16 Best Daybed Ideas To Inspire You – Boho, Shabby Chic, Elegant & More!

Materials

Wood

If you’ve got a traditional home or bedroom, then a wooden style is the way to go. It’ll match just about everything, especially if you go with a standard stain like dark, black, cherry, oak or pine.

Metal

Metal is the most flexible (not literally, but in a style sense). Choose ornate curled wrought iron designs for a girl’s room or a shabby chic vibe or opt for something more streamlined with straight lines and angles for a more masculine or industrial setting.

Fabric

Fabric designs look more like sofas than beds, and we love that! This is ideal for situations when you want a piece of furniture that serves multiple purposes. Maybe it’s meant to stay in the living room, or it’s for a den or guest bedroom that doubles as an office.

Types

Trundle

Traditional daybeds have trundles, so you can pull out the second mattress and sleep an additional person. There’s a new style that’s making waves, though. It looks like a couch, functions like a bed, and it has a pull-out trundle that’s disguised to match the underside of the sofa. It’s pure genius.

Sleigh

This style slightly resembles a baby crib with an open front. Maybe it’s the curved edges that give it that look. The advantage of the curved head and foot sections means that you’ve got a little more room, and that’s a big plus!

Canopy

Whether you’re sleeping indoors or under the stars, a canopy daybed is a breezy luxury that will make you feel like you’re on vacation. If your bed doesn’t come with tall posts to hang a canopy from, then do it DIY-style and hang a circular canopy with draped material from the ceiling.

Chaise

The advantage of a chaise bed is that your feet won’t poke through the slats on the other side of the mattress. There are no downsides, either. Chaise lounges add an air of sophistication with just a tiny hint of a visit to the psychologist’s sofa.

Country

Country-style furniture is characterized by blonde wood and classic features like slats and knobs. It’s ideal for children’s rooms and guest bedrooms alike.

Traditional

Traditional daybeds are stunningly beautiful and look at home in most settings. The original classics were often white metal with painted glass knobs at each post. They vary widely in price, but they’re lightweight and easy to move.

Cool Daybed Design Ideas

Cozy

Smaller spaces can benefit greatly by having a daybed. These beds are compact, multipurpose, and almost always look inviting. Add a half dozen throw pillows and a soft cashmere or alpaca throw, and you’ll have your own little slice of heaven. Lie down with a cup of herbal tea and a romance novel, and you’re all set.

Shabby Chic

Mix pastels and florals for a look that embodies a French cottage. This style is ideal for small rooms that are cozy and have plenty of charm. Add a canopy for an intimate feel that also adds a hint of elegance.

Rustic

Bring the hunting lodge into the bedroom with unfinished or textured wood accents and classic patterns like plaids or denim.

Elegant

Colors and textures can create the elegance you’re looking for. White is always a reliable standby and mixing in black and red provides sophistication. Red velvet combined with unique patterns like fleur-de-lis can also add some class. There are all types of daybed bedding ideas to make yours stand out and reflect your personality.

Modern

If you get a model with clean, angular lines and dress it up with neutral bedding and pillows, you’ll have an ideal modern set up. Alternatively, add pops of color like orange, blue or red to give your setup even more personality.

Dull

Dull doesn’t have to mean boring. But, there is something to be said about a piece of furniture that’s unobtrusive and doesn’t clash with anything. Gray may be seen as dull by some, but we appreciate its versatility, and it’s currently an on-trend color. Take a look at these daybed images to see exactly what we mean.

Unique

Add a chest of drawers to the underside, and now you’ve got a piece of furniture that doubles as a sleeping surface and extra storage. Another thing to try is painting the frame an unexpected color like turquoise blue.

Old-school

Here’s a fun idea to try: repurpose an old bench and turn it into a day bed. As long as the seating area is deep enough to accommodate a twin mattress (38 inches wide), then you’ll have a whole new bed for the price of a twin mattress.

Antique

Old world charm is always in style. Look for wrought iron that’s weathered or slightly rusted for a truly authentic look. Or seek out a well-worn wood frame. Add lace pillows or crochet to complete the look.

Retro

A mid-century modern chaise lounge makes an ideal daybed. Drape yourself across the curves, and you’ll look exactly like Audrey Hepburn. Or, opt for pink velvet and channel your inner Marilyn.

Simple

So, you may not want all kinds of lace, frill, and pastels. Not everyone is into that. We like basic black frames with supportive backs. Add gray or white pillows for contrast to maintain a simple aesthetic.

