Leigh Robinson, Author at Wall Beds Melbourne & Geelong

Space Saving Murphy Bed Installation

October 28, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

Here Are Our 5 Top Reasons People Get A Murphy Bed Installed

Many times we espouse the virtues of our wall beds or murphy beds and the functionality of them but with our clients they have their own reasons.

Here are our last five clients and why they got a wall bed installed.

Ocean Grove elderly couple had down sized and regularly had their daughter come to stay. They installed a wall bed with a desk so the room was an office by day and a bedroom by night (only when the daughter visited.)
Portarlington client needed a wall bed with side shelving to extend the potential of her AirBNB property. The more beds the more income. She managed to change her home from a two bed property to a three bed property by adding an extra wall bed in one of her living areas. Very smart.
Grovedale install in a garage? One lovely client converted a garage into a bedsit for herself with a single wall bed so her a daughter and her grandchildren could use her home.
Music studio to a bedroom in Lara. In most cases a wall bed is used to free up space in a bedroom so the bedroom can be used as a music studio, office or play area. In this case our client practised violin during the day and needed the space.
Torquay wall bed installation was a holiday home install. Again it was a space saving idea so more family members could stay at the holiday home at any given time.

When you think about it a bedroom containing a standard bed is an under utilised area that could be put to good use or you get more beds in a home that won’t clutter up the place. If you are looking to save space or use your bedroom as more than a room to sleep in then a murphy bed or wall bed is a practical solution and its not that expensive.

Talk to Leigh Robinson – the wall bed expert in the greater Geelong area (including the Surf Coast) – about any of the applications mentioned above whether its the more basic wall bed or a more comprehensive install with cupboards and shelving. Ph: 0412 525 137

How To Measure Up For A Wall Bed

October 28, 2020September 19, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

Wall Bed Measurements – Will It Fit?

Most people have never bought a wall bed at any time in their life and more than likely this is you. If you’re going through the lockdown and looking for more room at home then a wall bed in a home office, exercise area or even in your meditation room could be the answer.

Let us begin with measuring the area that you have for a wall bed and making sure you have allowed for everything.

Measurement #1- The Height

Height maybe important if you have ceiling fans to dodge. You don’t want to touch the blades as you pull down the bed ready to used. This also goes for lighting that might be hanging down. Safety first eh?

Wall bed height sizes.

If height is an issue don’t forget about a horizontal Murphy bed. This makes it easy to use the top of the bed as a shelf or for storage. Please note there is no king size available for a horizontal bed.

Single	2087mm
Double	2087mm
Queen	2215mm

Horizontal wall bed height sizes.

If height is an issue don’t forget about a horizontal murphy bed. This makes it easy to use the top of the bed as a shelf or for storage

Single	1187mm
Double	1565mm
Queen	1565mm

Measurement #2 – The Width

It’s a good idea to allow for the width of your bed so it’s easy to make or tuck in the kids goodnight.

Wall bed width sizes.

Single	1123mm
Double	1380mm
Queen	1658mm
King	2066mm

Horizontal wall bed width sizes.

Single	2028mm
Double	2028mm
Queen	2155mm

Measurement #3 – The Length – How far will the bed stick out?

When a wall bed is down and ready to be used and slept in you will need to allow for the protrusion of the bed. That is from the bed head or wall bed cabinet to the end of the bed where your feet will be.

Single	2150mm
Double	2150mm
Queen	2285mm
King	2066mm

Horizontal wall bed length sizes.

Single	1258mm
Double	1637mm
Queen	1791mm

A good idea is to use masking tape to map the outline of the bed so wardrobe doors and bedroom doors don’t get in the way. A little bit of preplanning will certainly stop any annoying mistakes after installation.

Whether it’s a vertical or horizontal bed the cabinetry containing the bed when it’s hidden away protrudes from the wall at 410mm – about the size of a standard cupboard.

Any more size issues contact Leigh Robinson today. Ph: 0412 525 137

Wall Beds Adelaide

July 7, 2020July 5, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

We Supply Wall Beds To Adelaide

We supply wall beds to Adelaide with installation instructions so here is how you can order a wall bed if you live in South Australia.

