Product Review: The Internet's Favorite Murphy Bed is Also A Couch

Despite best intentions, sometimes the guest room collects more dust than it does overnight visitors. For architect Marlyn Rivera, this was precisely the case for her third bedroom—a modest 10x10 space in her Austin rental that held a bed but little purpose.

“I wanted to be able to use the space for myself too,” she told me. “Take a meeting, knit, just have a quiet spot that wasn’t the living room or the kitchen table.”

Marlyn wanted to make the most of her home and transform the forgotten spare room into a functional workspace that doubled as a comfortable guest bedroom. Her vision required something small-space friendly, stylish, and practical. That’s where Expand Furniture's MurphySofa Stratus entered the picture. It's one of the best Murphy bed sofa combos available today.

Meet the Renter (and the Room)

Marlyn’s not your average furniture shopper. She is an architect, hard-wired to think in square footage, functionality, and design flow. So when she reached out to me, the Couch Whisperer, it wasn’t just about aesthetics. Marlyn needed a space-savvy solution that earned its place in the home.

She and her partner, Joe, rent a three-bedroom house in Austin, Texas. There's his office, their primary suite, and the ambiguous 'spare bedroom'– a space with a big, barely-used bed and zero versatility.

“It was just a room with a bed for when we had people visit maybe once every three months. And then the rest of the time, it wasn’t being used.”

However, the couple was not willing to lose the guest space entirely. Instead, they wanted to transform the 10x10-foot room into a multipurpose space, without feeling cluttered or cramped. Marlyn wasn’t interested in a sleeper sofa or an air mattress. She needed something designed to disappear and reappear on demand.

What Makes the MurphySofa Stratus So Special?

When imagining a Murphy Bed, you might conjure sitcom-esque visions of clunky, stubborn mattresses with questionable mechanics. Not anymore. Expand Furniture is redefining the genre with The MurphySofa Stratus, one of the most innovative Murphy bed sofa combos available today—a modular, space-saving solution to the wall beds of the past. The Expand Furniture Murphy bed lineup, including the MurphySofa Stratus, redefines what wall beds can be: stylish, compact, and truly functional.

At first glance, it’s a sleek two-seat sofa with crisp lines and dense cushions. But behind it, mounted seamlessly to the wall, is a queen-size Murphy bed that folds down over the seating area, without requiring the entire sofa to be dismantled.

“The nice thing about it is it’s a sofa that kind of sits in front of the bed,” Marlyn said. “When you want to use the bed, you just move the sofa seats to the side and pull it down. And it’s not one of those sofa beds where the mattress folds up inside. It’s separate—and way more comfortable.”

The design allows the couch and bed to function independently without compromising each other. It’s a true two-in-one system; no fold-out mechanisms, awkward transitions, or shared mattresses.

Two-in-One Design Without the Compromise

Unlike traditional sleeper sofas, which rely on thin folding mattresses and creaky metal frames, the MurphySofa Stratus uses an actual queen mattress (up to 10 inches thick) and slatted bed support for a genuinely comfortable sleep.

“You can move the sofa seats and maybe make a bed plus a sofa to the side. It makes the space more flexible.”

It’s also worth noting: this isn't just a bed with a couch attached. The sofa is a fully modular, standalone piece that can be used separately or expanded with additional components like ottomans, corner modules, and side shelving. Flexibility is what elevates MurphySofa beyond just clever design.

Compact but Expandable

At just 80.5 inches wide, the Stratus sofa fits neatly into most homes, and the 93-inch ceiling clearance works even in smaller guest rooms like Marlyn’s. It’s a modular setup for renters and apartment dwellers who want real function without committing to custom built-ins.

“You can even pull away the sofa modules and use them elsewhere,” she said. “It gives you true flexibility and future-proofing.”

This expandability gives it long-term value. As your space changes, so can the setup—something you don’t often get from space-saving furniture.

Smooth Function, Sleek Aesthetic

Where the MurphySofa Stratus really wins is in its mechanics. The bed lifts and lowers with a light two-finger pull, powered by a smooth European hydraulic system that Marlyn fondly dubbed “the rocket ship.”

