. Check Your Power: Most people want to charge their phones at night. If your beds cover up the only outlets on the wall, you're in trouble. Look for models with built-in USB ports or plan to cut a hole in the back of the cabinet to pull your existing outlets through.
4. Order Swatches: Don't trust the "Misty White" or "Industrial Oak" on your screen. Most manufacturers like BredaBeds or Resource Furniture will send you real wood or laminate samples for a few bucks. It’s worth it to make sure the two units don't clash with your existing flooring.

Setting up two twin murphy beds is a project, no doubt. It’s a weekend of assembly and a bit of a workout. But once those units are up and you see that wide-open floor where a cramped guest room used to be, you’ll realize why this specific layout is the secret weapon of interior designers.