Measure the area of the room that you want the wall bed installed into and choose an appropriate size wall bed. Either single, double, queen or king.
Order your bed from Leigh Robinson: Ph: 0412 525 137 – you can pay online. Leigh will also make sure you will receive installation instructions.
We highly recommend you organise a cabinet maker, carpenter or builder to install the bed for you as normally it takes two people to install the bed safely.
The cabinet maker or carpenter may also help you with side book shelves and cupboards flat packs – check out our gallery for examples that you can show your installer.

We don’t have installers to recommend as we are Melbourne based and it’s much better if you have control of the installation in Adelaide. The wall beds are not that difficult to install for a professional cabinet maker and should only take a few hours.

Be aware of accessibility especially if you live in an apartment complex. The wall bed will fit in a standard lift and the mattresses are vacuumed sealed to make them easier to transport.

Australian Bed and Mattress sizes

Bed Type	Metric Measurements (cm)	Imperial Measurements
Single Bed size	92 cm x 187 cm	3’0″ x 6’2″ (36″ x 74″)
Double Size	137 cm x 187 cm	4’6″ x 6’2″ (54″x 74″)
Queen Size	153 cm x 203 cm	5’0″ x 6’8″ (60″x 80″)
King Size (Alpha Bed Only)	183 cm x 203 cm	6’0″ x 6’8″ (72″ x 80″)

Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery once payment has been received.

Geelong Wall Bed Installation

September 30, 2020June 18, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

Supplying Wall Beds To Geelong, Ocean Grove & Torquay

As we are based in Geelong but supply Wall Beds throughout Victoria here are the 5 most popular questions we get asked from local residents.

Are Wall Beds as comfortable as standard beds?

A good night sleep is based on the mattress and our wall bed mattresses are superior and made to be slept on all year round not just for occasional guests. You can fit a mattress of your choice especially if you have special needs or use your existing mattress. Regardless there is no difference in comfort between a standard bed or a wall bed.
Can I install the wall bed myself?

You can install the wall bed yourself but we don’t recommend it unless you are a carpenter or cabinet maker. It’s a two person job so you will need to organise a helper. Our installers do this type of work all the time and are also expert with installing shelves and cupboards. There are too many tricky variables for a do-it-yourselfer.
How much does it cost?

Wall beds vary in price depending of course on size but also on any extras you may want such as a fold down desk attachment, shelving or cupboards or even library shelving. If you are looking for a wall bed and are working on a budget email or call Leigh and he’ll give you an idea of costings.
How long does it take to install and when can I get my wall bed installed.

It only takes a few hours or a morning to install most wall beds. Allow 4 – 6 weeks for delivery and installation. If you do need your wall bed sooner often we can organise this for you but we will need plenty of warning.
Can you deliver to apartments?

Yes we have done many apartment installations. The delivery can be challenging going up lifts but we have many successful installations, mostly in Melbourne as there aren’t too many apartments in Geelong, Ocean Grove or Torquay. Interestingly enough we do many local wall bed installations in converted garages.

If you are in Geelong or greater Geelong we can help you with a wall bed and also with measuring the area you have if you are unsure. Call Leigh Robinson today Ph: 0412 525 137

Wall Bed With A Desk

April 13, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

Wall Bed – Murphy Bed – With Studio Desk Installation

Here is a great testimonial from a happy client with their wall bed with a desk.

“I just wanted to send you a quick email to say thank you for all your help in getting our wall bed installed earlier this year. We initially wanted to make a small room more functional for our daughter but this room has now become her classroom while schools are doing remote learning.

We are so pleased with the bed and now more than ever really glad we decided to buy this product (especially with the desk).

Thanks again for so patiently answering all my questions!”

Regards
Suzy Dailey – Parkville

During isolation many of our clients come to realise their old bed takes up way too much room and the space is under utilised especially if their bedroom is small. A wall bed or Murphy Bed with a desk attachment is a great solution and adds functionality immediately to the bedroom.

