Day Beds

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Some of our day beds have a trundle under the mattress. It slides out when required to double the sleeping space to two, which again is perfect if you’ve got people staying over. A variation on the theme is a daybed with storage drawers underneath, rather like a divan bed but with the back and sides of a sofa. Most people store some bedding in the drawers for when people sleepover, but there’s no reason why you can’t simply use it as everyday storage. Another interpretation of the day bed is making it look more like a sofa than a bed.

How To Choose A Daybed?

Factors to Consider When Buying a Daybed

• Daybeds are great for use as both a sofa and bed.
• Use a daybed in a college dorm as a sofa bed.
• The most common daybed is the size of a twin bed (38” x 75”)
• A trundle provides a second bed that tucks under the daybed when not in use.
• You will need special bedding for your daybed, so it fits properly.
• Get bolster pillows and big accent pillows to make your daybed look like a sofa.
• Choose a firm mattress to support sitting if you plan to use your daybed as a couch most of the time.

What is a daybed?

Having evolved to this day since ancient Egyptian times, a daybed is neither sofa nor bed, but a clever combination of both. Today, they are made to be space-saving for use in dual-purpose spaces such as guest room/office or studio living room/bedroom.

Daybeds are used for lounging, sitting, and sleeping. Typically, they take on the same shape as a standard sofa with a long back and short sides with an open front. They are most often found in the size of a standard twin bed (38” x 75”) but can come in other standard bed sizes of full (54” x 75”), queen (60” x 80”), and king (76” x 80”).

What types of daybeds are there?

While the most common type of daybed is the three-sided variety that looks like a cross between a twin bed and a sofa, other types warrant mentioning.

All-Purpose Daybed

This is your typical go-to type great for use in a studio apartment, teen’s room, or guest room/study with a long back, two sides, and an open front. The all-purpose daybed is fitted with a twin mattress that is supported by slats or spring suspension with an open space underneath. The open space can be used for a trundle bed or for tucking away storage boxes behind a bed skirt.

Outdoor Daybed

Made for lounging, an outdoor daybed comes in a variety of versions with or without a canopy. The mattress of these daybeds is upholstered in UV and mold resistant fabrics made for outdoor applications. You will also find a fun outdoor daybed that hangs and swings. They can be outfitted with toss pillows for extra comfort.

Storage Daybed

Daybeds with drawers built in underneath provide an extra space-saving feature. Storage daybeds are most often made of wood with a single or double row of drawers built-in under the mattress. These units offer storage for clothing in a kid’s rooms or a college student’s dorm.

Can I use a standard size mattress with a daybed?

The most common mattress for a daybed is twin size (38” x 75”). Besides a crib mattress, a twin is the smallest size mattress made and allows the typical daybed to fit in small spaces advantageously. Twin mattresses are sold in various ranges of firmness to suit your comfort. If you will be using the bed as a sofa and a bed, consider getting a mattress on the firmer side to offer more support for sitting and getting up from a seated position.

Some daybed models do come with a mattress, and some don’t. It depends on the manufacturer. For those that don’t, you’ll easily be able to find a mattress for your daybed.

Do I need special bedding for my daybed?

Yes, you will need bedding explicitly made for daybeds. Daybeds have rails to accommodate on the back, and sides so require bedding with strategically placed slits and overhanging fabric. You can find daybed bedding sets easily both online and in-store. How do I make my daybed look more like a couch?

To make your daybed look like a couch when not being used for sleep, get some plump bolster pillows for each end to stand in for the “arms” of the sofa, then line the back with large accent pillows.