What is a Daybed?

Daybeds are one of those pieces that do as much aesthetic work as they do practical work. Daybeds can pull almost any room together, from studies to living rooms to guest rooms and game rooms alike. Almost every room can benefit from a stylish daybed.

But what is a daybed anyway? How do you decorate one? Where should you put it? And what style is best for you? Below, we’ll talk a little about different types of daybed and how you can make them best suit your needs.

Daybed Function

Like a futon mattress, a daybed is a piece of furniture made to double as a couch and a bed. Unlike a futon, though, it’s not necessary to fold or unfold a daybed to sleep on it. You just rearrange the pillows and lie down.

This gives daybeds an edge over futons, hide-a-beds, Murphy beds, and other common stowable or dual-purpose mattresses in guest bedrooms. Rather than having a headboard and footboard, daybeds are typically set up just like a couch, with armrests on either side and a backrest on one of the long sides.

The main difference is the back of a daybed is normally made to look more like a headboard—with slats, bars, upholstery, and more. However, some daybeds are almost indistinguishable from a sofa. Others are more like benches, with armrests on either side and no back.

Daybeds also come with one long cushion made to double as a mattress rather than two to four sectional cushions like those that come on a typical sofa or loveseat.

Daybed Styles

Daybeds can come in tons of fun styles, and some of them might feature storage space or even an extra bed underneath!

Metal Daybeds

These daybeds are typically made of painted or finished brass, cast iron, steel, or other common forging metals. Metal daybed frames are great if you want a modern minimalist or industrial look in your guest room or living room.

Wooden Daybeds

There are plenty of options if you want a wooden daybed without extra features. You could go for a minimalist wooden slat look. You might also consider an upholstered bed frame or a rustic reclaimed wood bed frame.

Storage Daybeds

Lots of daybeds can come with storage spaces, including drawers, baskets, cubbies, cabinets, and even shelving. This storage might be underneath the daybed or built into the sides or back.

Trundle Daybeds

If you have multiple guests, most daybeds won’t do. Some daybeds, however, come with a trundle bed: an additional rollaway bed that stows underneath the daybed itself. These can be great for people who often sleep more than one guest but don’t have a ton of space.

Murphy Beds

Many Murphy beds are typically simple wall cabinets, but a few approach the design of a day with the front of the cabinet featuring a couch-like surface for daytime sitting. Usually, the cushions on this couch can be pulled away and the wooden backing pulled down, revealing the hidden Murphy bed mattress.

Daybed Decoration

Of course, after you buy your daybed frame and mattress, you’ll have to decorate them. You can customize your daybed with small or large throw pillows and different styles of throw blankets. These also have the added benefit of doubling as sleeping pillows and blankets if you don’t want to bother with keeping extras in your linen closet.

A pile of bed sham pillows can also add a pop of color to your daybed.

Daybed Mattresses

Most daybeds come with a mattress. However, if you want to choose the best mattress for a daybed, you have a few options.

Innerspring

Innerspring mattresses come with an internal coil support core topped with a layer of padding. Of all the mattress types, innerspring mattresses are probably the worst for a daybed. Their coils tend to bounce around, meaning an innerspring may be too responsive to sit on like a sofa.

Hybrid

Like innerspring mattresses, hybrid mattresses have a coil support core. Unlike innerspring mattresses, hybrids feature pocketed coils and at least two inches of foam on top. This reduces the mattress’s bounce without taking away from its support, making a hybrid a good option for both sitting and sleeping.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is a special type of polyurethane foam made for cushioning and supporting the human body. This foam is a great choice for sleeping, but since it tends to conform to your shape and can be slow to regain its shape, it may not be the best foam for a dual-purpose mattress intended for both sitting and sleeping. Still, a memory foam mattress with supportive materials can increase a daybed’s comfort.

Latex Foam

The foam inside a natural latex mattress is made from the sap of the rubber tree. This natural foam is less conforming than memory foam and more responsive, which may make it a better alternative than memory foam for a dual-purpose mattress.

FAQs

Will I need sheets for my daybed?

You might want to put sheets on your daybed for guests to sleep at night, but as far as daily use goes, you’re probably better off with a slipcover over the mattress. A slipcover will protect your daybed mattress from wear and tear as well as spills and dirt. Slipcovers can also come in fun colors and patterns, allowing you to change the look of your daybed as you please.

Do daybeds come in different sizes?

Most daybeds are twin size, but it is possible to get them in other sizes, including twin XL, full, queen, and king. Of course, it’s tough for queen and king size daybeds to double as sofas, which is why many queen and king size daybeds come with a trundle that can slide out from under the bed and lift up to meet the top mattress, converting into a queen or king bed.

Can I sleep on a daybed every night?

That depends on the mattress you have on your daybed. If you’ve got a pressure-relieving, supportive mattress that encourages spinal alignment and prevents sinkage, then you can sleep on it every night with no problem. If you’ve got a cheaper mattress that’s only intended for guest use, you may want to replace it before using your daybed every night.

Should I get a new mattress for my daybed?

Most daybed frames come with a mattress. However, these mattresses may be intended for guests and not for nightly use. If all you want out of your daybed is to sit on it and have a place for the occasional sleepover, you probably don’t need to replace the mattress. However, if you plan to sleep on your daybed every night, you may want a hybrid or latex mattress to ensure adequate support.

Is a daybed better than a futon?

Daybeds and futons have similar purposes, but the main difference is a futon folds and a daybed doesn’t. Since a futon folds, the futon mattress extends over both the seat and the backrest, while a daybed mattress only covers the seat. This means futons can sleep more guests than daybeds (unless it’s a trundle daybed).

Both futons and daybeds come in a wide variety of styles that can make a statement in any room. That means whether you think a daybed is better than a futon just depends on how many guests you normally host and how inconvenient you find folding and unfolding a futon.

Bottom Line

Daybeds can be a great addition to your home because of their dual functions. Not only can they make any room a guest room, but they can also be the perfect choice for anyone living in a dorm room or studio apartment because they eliminate the need for two pieces of furniture.

Instead of a sofa and a bed, a daybed offers you a combination of the two that’s as stylish as it is space-saving!