The wall bed with a studio desk doesn’t need to be cleared off when you wish to pull the bed down. The desk stays parallel to the floor so nothing will fall off the desk when you need to use the bed. The desk attachment is not available with our horizontal bed.

If you have purchased an Aplha Wall Bed from us previously you can buy the complete studio desk separately from us. Or you can buy just the mechanism and fit your own desk top to it. Remember there will be an installation fee if you aren’t comfortable fitting it yourself.

The studio desk is a fantastic accessory to your wall bed purchase. You get more space and you can use that reclaimed space with a desk for study or a home office. Call Leigh today for more information and he’ll answer any questions you may have. A big thank you to Suzy for her kind words.

Wall Bed Studio Desk Measurements

Bed Size	Desk Width	Desk Depth
Single	1036	560
Double	1415	560
Queen	1568	560
King	1973	560

Corona Virus & Installations

April 6, 2020March 12, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

We Are Currently Open For Business

The corona virus has sent many businesses into a spin but because of the nature of our business we are still trading. If you are ordering a bed without book cases or shelves then a visit from our sales consultant might not be necessary.

Here’s how we operate during this crisis

For quoting and measure up we arrive at your property and use hand sanitizer and don’t touch any of your surfaces by hand. We keep at least 1.5 metres away from you and if you can also engage with us from a safe distance then it all helps.
If we do touch any surface such as walls or skirting then we will endeavour to wipe them clean.
Measuring and quoting will be done as quickly as possible.
From there we can email you a quote.
Upon accepting the quote an installation time will be booked with Leigh and his installers. Installation in most cases can be done with one installer and Leigh present but if it’s a complex install them two installers maybe required. Installers will be using hand santisers and cleaning up after them. Please keep a safe distance from everyone and our team will do the same. This may seem a little bit silly but we will work with you to make sure the end result is perfect and we all remain virus free.
We do suggest you clean all surface with a mild disinfectant just to be sure after our team have left.
No one will enter your property if they have been infected with the virus.

There are no guarantees in life but if we all act as if we are in isolation then we can reduce any chances of accidentally spreading the virus.

If you do require a wall bed especially if you feel cramped then call Leigh Robinson today! Ph: 0412 525 137

Our Top Five Murphy Bed Questions Answered

Is A Wall Bed Comfortable?

This is by far one of the most popular questions we get. A Murphy bed or wall bed with a standard size mattress (ie thickness approx. 30 cm) is as comfortable as a normal bed. Its much better than a thin futon mattress or lumpy trundle bed. In fact you may be able to use your favourite existing mattress but you’ll have to check first. We do supply fantastic mattresses in case you need a new one.

Do I Have to Have A Tall Ceiling?

Our wall beds fit in any standard size home with ceilings approximately 2.4 metres high. The average size of our wall beds plus the surrounding unit is just over 2 metres so there is normally plenty of room.
The only thing to watch out for are ceiling fans and lights that could get in the way of the bed’s operation.

How Strong Do You Need To Be To Operate A Murphy Bed?

Our wall beds are easy to operate and don’t need a lot of muscle power to open or close as they have a spring loaded mechanism that is counterbalanced.

How Long Does It Take To Install?

It takes between 3- 6 hours to install a bed depending on the following four criteria:

1. The type of wall bed chosen. A wall bed with a desk or our library wall bed might take a little longer to install.
2. How much cabinetry is required. Remembering you can have as many book shelves and cupboards that will fit your space.
3. How level your home is – there are installation techniques that we use to make absolutely sure the wall bed is level.
4. How easy is it to access your home. Loading takes a lot longer if you’re on the top floor of an apartment block for example.

Can I Buy A Bed A Get My Cabinet Maker To Install It?

Yes we supply the bed without installation. Make absolutely sure your installer =understands how the bed needs to be installed and the importance of getting the bed level.

Can I Pay By Credit Card?

Yes you can pay by credit card or bank transfer.

If you have any more queries contact Murphy Bed expert Leigh Robinson directly Ph: 0412 525 137

Wall Bed For An AIR BnB

January 12, 2020January 12, 2020 by Leigh Robinson

Alpha Wall Bed Installation

We recently installed an Alpha Wall Bed in a new Air BnB property in Curlewis a suburb close to Drysdale in the Greater Geelong area.