Grand

Though they may seem simple right out of the box, daybeds can be dressed up in quite a grand fashion. Get a frilly dust ruffle, adorn the back with pillows, and hang a draped canopy over the top. It doesn’t get any grander than that!

Funky

The colors and patterns of sheets, pillows, and blankets can create a whole new look. Add bold and patterned pillows and a bright comforter for a look that’s both funky and fresh.

Masculine

Anything in black is bound to have a masculine appeal. Seek out minimalistic designs. Another thing to look for is daybeds that double as a couch. Practicality is key for men, isn’t it?

Indonesian

This type of bed is often wooden with ornate carvings and details. It’s a traditional tropical look, and these frames are a real treasure.

Stylish

The most stylish option these days looks more like a chaise. It’ll be flat with a tufted button top. In fact, it seems more like a couch from the last season of Mad Men than it does a daybed, and that’s part of what makes it so magical.

Ways to Use a Daybed

Entryway Piece

Ordinary people just place a bench in their entryway, but creative people know better. A chaise-style daybed works equally well, and it doubles as a sleeping surface when the party goes all night. Dress up the chaise with a blanket and pillow that matches the aesthetic of your home and place an end table next to it to serve as a catch-all for keys, cell phones, and a wallet.

You may find that you use this piece of furniture for a lot of other things, too, including a convenient sitting area to put on and take off your shoes.

Multifunctional Study Den

You may not want a queen-size bed in your den. But, a daybed that looks like a sofa should suit you well. Get one with a back that doesn’t look like a bed and add some oversized couch cushion pillows. If you opt for the model that has a trundle bed underneath, then you can claim a full trifecta: sleeping surface, sofa, and a spare bed.

Living Room Layout

Some people love those L-shaped couches. They’re modern and can seat a lot of people. The only problem is that they’re bulky. Instead, get something that is flexible, meaning it can be arranged in a variety of layouts. That way, instead of having a giant sofa dominating your living room, you’ll have a couple of pieces of furniture that can be arranged to suit any occasion.

Focal Point

Some people try to draw attention away from this piece of furniture, but we recommend using this lovely item as a focal point. This can be achieved by adding drapes or a canopy around the edges and dressing it up with special pillows. Make it the centerpiece of the room instead of hiding it in the corner.

Window Seat

Who doesn’t love soaking in the sun from a comfy window seat? But what if you don’t have one? We’ve got the next best solution. Put a compact daybed directly underneath the window. Opt for one that doesn’t have a back, so it’s more of a chaise lounge. It’ll be ideal for reading, watching sunrises and sunsets, and even taking the occasional cat nap.

Story Time and Toddler Bed

Toddler beds are often transitional pieces of furniture, but they needn’t be. In reality, they’re a crib with the front panel taken off. Sounds exactly like a daybed, right? So, why not plan ahead and instead of repurposing a crib or buying a toddler bed, you instead get a baby-safe daybed. That way, as your baby transitions from toddler to kid, you’ll be able to use the same furniture.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I build a DIY daybed with a trundle?

If you’re even a little bit handy, this project is a breeze. For the trundle, start by building a basic rectangular frame. Then add slats, which will support the mattress. Put a flat, lightweight layer of plywood over the slats. Add four casters so that the trundle bed can slide out.

The process for building the daybed is similar, minus the casters. You’ll also need four support legs to raise the bed above the surface. There are a couple of other steps included in this process, so take a look at this video for a full, step-by-step tutorial.

Are there daybeds comfortable to sleep on?

In most cases, yes, they are! Be careful when you’re shopping to choose a mattress that fits your needs. For example, if you prefer a firm sleeping surface, then you should shop for something in that category. In fact, the firmer, the better, especially if you’re using it for sitting as well as sleeping.

The only caveat here is that if you’re exceptionally tall, you may find that the length of the sleeping surface is too short. In many cases, your feet will dangle off the end if you stretch out. Some people may not mind this, so if you are tall and plan on using it for sleeping, choose a model that doesn’t have slats or bars at the foot end of the bed.

Are these suitable for adults?

Yes, definitely! Often these beds get a reputation as being ideal for teenagers. While they are indeed suitable for that age group, they’re also great for adults, too. You’ve seen how they can be used for a variety of purposes. As long as you’re sleeping by yourself and not a partner, there’s plenty of room, they’re comfortable, and there’s no shame in owning one. In fact, many models available are high-end, stylish, and luxurious.