Everything You Need To Know About Day Beds

Are you looking for that final piece of furniture to complement a newly designed bedroom space? Or are you perhaps facing a stalemate about whether to opt for a sofa bed or a guest bed in your spare room? Well, fret no more – a day bed could well be the answer to your interior design conundrums!

Acting as both a sofa and a bed, day beds are an extremely popular purchase for those looking to make the most out of their living and sleeping spaces. But what exactly is a day bed? In this blog, we've pulled together everything you need to know about these trusted and versatile multifunctional pieces of furniture. 

What is a day bed?

In short, a day bed is a piece of furniture which doubles up as both a bed and a sofa. A classic day bed looks more like a sofa than a traditional bed and typically comes with a three-sided headboard which wraps around the outside to envelope an inviting, cosy space within.

The day bed's multi-purpose functionality is a key reason for its popularity in the modern day home as it can provide an extra seating space in a living area and effortlessly turn into an extra bed whenever needed. Day beds are said to have been around since Ancient Egyptian times and were as popular then as they are today due to their versatility of being a great addition to a living space and providing a comfy place for guests and residents alike to relax. 

How big are day beds?

Like regular beds, day beds can come in all shapes and sizes. However, a typical day bed will be the same size as a single or twin bed – about 90 x 190cm. Just remember to make sure you measure your space before you start searching for that perfect fit!

Are day beds for children?

Day beds are a great option for a child's bedroom, particularly for rooms that are on the smaller side and short on floor space. The dual purpose of the day bed can create a space for kids to relax in without a separate sofa taking up valuable room. When the day bed transforms into a sleep station, the twin bed size will still be ample room for younger kids as they drift off into the land of nod. That's not to say that day beds are only for children, adult day beds are definitely a thing too!

Do day beds have storage?

Some day beds come with underbed storage, providing an extra couple of drawers to tidy away any spare blankets or bedding. However, some day beds come with a trundle bed underneath, meaning your sofa can transform to accommodate any sleepovers!

For more information on how to maximise underbed storage why not take a look at our blog containing all the Tips for organising your underbed storage or if trundle beds have piqued your interest, head on over to our Trundle Bed Guide!

Benefits and features of day beds

If you’re on the fence about whether a day bed might be for you, check out our favourite benefits of these handy sleeping setups below.

Versatility

Not only can day beds complement a variety of different rooms in the home, but they serve a dual purpose by acting as seating in the day and as a bed during the night. They make for the perfect guest bed.

Space-saving

The beauty of day beds is that they combine two pieces of bulky furniture into one. You won’t have to worry about squeezing a sofa and a bed into your spare room as a day bed acts as both without sacrificing any comfort!

Designs and styles

From different colours, wood finishes, metals, aesthetic designs and trundle options, there are so many different day bed designs and styles to choose from to suit your decor and please your inner interior designer.

Comfort and support

Contemporary day beds are designed with comfort at the fore, providing a restful and cosy night’s sleep on a solid bed frame with a proper mattress for optimum support. 

Factors to consider when choosing a day bed

Size and dimensions

As with any new piece of furniture, before you commit to buying, measure up your space to be sure your new day bed will comfortably fit in your room. If you’re worried about available floor space, you can maximise the potential of your new furniture by opting for a day bed with built-in storage. Some come with drawers, in-built shelving, or even a trundle bed for another sleeping space.

Mattress quality

Day beds are traditionally built to house a UK single size mattress (90cm x 190cm). This makes them larger than most sofa beds and means you can invest in a higher quality mattress to ensure the best comfort and support for whoever is sleeping on it night after night.

Frame durability

As day beds can be used as both a bed and a sofa, it’s crucial you opt for a model that is as sturdy as it is stylish. At Time4Sleep, our day bed frames are made from only the best, high quality materials to ensure their longevity for years to come.

Aesthetics

Before you start to browse different day bed styles, take your existing decor into consideration first. You want them to work together, not against each other after all! If you have a French seaside aesthetic in your space, why not opt for a white wooden frame to add to the wistful elegance of your room? Or if your spare bedroom is ultra minimalist and modern, why not go for a smooth-lined metal design instead?

