Daybeds are honestly one of the most flexible and useful pieces of furniture you can have in your space. Not exactly a sofa and not a bed as well, this multipurpose furniture offers an extra place to lounge, sit, and even sleep, they never go out of style.
Just like beds and sofas, daybeds come in various shapes and styles. That allows you to integrate one effortlessly into your existing home decor. Before you buy a daybed, you must understand the difference between a sofa, a daybed, and a sleeper sofa, as well as the different types. Here, we bring you the benefits of having a daybed and selecting the perfect one for your home.
What is a daybed?
A daybed is one of the most functional pieces of furniture there is. Shani Core, founder and principal designer of Shani Core Interiors, says, “A daybed is a piece of furniture that may be used for sleeping, sitting, or lounging.” In other words, a daybed is a versatile piece of furniture that resembles a sofa and a bed. You don’t need to physically convert a daybed into a bed, unlike a sleeper sofa. During the day, you can sit on the daybed, take a short afternoon nap, and just add blankets and pillows at night for sleeping.
Types of Daybeds
Primarily, there are three types of daybeds: traditional, upholstered, and outdoor daybeds. You must consider where you intend to keep your daybed and how you plan to bring it to usage when choosing which type is the best for your space.
Traditional
Traditional daybeds normally look like a chaise lounge and they are often kept in living rooms and other common spaces of a home. Core says, “A traditional daybed is made of wood and has an upholstered cushion the size of a twin bed and may be used for many purposes, but mainly as a sofa and a bed. An upholstered daybed is great for rooms with multiple functions. For example, a daybed may serve as a sofa by day but then convert into a bed in the evening.”
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Trundle
Here’s a fun fact. A trundle daybed will have a pull-out bed underneath the main cushion normally a twin size, giving two separate sleeping areas. Core says, “Some upholstered daybeds also hide a separate trundle underneath which is a great bonus for out-of-town guests,”
Outdoor
If you have a patio or front porch, an outdoor daybed would be an excellent addition. Maggie Griffin, founder and principal designer of Maggie Griffin Design says, “An outdoor daybed is perfect for more than one person to lounge by the pool together.”
What is the difference between a daybed, a sofa, or a chaise lounge?
Though these items resemble and share some of the same functionality, daybeds and sofas are not necessarily similar. According to Griffin, “A sofa is typically three seat cushions, three back cushions, and more used for sitting. A daybed is for lounging and sleeping.” Daybeds often sit a bit higher than a standard sofa and may not have a back.
Now, a chaise lounge is different from a daybed due to its functionality. While daybeds are often used for sleeping, a chaise lounge is more like a long chair that can be used for sitting comfortably, often with your feet up. It also provides a high back to support your back and shoulders so that you can easily do stuff like reading and writing while sitting comfortably. Chaise Lounges are often designed for only one person to use at once.
Benefits of having a daybed
Daybeds offer double benefits; acting like seating for your family members and guests and a cozy place to sleep. Whether the size of your house is big or small, a daybed can be handy. You will get the same luxurious feeling of relaxing on a chaise by the pool while lounging on a daybed to watch TV or read your favorite book.
Griffin says, ”A daybed is for lounging and sleeping.” If you have a home office that sometimes serves as a guest room, a daybed could be your savior as it saves space. If you live in an apartment, a daybed that doubles as a sofa is a space-saving idea for hosting guests during occasions.
Additionally, daybeds also can be kept in kids’ rooms making sleepovers and slumber parties more fun. Overall, a daybed offers many ways to have extra space, rest, or simply relax.
Tips for keeping a daybed in your home
There are a few factors to consider if you’re thinking of adding a daybed to your living room, guest room, or your baby’s room.
Size and dimension
Core says, ”While daybeds don’t typically take up as much room as a sofa, they are still the size of a standard twin-sized bed.” Make sure that you measure your space, leaving space to walk around your daybed. Some daybeds have larger frames than others and take up more space. Be mindful of choosing one that improves functionality, without covering the whole room.
Materials and Construction
Like any other furniture piece, the materials and how a daybed is constructed have a big hand in how it looks and feels and also determine its longevity. Some are made of wood and some of metal. If you want to have one with extra storage space, you can find a daybed with built-in drawers, or if you’re thinking of an additional sleeping space, look for one with a trundle bed.
Placement
Think of where you want to keep your daybed and how it compliments your existing decor. Core notes, ”In my own home I have a daybed in my living room in front of a bank of windows overlooking the back porch. When lying down on the daybed you get a unique perspective of the outdoors.” A daybed works equally well in guest rooms, home offices, or children’s rooms when styled like a standard sofa. These pieces of furniture are timeless and in casual environments. They “offer a different look from a sofa and bring a unique element to a space,” Core says.
How to style a daybed?
Daybeds provide great lounging opportunities at home, but if you’re not sure exactly how to design around this furniture piece, we might be of a little help. Read on for interior designers’ advice so that you can make your daybed look better.
The versatility of a daybed
Now you know that a daybed is not just for a bedroom, they can be pretty much kept in any living space of your house. Jasmine Crockett of Joy Meets Home says, ”When styling a daybed, I think the most important tip to think about is the use of the space and where the daybed will be located. Is it for a playroom, office, or an extra guest room? When you know the use of the space it’ll help you better with styling.”
If you’re not sure how to integrate a daybed into a family room or a living room, Dawn Cook of BLDC Design explains, ”A daybed is a wonderful crossover piece for large narrow rooms to plan seating arrangements on both sides. Not to mention, it’s a lovely place to read a book or take a nap.”
Room color scheme
Once you’ve made up your mind on where to keep your daybed, you might want to look at the existing colors in that room. Crocket says, “This can help you make sure everything you’re designing flows within the space.” Styling your daybed can also involve anything from a mattress cover, throw pillows, blankets, or more. Bradley Odom of Bradley Odom Interior Design Studio says, ”I think the most important thing with a daybed is carefully considering the cover for the mattress or cushion.’‘ He added, “We love to have it fully upholstered in a lush fabric so the daybed becomes a considered and intentional piece when in use or not.”
However, if you plan to cover your daybed with actual bedding, make sure it is nice and clean. Alicia Cheung Lichtenstein of studioHEIMAT adds, ”We recommend tucking in the bedding as it helps to keep it clean and highlights the silhouette of the frame,”
Make sure comfort is your priority
It is necessary to keep a daybed’s sleep or nap quality on top while styling it. Julie Rootes of Julie Rootes Interiors says, ”I prefer to keep the styling more on the cozy, lounge-y side and not too formal. Layering a daybed with decorative pillows in various sizes and shapes helps keep things on the casual end of the spectrum.”
Do not forget to add some pillows. Lichenstein notes, ”We feel strongly that you can’t ever have too many pillows on a daybed. It makes for a great contrast to have an odd number of pillows and to play around with fun pillow shapes.”
Finish off with a table beside it
Cook tells us how to finish off your daybed setup. She notes, ”A daybed isn’t complete without a C-table which can tuck nicely up to the daybed to place a drink, pair of glasses, or the remote.” If you’re thinking of creating a comfortable work-from-home setup, a C-table is a great size for keeping a laptop too. Styling a C-table is entirely up to you. “So many beautiful ones in marble, brass, or interesting shapes add some interest to the space for function and form.”
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