The Top 73 Daybed Ideas
Do you feel like your home never has enough space to meet your needs? Nearly everyone knows the importance of having adequate storage to free up extra space. But you shouldn’t overlook the versatility of multi-purpose furniture either.
A daybed is the ideal blending of a casual sofa and a guest bed.
It can be an easy way to supplement the existing seating in a spare room or common area. And you’ll always have an extra bed ready to accommodate guests (or two, if you invest in a trundle frame!).
Check out the daybed ideas below to learn how to bring this classic piece of furniture into the modern design era.
1. Built-In
Nothing says “thoughtful, multi-purpose design” like built-in furniture. While built-in bookcases have seen a resurgence in contemporary design, let’s not ignore the stylish practicality of a built-in daybed.
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A built-in daybed is a perfect addition to any home office, guest room, playroom, or space-conscious living space. During the day, it serves as a reading nook or loveseat. At night, it instantly transforms into a functional sleeping surface.
This style of daybed tends to have a vintage aesthetic, especially when installed in front of a large window or bookshelf. Take this into account when choosing the finishing touches for your new furniture (such as bolsters or decorative throw pillows).
2. DIY
Building a traditional bed from scratch isn’t easy. If you’re looking to practice your woodworking skills on a piece of furniture, try starting with a DIY daybed instead.
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The lovely thing about building a DIY daybed frame is that the entire thing is extremely simple. For example, you can construct a basic daybed out of nothing more than a wooden pallet and a mattress. Even beginner DIYers can tackle this project with confidence.
Another great option is to convert an existing piece of furniture into a DIY daybed. You can do this with a repurposed bench, storage crates, or stacks of pallet wood. As long as the finished piece can safely support its intended user, nearly any material will do.
3. Metal
Unlike wooden and upholstered daybed ideas, metal frames tend to come with a more traditional shape and overall styling. These pieces work great in any bedroom with a farmhouse or cottage aesthetic.
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Left bare, a metal bed frame may look cold and uninviting. Soften your daybed with plush pillows and cozy blankets. You can also use your bedding’s color palette to convey some much-needed warmth.
One thing to consider is that metal daybeds are not as comfortable or supportive as other styles (at least when used for seating). If you want to use your daybed as an everyday sofa in your living room, be sure to arrange plenty of dense cushions for back support.
4. Modern or Contemporary
Many homeowners overlook the versatility of this furniture because they believe all daybeds are out of fashion. On the contrary, modern-style daybeds are incredibly trendy and available from many popular retailers.
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Modern daybed frames do not feature ornate metalwork or frilly bed skirts. Instead, they’re sleek and easy to fit into nearly any existing room design.
Look for an upholstered daybed frame with simple legs and a neutral color scheme. You can also create a DIY mid-century modern daybed with a cloth-covered bench or roomy sofa. Don’t overpower your contemporary design with too many accessories — all you need is a bolster pillow and a coordinating throw blanket.
5. Multipurpose Room
Outside of dorms or studio apartments, relatively few households use a daybed as everyday furniture. However, a daybed is a great option for adding a guest bed to a spare room or home office.
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Need somewhere to sit while working on your laptop? Use the daybed as a comfy sofa. Have a guest staying the night? Quickly convert the daybed to a fully functional sleeping surface.
The beauty of using a daybed in place of a regular double bed is that it can adapt to meet the needs of the room at any given moment. Extra features like storage drawers or a pull-out trundle can make your multipurpose room even more versatile.
6. Outdoor
There really is no better way to cozy up an outdoor space than with a daybed. You can set up a daybed under a backyard pergola, inside a covered porch, or alongside a swimming pool.
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An outdoor bed is the perfect place to curl up with a book, chat with friends, or cool off after a long day in the garden. Some outdoor bed frames even feature built-in shade coverage to protect sleepy sunbathers from overexposure.
Be sure to invest in a daybed design specifically built for outdoor use. You’ll also want to select outdoor-safe bedding to adorn your new patio furniture.
