What Is a Daybed? A Guide to Buying the Right One For Your Home

A daybed is a highly versatile piece of furniture that serves two purposes: to function as a bed or as a seating area. Featuring three sides—a back and two “arm” sides—daybeds can be styled to look like a chic lounging area while still being large enough to act as a bed.

Daybeds are a flexible choice for adding more sleeping space to a room of your home that might also double as an office, den, or other seating area. Wondering what a day bed is and if it's the right choice for your space? Keep reading to learn more about this multifunctional piece of furniture, and the important factors to consider before buying one.

Before Buying a Daybed

A versatile furniture option, a daybed is ideal for adding more sleeping space without dedicating an entire room to a bed. This is helpful as daybeds need to be up against a wall, so location is limited.

Daybeds are also suitable for comfortable lounging in offices, dens, or multi-purpose rooms. Daybeds with trundles are also popular for children’s rooms, as they can use the bed as a sofa during the day and have another sleeping area for sleepovers.

Buying Considerations for Daybeds

Room Layout

The size of the room will determine whether a daybed is an ideal fit. If the space is quite large, a single daybed may look lost in all the space. On the other hand, if the area is minimal, a sofa or pull-out couch may fit the space better during day-to-day use. Daybeds are well-suited for rooms that are too small for a bed and a seating area but large enough to hold at least a twin-size mattress comfortably.

Material

The bed frame of a daybed can be made of many different materials. The most common options are wood, metal, wicker, and upholstery. The material you choose is a matter of personal preference and style. However, it is a good idea to match the style of the daybed to the aesthetic of your room. For example, a whitewashed wooden daybed would look right at home in a farmhouse-style room.

Size

Similar to the room layout, you also need to consider the size of the daybed itself. Most daybeds fit a twin-size mattress, which is 39 inches wide by 75 inches long. The dimensions of the daybed will be slightly larger than this to ensure the mattress and blankets fit comfortably in the frame. However, for those looking for a roomier lounging and sleeping area, some daybeds are designed to hold a full-size mattress, which is 54 inches wide by 75 inches long.

Types of Daybeds

There are several options to choose from when purchasing a daybed.

Simple or Open Daybed

Simple daybeds are a frame-only style. These daybeds have open space underneath the mattress, much like the legs and open space under a couch. If you want to keep the space simple and streamlined, this type of daybed may be your best option. Remember that this open, airy look means the bed doesn’t offer built-in storage. Of course, you can always make the most of the storage space under the bed by adding bins or boxes underneath the frame.  

Pop-up Trundle Daybed

Pop-up trundle daybeds have an additional mattress underneath that can be pulled out and lifted to the same height as the daybed mattress. These daybeds are perfect for those looking to maximize the sleeping space available.

Drawer Trundle Daybed

Drawer trundle daybeds have a built-in drawer at the base of the frame that houses another twin mattress. This drawer easily slides out to create more sleeping room. However, these trundles cannot be lifted, so the second bed stays on the floor. These are perfect for children’s rooms or guests who don’t mind sleeping at floor level.

Sometimes, these drawer trundle daybeds feature functional drawers above the second mattress. This is a feature worth looking for if you want to increase storage while doubling the sleeping space of the daybed. 

Daybed With Storage

Some daybeds feature plenty of drawers and storage space underneath the mattress. These are similar in appearance to the drawer trundle daybeds, except that the drawers are not large enough to fit another mattress. Instead, the entire space is used for storage.

Storage-focused daybeds may even have shelving behind the daybed. These are great for small areas where extra storage space would benefit the room. They also provide a convenient place for guests to keep some of their belongings. 

Cost

Generally, daybeds cost between $250 and $800. Because daybeds come in various materials, styles, and brands and can be found with different features, the price varies widely. Some name-brand daybeds or those with extra features can cost between $1,000 to $2,000. 

Furniture sales around major holidays or at the end of the year may present the best opportunity to buy a daybed at a discount. However, as a more niche item, you may not find daybeds as deeply discounted as other popular furniture items, like couches and dining sets.

How to Choose a Daybed

If you think a daybed would fit your needs, there are a few things to ask yourself before purchasing one. With so many options available, these questions will help you narrow your choices. 

How Often Will It Be Used?

Consider how often the daybed will be used and for what purpose. It's worth investing in a quality mattress if your daybed regularly serves as a bed. For this scenario, consider what size mattress you want. Most daybeds are designed for a twin mattress, though some models hold full-size mattresses and provide more sleeping space.

If your daybed will be used mainly as a lounging area and occasionally as a bed, opt for a more budget-friendly mattress or a daybed with bookshelves or drawers for storage. 

How Many People Does It Need to Sleep?

Thinking about who will use the daybed and how many guests you often have at once can also help you decide what style daybed to choose. If you have a couple who frequently visits, purchasing a full-size daybed or a daybed with a pop-up trundle would be best. On the other hand, if you only have one guest at a time, a simple twin daybed is likely sufficient. 

Daybed vs. Sleeper Sofa

A sleeper sofa is another option that combines a lounging and sleeping area. It is best to consider how it will most often be used, along with comfort and convenience factors. 

A daybed is ideal when it will be used for sleeping often. Daybeds use real mattresses, so they are typically more similar in feel to a standard bed. A sleeper sofa is ideal for situations where seating is the primary function. These offer the comfort and looks of a couch while providing a thinner sleeper sofa mattress for occasional use. 

Generally, the mattresses of sleeper sofas are not as comfortable to sleep on as a daybed but offer convenience and often take up less space. However, measuring how far the sleeper sofa extends when the bed is pulled out is essential. Since it extends into the room, you must ensure the full length of the mattress fits your space. 

On the other hand, daybeds are much easier to turn into a sleeping area. There’s no pull-out mechanism for a standard daybed, and you’ll usually only need to rearrange a few pillows and blankets for the bed to be ready for use. 

Where to Shop

Buying In-Store

Buying a daybed in stores allows you to see the daybed in person. If models are set up, you can even test how easy trundle beds are to pull out and lift. Before leaving to shop, measure your space to know how much room you have to work with. When shopping, check the product's dimensions to ensure it will fit your space. Ask a salesperson about the return policy and if the product comes with a warranty.

Buying Online

Buying online does not allow you to see the daybed in person before purchasing it, but there's more selection. Pay attention to the daybed's material, dimensions, and features if shopping online, and research the return policy and any warranties.

Where To Buy a Daybed

Daybeds can be found when shopping big box retailers, furniture stores, and online furniture retailers. Some popular stores that may carry daybeds throughout the year include Home Depot, Ikea, Target, West Elm, and Pottery Barn. Online retailers include Amazon, Wayfair, and Overstock.