Best Montreal DIY Wall Bed Kit: Top 3 Picks
Looking to reclaim your floor space in a Plateau studio or a Griffintown condo? In Montreal, DIY wall bed kit is the ultimate Montrealer’s hack for small-space living.
Selecting the right hardware and cabinet system ensures a seamless “room flip” instead of a bulky headache.
Before diving into mechanisms, you’ll also need to evaluate your room’s exact footprint. Depending on your ceiling height and available floor space, deciding whether a horizontal or vertical wall bed makes more sense for your layout is a crucial first step in maximizing a tight condo or studio.
If you’re planning to build or buy a DIY wall bed, the first and most crucial step is knowing the best mechanism kits available on the market.
Selecting a high-quality kit isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about ensuring the safety, durability, and perfect fit for your specific space. A cheap or mismatched mechanism can lead to safety hazards or a frustrating assembly process that ruins your weekend project.
In the following guide, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. We will compare three of the best DIY wall bed kits available in Montreal, analyzing their mechanisms, ease of installation, and safety features so you can make the smartest choice for your home.
Table of Contents
1. Bestar: The Reliable Quebec Powerhouse
Bestar isn’t just a brand; it’s a staple of Quebec’s manufacturing heritage. Based in Lac-Mégantic, they have mastered the “Ready-to-Assemble” (RTA) market. If you’ve walked through a Costco in Pointe-Claire or a Bureau en Gros in Ville-Marie, you’ve likely seen their work.
- The Technical Mechanism: Bestar utilizes a dual-piston gas pressure system. Unlike older spring models, these pistons are calibrated to make the movement fluid. When properly installed, the bed should hover mid-air without falling or slamming shut. This is a critical safety feature for Montreal families with young children or pets.
- Deep Dive into Materials: They use high-density commercial-grade particle board finished with a laminate or melamine skin. While some purists prefer solid wood, Bestar’s finish is specifically designed to resist scratches and stains—essential if your DIY wall bed is also going to serve as a high-traffic home office in a Le Plateau apartment.
Beyond purely practical considerations like scratch resistance, the aesthetic finish of your RTA kit should seamlessly integrate with your existing decor. By keeping up with current wall bed colours and design trends, you can choose a laminate or melamine skin that elevates the room, ensuring the closed cabinet looks like a deliberate, stylish architectural feature rather than an industrial add-on. - The Montreal “Staircase” Factor: One major consideration for locals is the weight. Bestar kits come in multiple heavy boxes. If you live in a classic Montreal “plex” with those iconic winding outdoor stairs, be prepared. You will need a second person (and perhaps a strong coffee) to get these panels inside.
- Why it’s a Top Pick: It’s the most “turnkey” solution. You don’t need to be a carpenter. If you can follow an instruction manual and use a power drill, you can have a Bestar bed fully functional in about 4 to 6 hours.
2. Limuro: High-End Customization on Saint-Laurent
Located in the heart of the Main (Boulevard Saint-Laurent), Limuro caters to the Montrealer who views a wall bed as a permanent investment in their real estate.
They bridge the gap between a “box kit” and a fully custom furniture build.
- The European Edge: Limuro’s hardware often features Italian-engineered spring mechanisms. Why does this matter? Unlike gas pistons, which have a fixed pressure, these spring systems are highly adjustable.
If you decide to switch from a light foam mattress to a heavy high-end pocket coil, you can “tune” the springs to maintain that weightless feel. - The Showroom Experience: One of the biggest advantages for Montreal residents is the ability to visit their showroom. In terms of “Trustworthiness,” being able to physically test the mechanism and speak with a consultant on Saint-Laurent is invaluable.
You aren’t just buying a kit; you’re getting expert advice on how to anchor it into Montreal-specific wall types, like old plaster or modern metal studs. - Durability and Longevity: These kits are rated for professional use. While a budget kit might start to squeak after two years, Limuro’s hardware is designed for 50,000+ cycles.
For a condo owner in Griffintown looking to maximize resale value, this is the “luxury” DIY route.
3. Create-A-Bed: The Woodworker’s Gold Standard (Lee Valley)
For the true “Do-it-Yourselfer” who finds peace in the smell of sawdust, the Create-A-Bed kit—sold through Lee Valley in the West Island—is legendary. This is not a furniture kit; it is a hardware-and-blueprint kit.
- Ultimate Creative Freedom: The kit includes the heavy-duty gas pistons, the legs, and the pivot points, but not the wood.
This allows you to match your bed perfectly to the heritage moldings of an Outremont manor or the exposed brick of an Old Montreal loft. You can use premium Quebec birch, maple, or even reclaimed timber. - The Educational Component: Lee Valley is known for catering to serious hobbyists. The kit comes with a step-by-step instructional DVD and a cut-sheet that is so precise it leaves almost no room for error. It’s a masterclass in furniture building.
- Logistical Challenges: You must have access to a workshop. Since you are buying raw 4×8 plywood or solid wood sheets, you will need a table saw and a way to transport large materials.