7. Rattan or Bamboo
There’s nothing wrong with leaning into the vintage look of many daybed ideas. If your home decor borrows inspiration from boho or 1970s design, we suggest finding yourself a nice rattan daybed frame.
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You can purchase a brand new rattan-style daybed or refurbish a used frame. While newer bed frames tend to be more durable, nothing can replace the charm of authentic, lived-on furniture!
Rattan furniture looks right at home on a patio or terrace. You can give your backyard some Bohemian flair with a rattan daybed or wicker chaise lounge. (Remember to invest in synthetic furniture — natural rattan and bamboo won’t stand up to the elements!)
8. Storage or Trundle
One of the greatest benefits of including a daybed in your home design is the sheer versatility. But you can make your guest room even more functional by investing in a bed frame with built-in storage (or a second mattress!).
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A trundle bed is a hidden mattress built into another piece of furniture like a regular bed, daybed, or sofa. While a trundle fits perfectly underneath when not in use, it easily pulls out to accommodate guests at a moment’s notice.
Even if you have no need for a trundle, consider buying a daybed with a storage compartment or pull-out drawer hidden underneath. You can always cover the extra storage with a bed skirt for a more polished look.
9. Swing Daybed
What if you could combine the charm of a porch swing with the warmth of a bed? Swinging daybeds are ideal for any outdoor space where practicality and comfort are equal priorities.
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Just like a traditional daybed you’d find in a living room or spare bedroom, this furniture can be used in several ways. There’s no need to choose between having an outdoor space built exclusively for entertaining or for relaxing!
Fill your swing daybed with a variety of bolsters and pillows for maximum comfort. As always, choose a mattress cover and cushions that can stand up to both rain and shine.
10. Upholstered
We tend to associate dual-purpose furniture with cheap or transient design. But that doesn’t need to be the case.
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If you want your guest room to have a luxurious aesthetic, consider investing in an upholstered daybed or trundle. While many upholstered daybeds have a feminine appearance, you can also choose from textiles like suede or leather for a more masculine look.
On top of looking stylish, an upholstered twin daybed is about as close to a “real” sofa as one can get. There’s zero need to pile tons of pillows on top to hide the frame underneath. Guests won’t even notice that your living room seating doubles as a bed.
11. Vintage
Daybeds pair well with vintage decor. Whether your home is inspired by the Victorian Era or mid-century modern design, skip the double bed and go with a stylish daybed instead.
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Are you struggling to find a daybed that fits your vintage aesthetic? With a little DIY handiwork, you can easily convert an antique sofa into a fully functional daybed frame.
Ideally, you should look for a vintage sofa that will fit a traditional twin mattress. But you can always order a custom mattress pad in a pinch. Either way, just swap out the original cushions for your mattress and you’re good to go!
12. Wood
Contemporary furniture designers are catching on to the demand for highly functional yet stylish pieces. You won’t have to go far to find a classy wood daybed that suits your spare bedroom or home office space.
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Wooden daybeds often borrow trends from traditional bed frames. Right now, ornately carved panels and light stains are incredibly popular. But you’ll also find many timeless styles featuring clean lines and rich hardwood.
One thing is true: You’ll have a hard time finding a sturdier material. Even basic plywood offers a supportive mattress platform that will last for years. So if you’re searching for a daybed frame that will stand up to daily use, look no further than solid wood.
Daybed FAQs
Daybeds generally use the same size system as standard bed frames — i.e., twin, double, queen, king, etc.
Most daybeds are the same size as a single or twin bed. However, you can also find frames that are the same size as a double bed or even larger.
Unless otherwise stated by the daybed’s manufacturer, you can use the same style of mattress as you would a regular bed frame. The only thing that matters is that the mattress is the correct size for your specific daybed.
In terms of functionality, daybeds and futons are very similar. The biggest difference between the two is that a futon converts from a sofa into a full-size bed.
While a daybed is more convenient because it doesn’t need to be pulled out at night, a futon offers more sleeping space in a compact package. But futons feature much thinner (and often less comfortable) mattress pads than daybeds or traditional sofa beds.