Day beds are a great option for a kid’s bedroom, guestroom, home office or even your living room. They are a preferred option for smaller spaces, because they are multifunctional.
Given their various uses, they are a common household necessity for any smaller room. Day beds are the ideal place for a nap: they’re versatile pieces of furniture that provide the same comfort as a bed for the space of a sofa.
They’re cozy, spacious, and generally stylish, fitting into your everyday living room automatically.
What is a Day Bed?
Day beds look more like an actual bed: they usually come complete with head and foot ends, often with décor similar to headboards or footboards. They are made from metal, wood or MDF (medium-density fibreboard) and come in different shapes and forms, giving you plenty of options when it comes to your perfect day bed.
What makes them more comfortable is that they have a mattress, which provides peak comfort and usability, giving you a great place to rest during the day and even overnight depending on your needs.
Due to their elevated design as compared to your average futon, day beds seamlessly fit in with the rest of your room. They are a fantastic alternative to a guest bed, sofa bed, futon, or even a murphy bed, given that they fit in well with your existing living room or other home area.
Just about the same size as your average couch, they provide enough room to lay out for a good night’s sleep without taking up too much space. Though, there’s no need to limit your day bed’s uses: you can easily place it in your home office, living room, or anywhere else.
Different Types of Day Beds:
Day beds often have multiple functions, including storage for extra bedding. Most day beds are elevated, with space underneath for additional use. Some beds leverage this space for storage capabilities, while others have an additional trundle bed for a second guest to sleep comfortably.
1. Day Bed with Trundle Bed
Image credit: Noa and Nani
A day bed with trundle actually allows you to create a sleeping area for two people, not just one. There is a trundle unit stored underneath, which you can take out and use as a second bed. There are two types of trundle units you should know about:
- Some trundle units can only be rolled out on wheels and can only stay low to the ground. They are sometimes referred to as “pullout trundle”.
- While other trundle units can be lifted up and brought to the same height as the day bed, (also called “pop-up trundle”). They create a large sleeping area the size of two single size mattresses (180cm wide x 190cm long). You can move the trundle bed to a different part of the room in case the guests who will be sleeping there are not a couple and don’t want to sleep next to each other.
Keep in mind that you will need a mattress for the trundle unit, which is usually a single size one (190cm x 90cm). Just make sure you double check how deep the mattress should be. In some cases the mattress shouldn’t be higher than 13cm, otherwise it won’t be able to fit and you won’t be able to open and close the trundle properly.
2. Day Bed with Storage
Image credit: HappyBeds
If your home needs more storage space, then consider buying a day bed with drawers underneath. You can use the drawers to store extra bedding, pillows, clothes, or just about anything else you want to hide.
Just make sure you check what are the dimensions of the drawers, so you can get an idea how many items you’ll be able to fit inside. Alternatively, you can get a day bed with trundle unit and just don’t place a mattress inside but instead use the empty space for storage.
Sizes and Dimensions of a Day Bed:
Day beds generally come in single size only and can fit a single size mattress that measures 190cm long x 90cm wide. The frame will take up additional space on the sides, so make sure you check what are the dimensions of the day bed frame.
Image credit: Noa and Nani
In the picture above you can see the Hove Day Bed with Pullout Trundle, it has overall dimensions of 198cm long, 96cm wide, 65cm high.
In some cases you’ll be able to find them in European single size, which is 10cm longer and fits a mattress that is 200cm long x 90cm wide.
Can a Day Bed be used as a regular bed?
You can easily use a day bed as a regular bed, and still be able to sleep soundly every night. This is because they have a mattress, which provides all the comforts of your average bed.
You can pick a comfortable mattress that best meets your needs and preferences, for example: all memory foam, spring mattress or a hybrid one. In addition, you can choose and buy a mattress that is either “soft”, “medium”, or “firm” depending on your preference.
On the other hand sofa beds and futons have cushions that are designed for sitting, however are not made to sleep there every night.
All in all, if you are looking for a comfortable place to sleep that is more multi-functional and space saving than your average bed, a day bed may be the right choice for you.
