How to Build a Murphy Bed for Your Dog
By
Photo: Kolin Smith
- Time: 7 hours
- Cost: $110
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Shopping & Tool Lists
- Supplies You Will Need:
- 1x8 Get an 8-foot length to make the cabinet box top and sides.
1x4 Get three 8-foot boards make the header, the bedframe, and all the crosspieces.
¼-inch plywood Get half of a 4x8 sheet.
1¼-inch trim-head screws
Wood glue
1¼-inch finishing nails
2½-inch baseboard Get at least 4 feet.
Shoe molding Get at least 5 feet.
Cabinet doors Get two.
Cabinet drawer front Get one.
¼ inch shims
1-inch screws to attach the bed frame to the doors.
Toy-box hinge Get three.
Hardware for the doors and drawer
Magnetic catches to hold the deck upright when the bed is not in use.
¾-inch finishing nails to attach the plywood back to the cabinet box.
Wood filler
220-grit sandpaper
Primer
Semi-Gloss Paint
Knob and 2-inch threaded pin to make the locking pin
- Tools You Will Need:
-
1. Miter saw
2. Circular saw
3. Drill/driver
4. Pneumatic nailer
5. Screwdriver
6. Putty knife
7. Paintbrushes
Introduction
Your dog may be as cute as a button, but the typical dog bed—bulky, obtrusive, matted with fur—not so much. Instead of banishing his sleeping spot to the basement, leave it front and center and build a pint-size Murphy bed that stows a sleeping pad inside a handsome built-in cabinet. The flat top offers a convenient spot for your dog's treats and toys, and when guests are due to arrive you can tuck the bed out of the way with little fuss.
Before you dash off to buy materials, size up your pooch and the room he'll sleep in to make sure you've got enough space. (A Murphy bed for a Great Dane will be a mighty big piece of furniture.) The easiest way to size the bed is to make it large enough to hold a pad or mattress that your dog is comfortable sleeping on; check product labels for the size that suits your breed. If you're not using a mattress, get the bed's dimensions by measuring your dog's length and width while he's noozing, then adding at least 6 inches to each number. Whether he sleeps on a mattress or a favorite old blankie, your dog will be glad to have a bed of his own—one that's tidy enough to put in any room.
You can download a parts diagram and cut list here.
Steps
- Introduction
- Overview
- 1. Cut the Pieces to Size
- 2. Assemble the Cabinet
- 3. Attach the Cabinet's Top
- 4. Install the Header
- 5. Cut and Attach the Baseboard Molding
- 6. Cut and Attach the Shoe Molding
- 7. Assemble the Bed Frame
- 8. Install the Crosspieces and Stop Block
- 9. Lay Out the Doors and Drawer
- 10. Screw the Bed Frame to the Cabinet Doors
- 11. Attach the Drawer to the Bed Frame
- 12. Attach the Deck to the Cabinet
- 13. Attach the Magnetic Catches
- 14. Attach the Back of the Cabinet
- 15. Install the Cabinet Hardware
- 16. Fill Holes and Paint the Cabinet
- 17. Install the Locking Pin