The property was a studio style property and the wall bed had to match the existing decor especially the kitchen area.

This meant the wall bed had no handles to pull the bed down with as the kitchen area’s style was also handle less.

The wall bed could still be pulled down from the top however.

Wall beds are a popular item for Air BnB properties as they allow more space to be utilised in any given room. This was a very simple installed and had no book shelves or side cupboards installed. In a property such as this one it’s quite common to have two or three wall beds of different sizes installed to cater for extended families.

This property is on the coast next to a beautifully appointed main home where we installed walk in wardrobes and a sliding door.

Wall Beds – 3 Commercial Examples

September 30, 2020November 5, 2019 by Leigh Robinson

Wall Beds Can Be Used For Commercial Purposes

We sell most of our wall beds to home owners who are looking to gain back space in their home and use this space more effectively. This especially applies to couples who have downsized and have family come to stay regularly. Saving space can also be a bonus in a commercial environment as well. Here are three examples that we have installed over the past 12 months.

Air BNB Wall Bed

We have a client that bought a property in a popular beach side town and converted this family home into an airbnb business. The home was huge and was a hit for large families or two families at once that could share the costs. It’s difficult for larger families to find accommodation that includes rowdy young children who want to play all the time. The owner , realising that they needed to maximise space for their guests installed a wall bed in one of the lounge areas. Even smaller airbnb properties could benefit from a wall bed. The more guests you can squeeze in the more bookings you get so a wall bed for accommodation purposes is a great business investment.

Hospitals & Hospices

Hospital almost always have space issues over time as the population grows and a wall bed can help. Many times parents of sick children or hospice patient visitors need temporary sleeping arrangements that aren’t a clumsy , pull out trundle bed. Horizontal wall beds are a great solution here.

Home Office or Studio

These days there are some serious home offices where a truck load of business is done but by early evening the room remains unused. Installing a wall bed can make the use of the space more productive especially in small studios, second bedrooms or apartments. We have even installed wall beds in artists studios and musicians recording studios to better utilise the space.

If you are compromised with space on a commercial level then installing a wall bed could be the answer. Even if you have a large , swanky office downtown you could install a book shelf wall bed or a horizontal bed for a quick afternoon nap and no one would know!

Leigh Robinson can help you here: Ph 0412 525 137

Horizontal Wall Bed

June 11, 2023October 31, 2019 by Leigh Robinson

Horizontal Wall Beds Take Up Less Room

I think everyone understands the concept of regaining valuable floor space by installing a wall bed. This is so what little room you do have is not wasted by a clumpy bed taking up the whole room.

With a horizontal bed you can actually save on space when the bed is folded out. Here’s how this works. A normal queens size bed and a wall bed are usually two metres long and about wide so the bed sticks out by two metres. Often, in a smaller room this makes it a challenge to walk around the bed.

With a horizontal wall bed it opens up the other way so you only have 1500mm of wall bed to contend with. Horizontal wall beds are great for smaller spaces because they give you an extra half a metre of space.

Another win with a horizontal wall bed is the height is about 1500mm and gives you a useable shelf that isn’t so high it can’t be used. The horizontal wall bed enclosure sticks out from the wall about 400mm (most wall beds do this, horizontal or vertical) giving you a decent shelf (400mm x 1500mm).

As I have mentioned in previous blogs this type of wall bed can be used in smaller rooms but also in hall ways and rooms with low ceilings.

Bed Size Guide

Here’s a bed size guide:

Single 92 x 188 cm 3’0″ x 6’2″
Double 138 x 188 cm 4’6″ x 6’2″
Queen 153 x 203 cm 5’0″ x 6’8″

The horizontal wall bed is a great solution if you are really struggling with space and comes in all sorts of different finishes to match your existing decor.

For commercial applications horizontal wall beds can be installed in hotels as additional beds in a room, in hospitals as overnight beds for visitors or for carers who look after clients temporarily or permanently.