Mattresses

Published February 8, 2022

11 min

What Is a Daybed?

Nectar Editorial Team

Table of contents

So, What Is a Daybed Exactly?What Is a Trundle Bed?Benefits of a DaybedWhere to Put a Daybed?How to Use a Daybed?How to Style a Daybed?Different Daybed StylesDaybeds vs Sofa BedsDaybed vs FutonDaybeds vs Twin BedsFrequently Asked Questions

A day bed can be one of the most functional furniture pieces in your house. It can work as a sofa by day and a bed by night. You can also use a daybed for storage purposes. It’s as big as a twin bed, and you can fit it in a living room or a children’s room. Are you wondering what is a daybed? How does a daybed work? What is the difference between a daybed and a sofa bed? Here we will help you understand everything about the daybeds.

So, What Is a Daybed Exactly?

Daybed Dimensions: 38 inches wide by 75 inches longA daybed is versatile furniture that can be used as a bed and a sofa. Earlier, in the Mediterranean region, a day bed was made up of stone or marble. But today, it is made up of a wooden frame or metal frame with a mattress. Being a two in one furniture, this compact bed saves you a lot of space. Most of the day beds can fit a twin mattress. There are larger daybeds as well that can accommodate a full-size mattress. It’s used mainly in children’s bedrooms or a living room. For adults, you can consider a larger daybed, but one can sleep comfortably on a standard daybed too.

What Is a Daybed Used For?

A daybed is a flexible piece of furniture. You can use it for various purposes. What is the purpose of a daybed? It can be used as a couch or extra bedding for guests. It can also be used as a play area for children and a bed at night. A daybed is space-efficient furniture. It’s smaller than a regular couch. So, if you have little space in your house, a day bed can be an ideal option.Other uses of a daybed:

You can use it as a bed for overnight stays of guests.
You can use it with a trundle bed as a large size bed.
You can use it for storage purposes.
You can use it to fill a spare room.
You can use it as a bed for children or teenagers.
You can keep a trundle bed beneath it and take it out when required.

What Is a Trundle Bed?

Trundle beds are low beds stored below a regular bed or a daybed. It provides more sleeping space without taking any extra space. Some day beds come along a trundle bed. These pull-out beds are generally stored below a daybed. As you can pull them out when needed, it saves you a lot of space. You can also lift them to the level of a daybed and use both as a large bed or play area for children.

Benefits of a Daybed

Here are some of the benefits of a daybed.

1. Daybeds Serve Multiple Purposes

There are many daybed purposes. From being a couch for your living room to a bed for overnight guests, a day bed can do anything. Daybeds can be a great addition to your child’s room as well. The dimensions of a daybed are the same as a twin-size bed, so it’s comfortable enough for a child. You can pair it with a trundle mattress for a children’s stayover party.

2. Daybeds Take Little Space

If you live in a small area, you can utilize it fully with a daybed. A daybed has the same size as a standard single twin bed. But it can work as a couch, a bed, and with a trundle bed, it can be a large size bed as well. It also gives you enough space to store things underneath it. You can keep a storage box or trundle bed below a daybed to save space.

3. Daybeds Are Easy to Customize

Daybeds come in various styles and colors. There are so many linen and mattress options for daybeds in the market. You can pick any attractive design or color as per your room and preference.

4. Daybeds Are Economical

Daybeds are comparatively less expensive. You can get the benefit of two pieces of furniture at a lower price.

Where to Put a Daybed?

Generally, a daybed is used in a large living room or a child’s bedroom. There are many places where you can keep a daybed—still wondering where to use a daybed?Places to Put a Daybed

Home Office
Living Room
Foyer
Kid’s Bedroom
Guest Room
Near Pool
In a studio
Garden
Porch
Extra bed in the nursery

How to Use a Daybed?

If you plan to use the daybed as a sofa, you should consider an upholstered daybed. It has fabric on all three sides, making it relaxing to lounge. Get a metal daybed frame if you intend to use your daybed in a guest room. Cover the mattress with a bedsheet and place throw pillows to make it comfortable. Most of the daybeds can accommodate a twin-size mattress. These are good options for living spaces. For sleeping purposes, you can consider larger-sized daybeds. Read this article to learn more about bed frames and styles.

How to Style a Daybed?

Apart from being multifunctional, a daybed can add any desired look to your room. Daybeds come in various styles, including mission, Victorian, or sleigh. There are multiple options in contemporary and traditional styles too. You can have upholstery, wooden, or a metal frame. There is a great variety in colors as well. You can pick any color or design that goes well with your interior. Daybed styling involves five simple steps.

Pick a color palette.
Make the bed.
Place neutral pillows.
Layer with accent pillows.
Lastly, use a throw blanket.

If you are out of ideas, you can always look for inspiration on Pinterest.

Different Daybed Styles

Let’s get to designing your daybed. There are four ways to do it, and we will discuss them one by one.

1. Daybed With Trundle

A trundle is a must-have flexible furniture. They make great use of small spaces. A daybed with a trundle provides you with two beds that take the space of one bed. You can keep it below a daybed and pull it out for guests coming to stay overnight. After the guests leave, you can slide the trundle back to its position.

2. Outdoor Daybed

If you love spending time around the pool or reading books in your outdoor area, you will love an outdoor daybed. If there’s a little space in your patio, it’s highly recommended to have an outdoor daybed.

3. Upholstered Daybed

The upholstered style will allow you to get a traditional look and a cozy space for your room. These popular daybeds are mostly used in living rooms.

4. Wooden Daybed

If you are looking for a clean look, a wooden daybed would be a perfect fit. Wooden daybeds are mainly used as sofas. You can make them cozy and stylish by using as many throw blankets and throw pillows as you can.

Daybeds vs Sofa Beds

Like a daybed, a sofa bed can work as a sofa and a bed. But a sofa bed is more expensive than a daybed. Sofa beds are longer than daybeds, so they offer more setting space. But they are not as deep as daybeds. Sofa beds are better couches than daybeds. On the other hand, daybeds provide better sleeping surfaces.

Daybed vs Futon

A futon is similar to a daybed as both can be used as a couch and sleeping space. The slight difference is that the futon changes from a traditional couch shape to a mattress and a daybed remains in the same position. A futon is larger than a daybed. A daybed has storage cabinets, but a futon does not.

Daybeds vs Twin Beds

Twin beds and daybeds have the same size but with a different frame. Daybeds have frames on all three sides, or at least two. Whereas a twin bed only has one frame. Twin beds are used as a bed, whereas daybeds are used as a couch too. Whether you want to create a cozy corner, or a playful area for your kids, a daybed can be an excellent investment. It comes in various designs and takes up less space, leaving you no reason not to have it.This article is for informational purposes and should not replace advice from your doctor or other medical professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a daybed be used as a regular bed? Yes, a daybed is used as a regular bed. It’s a perfect fit for a kid’s room and guest room as well. Can you use a daybed as a couch? Yes, a daybed is used as a couch. Place throw blankets and pillows to make it comfortable. Do you need a box spring for a daybed? No, you don’t need a box spring for a daybed, as the daybed frame provides the necessary support to the mattress. Does a twin mattress fit a daybed? Yes, a standard twin mattress can easily fit a daybed. Are daybeds comfortable for adults? A daybed comes in twin and full size, so they are comfortable for adults. You can use them along with a trundle to create more sleeping space. How to use a daybed as a couch? You can place throw pillows in front of the backrest to make your daybed a comfortable couch.