The thought of a large wood cabinet made from oak, cherry, or mahogany can be appealing, but when it comes to transforming furniture that needs to support weight like the cabinet for a murphy bed, real wood may not be the best option.
Even when real wood is treated to be more durable through a pressure or chemical treatment, it can still snap and break due to the expansion and contractions from the moisture in the air when compared to engineered wood. This is especially true for murphy beds in humid environments that are not maintained.
Imagine you have two toothpicks with one made of wood and one made of plastic. The real wood one will snap when you apply pressure to the sides while the plastic one will likely bend and withstand a more force. Plastic can be manufactured to hold its shape longer, handle more pressure, and be designed to look like real wood. It's likely going to be less expansive while looking and feeling the same.
This same concept applies to the wood used for furniture, especially murphy beds. When the cabinet needs to support a full bed being lowered and raised, handle the expansion and contraction from humidity, it needs extra strength. High grade engineered wood including MDF and particle board are created specifically for this purpose and can look and feel exactly the same as real wood. It’s a win-win scenario.
If you’re trying to decide between real wood and manufactured wood murphy bed, here are some of the advantages of engineered wood over real, and why we use it in some of our murphy beds.
More Stability
Engineered wood is more stable than real wood meaning it is less prone to cupping and warping. When you spend the money on a quality murphy bed, you don’t want the cabinet, doors, and wooden features to do either.
- Cupping is when the wood begins warping into a concave shape where the edges are raised higher than the center.
- Warping is when the planks or boards begin to curve, bend, or twist.
Both cupping and warping are caused by uneven moisture levels getting into the wood, so if you live in a humid climate, your murphy bed may be at risk. The multiple-layers and construction of engineered wood make it less susceptible to warping and cupping as the grain runs in different directions while the different layers help restrict the movement of moisture.
Takes Up Less Space
Murphy beds are normally purchased as space saving furniture since the bed can be lifted to free up floor space. Engineered wood can be strong at thinner dimensions than real wood, so the cabinet can take up less space which matters when rooms are compact.
Strength
Engineered wood is engineered to be stronger than real wood. This helps it to better support the weight of the bed inside the cabinet and the lifting and lowering mechanics. The layers of wood fiber, boards, and veneers help it to be better at load bearing than traditional woods.
By purchasing engineered wood you can enjoy the furniture for a longer period of time without having to worry about the wood being compromised in strength. This is especially true in humid environments like basements, areas with wet summer months, and by the shore.
This study done at Oklahoma State University measured the Modulus of Rupture (how much PSI until the wood breaks) at 12% moisture content and it includes some common types of wood used for furniture. It does not say the specific size of the boards tested, but the two examples feature a 2inch by 2inch and 4inch by 4inch sample which may be similar to what is used for support in some of the larger pieces of wood furniture.
Red Oak which is known for its affordability compared to white and stability has a PSI rupture point at 6,540, and white pine breaks at 8,600. Black walnut can withstand up to 14,600, and white oak is 10,300, but they’re pricey materials to use. This sounds like a lot of durability, but this comes at a cost and you can get the same durability if not better with engineered wood.
Engineered wood can be treated and layered for natural moisture resistance which helps to increase its strength in the long run. The crisscrossed layers of grain help to defend it against wood’s natural tendencies to expand and contrast from moisture, and this helps prolong the lift of the wood in furniture.
These different grain directions may also help it to bear more weight without snapping, which is one of the reasons you’ll see it being used to support heavy machinery that needs to cross large holes at construction sites.
Larger Mattresses
Increasing the available floor space isn’t the only space saving benefit of engineered wood over real wood for your murphy bed. The reduced thickness of the engineered wood can increase the inside space of the cabinet allowing for a slightly thicker mattress which can be important when it comes to comfort.
Less Expensive and Equally as Stylish
Engineered wood is normally less expensive than hardwoods and real woods, so you can save money while getting high-quality furniture. You don’t have to sacrifice the look or feel as engineered wood can have an equally smooth and luxurious finish that goes head-to-head with the finest hardwoods on the market.
If you’re stuck choosing between engineered woods and real woods, go engineered. You’ll get an equal or better quality murphy bed that lasts the test of time, and likely spend less money. Click here to view our collection of murphy beds including options with desks, couches, and more.