“At first, I was a little scared—like, what if I break it?” she admitted. “But once you start the motion, the hydraulics take over. It feels really solid.”

Expand Furniture even offers video support if you ever need a walk-through, but the system is intuitive enough that Marlyn and Joe quickly got the hang of it.

The exterior finish is just as polished. The wall-mounted cabinet comes in a glossy or matte white finish, creating a clean, built-in look. The Stratus sofa is upholstered in durable polyester fabric and comes with a set of back cushions in shades of grey, dusty blue, and black-and-white houndstooth. The sofa’s curved, padded armrests add a subtle designer touch while keeping the profile soft and inviting. Marlyn noted that the seat cushions had a soft, sink-in feel, were pet-friendly, and easy to clean.

“We have dogs, and it’s cloth, so it’s easy to vacuum. The pillow covers come off, and I can wash them too.”

The function, quality, and appearance create a piece that doesn’t just hide in plain sight—it elevates the whole room.

MurphySofa Stratus at a Glance

Here’s what makes the MurphySofa Stratus by Expand Furniture one of the best Murphy bed sofa combos for small spaces and thoughtful living.

Two-in-One Functionality

Couch by day, bed by night—without sacrificing comfort. The Expand Furniture Murphy bed folds down over the sofa base and holds a real queen mattress. No folding frames, no compromise on sleep quality.

Modular and Expandable

It starts as a loveseat, but you can add pieces—like ottomans, corner seats, or side shelves—whenever your space or setup changes. Marlyn liked knowing she didn’t have to commit to the full configuration on day one.

Comfortable and Pet-Friendly

The Stratus sofa features a soft, sink-in seat with curved padded armrests and comes with six stylish pillows in grey, blue, and black-and-white houndstooth. The durable polyester fabric is easy to maintain and holds up well to everyday life (and pets).

Effortless to Use

A two-finger pull activates the smooth European hydraulic system, letting you lower or raise the bed easily. Expand Furniture even offers optional video support if you need extra help.

Modern, Renter-Friendly Design

The glossy or matte white cabinet blends seamlessly into modern spaces, while the compact footprint makes it ideal for small rooms, apartments, or flexible guest rooms.

Key Specs

The MurphySofa Stratus isn’t your average Murphy bed sofa—it’s one of the few that nails both form and function in a tight space.

• Wall Bed Dimensions: W 66.5″ x H 91.5″ x D 15.75″ (extends to 85.75″ when open)

• Sofa Dimensions: W 80.5″ x D 30.8″ x H 30.3″ (with cushions)

• Required Ceiling Height: 93″ (fits under standard 8′ ceilings)

• Mattress Size: Standard U.S. Queen (60″ x 80″), recommended 8–9″ thick

• Finish Options: Glossy White or Matte White

• Warranty: 5-year warranty (lifetime warranty on Murphy bed frame mechanism)

• Price: $5,995
  

What to Know Before You Buy

This isn’t flat-pack furniture, and it’s definitely not an impulse buy. The MurphySofa Stratus sits at the higher end of the price spectrum, but it’s built for people who want a flexible, long-term solution that evolves with their lifestyle. With its modular design, cozy sink-in seating, and future-proof construction, it’s made to adapt—not just fill a space.

If you want something that looks polished, feels genuinely comfortable, and actually works for modern small-space living, the MurphySofa Stratus more than holds its own.

Installation Takes Two (and a Little Grit)

Expand Furniture recommends hiring a pro for the MurphySofa Stratus installation, and after seeing it firsthand, they’re not wrong. The wall bed needs to be securely mounted, and the components are heavy. Marlyn and Joe took it on themselves and got it done, but they were quick to admit it wasn’t a weekend breeze.

“We did it,” Marlyn said with a laugh. “But it took two days, a few scratches, and a lot of patience. If I were doing it again, I’d probably just hire someone.”