Price range and budget

It’s important to keep in mind when buying a day bed that the mattress is not included in the price – you will need to buy this separately. So, before settling on a decision, be sure to have a look for a suitable mattress and assess the associated cost ahead of choosing your daybed to stay within budget and get the most bang for your buck!

The best day beds for your home

If you are in the market for a day bed, then you have come to the right place.  

For those searching for a sleek and stylish addition to a living area or bedroom, look no further than the Hampton Day Bed. Manufactured from solid rubber wood and finished in a stunning and contemporary white paint, the Hampton Day Bed is a versatile and environmentally friendly piece of furniture which would serve well in any lounge and as a main bed. If you would prefer to add more sleeping areas to your space, you could also upgrade to the Hampton Day Bed with Guest Underbed which provides a trundle bed that can be effortlessly glided out whenever the occasion calls for an extra bed.

The light beige of the Sanderson Natural Oak Upholstered Day Bed combined with the sleek and modern frame mean that this day bed suits a range of decor choices. The sofa-like design makes this a discrete and stylish addition to a living space, whilst the bed frame houses a neatly hidden trundle bed which is ready to roll out at a moment’s notice. Convenient and versatile, this is a day bed that will look great in any room.

For a more modern design, our Esprit Fossil Grey Upholstered Day Bed would be right at home in any contemporary location. Upholstered in an alluring fossil grey fabric, this day bed is naturally stylish and also provides a comfortable, multi-functioning space whether it's needed as a seating area or a comfortable bed for overnight guests. 

Comparisons with sofa beds

While both day beds and sofa beds combine sleeping and seating space, there are differences between each of these designs that set them apart from one another. The clues here can be found in their names; day beds tend to look more like beds than sofas, and sofa beds look more like sofas than beds! So, first of all you must ask yourself what you want from your new guest bed. Will it primarily be used as a seating or sleeping option?

If you’re after more of a sleeping option, we would recommend a day bed. Not only can they accommodate a comfortable single mattress, with some models even housing a trundle bed too, they look modern and stylish and work wonderfully in small spaces. However, it should be noted that mattresses are not usually included in the cost of a day bed, you will need to purchase a new mattress yourself.

Or, if you’re after another seating option in your home that will occasionally be used as a bed, a sofa bed would be more fitting. They appear as a normal sofa and can be easily folded out into a bed when need be, can be used in a variety of different rooms and sofa beds include their mattresses in the cost. However, sofa beds are often smaller than day beds when it comes to sleep space with thinner and less comfortable mattresses. They are fantastic for occasional use, but if you will have someone sleeping on your new bed regularly, we would recommend a day bed as the more suitable option.

Tips for using and maintaining day beds

If you want your day bed to have a long and prosperous life, you need to make sure you take care of it from day one. From setup and assembly to regular cleaning and strict no-jumping rules, a little bit of TLC throughout the years will keep your day bed looking as gorgeous and feeling as comfy as it did on the day it was delivered.

When it comes to assembly, all of our day beds come with a handy assembly guide to help you through each stage of the process. For an example, you can download our assembly guide for the Hampton Day Bed here. As a general rule of thumb however, for any bed assembly, we would recommend you first read the instructions a few times over and prepare your space so you have enough room to work in. After doing this, be sure to check you have all the materials and tools you need to proceed, before following each step-by-step instruction throughout the build. To avoid any damage to the frame, we also recommend you only use the tools listed in the manual rather than any power tools which could void your warranty.

To maintain your day bed’s stunning appearance and keep it healthy, a little clean every now and then goes a long way. To clean the frame, we would recommend using a sponge or soft brush to gently wipe the frame with a warm water solution of mild dish soap, before letting it air dry. You can then give it a good vacuum to catch any leftover debris, as well as hoovering the mattress and any other upholstery to remove any lingering dirt and germs. For more tips on how to keep your mattress looking brand new, have a read of our blog about How to Clean Your Mattress.

Looking for more style tips?

If you are looking for more tips on how to style your bedroom or which bed to buy, check out the Time4Sleep Blog Page for everything from Botanical Bedroom Ideas to How to Style a Dressing Table.