However, because you are building it yourself, you can break the components down into smaller pieces, making it the easiest option to transport through narrow Montreal hallways before assembly. - The “Legacy” Project: Building a Create-A-Bed is a labor of love. It takes longer (usually a few weekends), but the result is a piece of solid wood furniture that can be passed down through generations—a far cry from the disposable furniture culture.
Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | Bestar (Ready-to-Assemble) | Limuro (Pro-Grade Kit) | Create-A-Bed (Hardware Only) |
| Price | Mid-Range ($1,200 – $2,500) | High ($2,000+) | Low ($400 hardware only) |
| Effort | Moderate (Assembly only) | Moderate (Assembly only) | High (Build from scratch) |
| Mechanism | Dual Piston | Adjustable Springs | Gas Piston |
| Local Pick-up | Multiple Locations | St-Laurent Blvd | West Island / Ste-Foy |
FAQ
Can I install a DIY wall bed kit into metal studs, or is wood mandatory?Â
Most kits are designed for wood studs, which are common in older Montreal “plexes.” However, many modern condos in Griffintown or Brossard use metal studs. You cannot simply screw a wall bed into a metal stud; it lacks the “pull-out” strength. To do this safely, you must use a “header” or “ledger board” (a piece of 1×4 or 2×4 solid wood) anchored across multiple studs with heavy-duty toggle bolts, then attach the bed to that board.
Is it dangerous to install a DIY wall bed alone?Â
The assembly of the cabinet can often be done alone, but the tensioning of the springs or pistons and the final mounting to the wall are strictly two-person jobs. The torque generated by a wall bed mechanism is significant; if the cabinet is not perfectly level and anchored, it can pull away from the wall with thousands of pounds of force.
Can I use my existing high-end mattress with a DIY kit?Â
Yes, with two caveats: Thickness and Weight.
*Thickness: Most Montreal kits (like Bestar) accommodate a mattress up to 10 or 12 inches thick. Anything thicker will prevent the bed from closing.
*Weight: A wall bed is a balanced scale. If your mattress is a heavy “purple” or “latex” model, a standard gas piston might not be strong enough to keep the bed
closed or might make it feel “heavy” to lift. Conversely, a mattress that is too light might cause the bed to pop up unexpectedly.
It’s a delicate balance; while a heavy mattress might strain the lift system, it also adds to the overall load the frame must support. Always cross-reference the exact specifications of your mattress with the recommended wall bed weight limits to ensure a setup that is not only easy to lift but structurally secure for safe, nightly sleeping.
Do I need a box spring?Â
No. Wall beds use a wooden slat system or a solid plywood platform that acts as the foundation. Using a box spring would make the bed too thick to close.
My Montreal apartment has 10-foot ceilings and crown moldings. How do I handle the gap?Â
This is where a DIY kit like Create-A-Bed from Lee Valley shines. You can build a “topper” or “valance” to bridge the gap between the top of the bed and your ceiling. For moldings, most DIYers prefer to “notch” the baseboard of the bed rather than cutting the original heritage moldings of the apartment, which preserves the value of the property.
How do I transport a 300lb Bestar kit up a narrow spiral staircase?Â
This is a classic Montreal struggle. Pro tip: Unbox the kit in your hallway or driveway. Move the pieces up one by one. The side panels are the longest and heaviest; ensure you have a “spotter” on the stairs. Avoid moving these kits during high-humidity days, as the particle board can become slightly more “brittle” if it absorbs moisture.
What is the difference between Gas Pistons and Spring Mechanisms?Â
* Gas Pistons (Bestar/Create-A-Bed): Extremely smooth and silent. They are pressurized with nitrogen. They usually have a “lock” at the top but are generally not adjustable once installed.
*Spring Mechanisms (Limuro): These consist of several heavy-duty steel coils. They are louder (you might hear a slight “creak”) but are highly adjustable. You can add or remove springs to perfectly balance the weight of your specific mattress.
How long do the pistons/springs actually last?Â
High-quality DIY kits are rated for roughly 10,000 to 50,000 cycles. For a bed used daily, a kit should last between 25 and 50 years. In Montreal’s climate, ensure the room is climate-controlled; extreme cold (like in an unheated garage) can cause the seals in gas pistons to fail prematurely.
Will a wall bed damage my hardwood floors?Â
Most modern kits “float” or have legs that extend only when the bed is down. To protect your Montreal oak floors, we recommend adding heavy-duty felt pads to the bottom of the “foot” of the bed.
What happens if I move? Can I take the bed with me?Â
Yes. Unlike a “built-in,” a DIY wall bed kit is considered furniture. You simply remove the mounting screws from the wall, disassemble the cabinet, and pack it. However, the holes left in the drywall will need to be patched—a small price to pay for taking your $2,000 investment to your next home!
Final Verdict
If you want it done this weekend, go with Bestar. If you want a piece of furniture that feels like a boutique hotel, visit Limuro. And if you’ve got a workshop and a dream, grab the hardware from Lee Valley.