Expand provides solid instructions and even offers video call support if you want guidance along the way. If you’re installing yourself, make sure you have the right wall anchors for your wall type (drywall, concrete, brick, etc.) and budget a few hours—and a lot of patience—for the process.

Mattress Sold Separately

The MurphySofa Stratus is designed to fit a standard U.S. queen-size mattress, up to 10 inches thick, but Expand recommends an 8–9 inch mattress for the best fit. A lighter mattress (ideally between 50–100 pounds) makes lifting and lowering easier—and allows you to leave your pillows, duvet, and bedding in place when you close the bed.

Marlyn chose a foam mattress ordered from Amazon.

“It’s actually super comfy,” she said. “And the wooden slats give it more support than I expected.”

If you’re opting for something heavier than 100 pounds, Expand can adjust the lift system to match, but most customers find a medium-weight foam mattress strikes the right balance between comfort and easy operation.

Built to Last—and Built to Adapt

The MurphySofa Stratus is manufactured in Europe with North American specs in mind. Materials include solid wood framing, durable polyester upholstery, high-density foam seating, and industrial-grade steel for the bed mechanism. Expand backs the system with a five-year hardware warranty—and the modular sofa design is future-proofed so you can upgrade or replace parts as your needs evolve.

“This doesn’t feel like trendy furniture that’ll fall apart in a year,” I noted. “It’s the kind of system you can reconfigure as life changes.”

It’s one of the few pieces I’ve reviewed that truly balances design ambition with practical, everyday use.

The Couch Whisperer’s Take

Small rooms demand big thinking, and the MurphySofa Stratus delivers. As this Expand Furniture review shows, design-forward furniture can still be practical, modular, and renter-ready. It’s not just a Murphy bed, and not just a couch—it’s a smart, adaptable, high-design solution that’s ready to evolve with you over time.

For Marlyn, the MurphySofa Stratus turned an underused guest room into a space that finally makes sense—both for living and for hosting. With its curved padded arms, designer pillows, and future-proof modular design, it’s one of the most thoughtfully built Murphy bed systems I’ve reviewed. If you’re working with limited square footage but still want true comfort, versatility, and lasting quality, this piece more than earns its place.

If you’re sorting through Murphy bed reviews or searching for the best Murphy bed sofa for a compact guest room, this piece absolutely deserves a top spot on your list.

FAQs About the MurphySofa Stratus and Expand Furniture

1. Is Expand Furniture legit?

Yes. Expand Furniture designs modular furniture specifically for small spaces, with high-quality materials, durable engineering, and long warranties. Their customer service is responsive, and the build quality holds up over time.

2. Where is Expand Furniture made?

Expand Furniture products are designed in Europe and manufactured to North American specifications. Components like the wall beds, sofas, and cabinetry are assembled using solid wood framing, durable upholstery, and industrial-grade steel mechanisms for long-lasting performance.

3. Can I install the MurphySofa Stratus myself?

You can, but it’s a two-person job that requires securing the wall bed to your wall type (drywall, brick, concrete, etc.). Expand recommends professional installation, but they also offer video call support if you need help during DIY setup.

4. What kind of mattress does it take?

The MurphySofa Stratus fits a standard U.S. queen-size mattress, ideally between 8 and 10 inches thick. A lighter mattress (50–100 pounds) is recommended for easier lifting and closing.

5. Is the MurphySofa comfortable?

Absolutely. The sofa features soft, sink-in seat cushions with curved padded armrests and cozy designer pillows, while the Murphy bed holds a real queen mattress for a genuinely restful sleep. It's one of the best Murphy beds with sofa combinations I've reviewed for both comfort and flexibility.

6. Is it good for renters?

Definitely. The compact footprint, future-proof modular design, and easy-to-clean finishes make the MurphySofa Stratus an excellent choice for renters and small-space dwellers.

7. Does the MurphySofa Stratus require a lot of maintenance?

Not at all. The polyester fabric is easy to vacuum or spot-clean, and the pillow covers are removable for washing. The wall bed mechanism is built for smooth, low-maintenance operation, and the finishes wipe clean easily with a damp cloth.