Best Daybeds

Buying guide for shopping guide for best daybeds

Written by Michael

Updated March 2023

Daybeds have functionality to spare because they can be used as sofas or as beds. The space beneath a daybed can house a trundle bed as well. Daybeds are often used to fill a spare room, such as a playroom for kids or a guest room for overnight visitors.

Some parents buy a daybed for their child’s bedroom. Adding a trundle bed beneath the daybed creates a spot for another child to sleep as well. During the day, the trundle can be pushed back under the daybed to create more space in the room.

Who else uses daybeds? These versatile pieces of furniture are particularly useful in vacation cabins due to their space-saving nature. College students living in cramped quarters can also benefit from a bed that doubles as a place to sit during those marathon study sessions.

Regardless of your particular need, we can help you find the daybed you’re looking for. Read on for more information about daybeds.

Throws and other plush blankets can help transform a daybed to make it look like a deep couch.

Key considerations

Purpose and location

Why do you want a daybed, and where will you put it once you get it? The answers to these questions may impact the kind of daybed you get. For example, if you’re buying a daybed for a child’s room, you definitely want one with a solid bottom on the trundle in case you decide to use it to store toys. If you’re hoping to place it in the living room where it can be used for overnight guests as well as for everyday sitting, you may want to choose one that looks more couch-like when it’s not in sleep mode.

Are you going to be putting it flush against the wall or out in the middle of the room? Given that daybeds tend to be small, they can fit into reading nooks or small alcoves. Because daybeds can be used in so many different ways, think about how you intend to use it before buying it.

Sitting

If you intend to use the daybed primarily for sitting, you won’t have to worry about trundle beds or sheets. Instead, you can focus on slipcovers and comfortable throw pillows to give you something to lean back against. But because the daybed does have a mattress on it, you can curl up with a good book and let yourself drift off to sleep, too.

Sleeping

If the main reason you’re getting a daybed is for extra sleeping space, keep in mind that daybeds normally use twin-size mattresses. There are some full-size and queen-size daybeds, but twin is the normal size. You’ll need twin-size sheets, comforters, and pillows. You might get some inexpensive throw pillows to put on it during the day as decoration.

Style

There are three primary daybed styles, and there are a number of variations on each of those styles. You’ll likely want to make sure your selection matches the rest of your furniture or décor.

• Mission-style daybeds are almost always made of wood with vertical slats in the arms and back. The wood may be stained to various finishes and colors. Mission-style daybeds function mainly as sofas.

• Sleigh-style daybeds usually have solid ends and a solid back. Like mission-style daybeds, these beds are usually made of wood, and their primary function is that of a sofa. Occasionally, of course, this type of daybed can also serve as a sleeping bed.

• Victorian-style daybeds are often made of wrought iron — or at the very least, they have a wrought iron appearance. In contrast to mission and sleigh-style daybeds, these daybeds are mainly used for sleeping. Why not sitting? Well, unless you have very firm couch pillows, they will most likely slip through the wide open spaces between the metal rods at the back of the bed. In that case, you may find yourself leaning back on hard metal rods.

Features

Trundles

A trundle bed is a rolling bed that fits under a daybed. Sometimes, you can purchase a trundle along with the daybed; other times, it’s a separate purchase. As mentioned, a trundle provides additional sleeping space that can be tucked away when not in use. This is very useful for kids who might have sleepovers and for guest rooms in which there might be more than one sleeping guest.

Most wooden trundles have a flat bottom. Instead of buying a mattress for it, you can use it as an additional storage drawer that tucks under the daybed. Metal trundles normally don’t have a solid bottom, however; keep this in mind if you’re considering a trundle for storage purposes.

Ease of use

Daybeds are generally very easy to use. In fact, this is one of their main attractions. Even a child can turn a daybed into a couch and vise-versa. The trundles are easy to use because there are no hinges or latches to worry about. You just pull them out when you need them and push them back again when you’re done.

Construction material

Daybeds are usually made of metal or wood, although some are wicker or are upholstered with leather. Metal daybeds rarely have a solid back, but wooden daybeds often do. The material with which a daybed is made may influence how you use it. Because a metal daybed likely doesn’t have a solid back, it probably wouldn’t make a good sofa. A wooden daybed, on the other hand, could easily double as a sofa.

Weight

Wooden daybeds are solid and heavy. Once assembled, you’re probably going to want to leave it in place for an extended period.

If you move frequently or simply like changing your furniture around from time to time, a metal daybed might be better for you. These beds generally don’t weigh as much, and they have more handholds to grab onto when you’re moving them.

Daybed prices

Inexpensive: Low-cost daybeds tend to hover between $100 and $200; sometimes, the price climbs up to $250. An inexpensive daybed may not have a back, which wouldn’t be ideal for sofa use. Other beds in this price range may not have a trundle bed beneath them. Of course, you could look into buying a trundle separately if you really wanted one.

Mid-range: The mid-range price for daybeds lies between $250 and $500. These beds may be made of metal or wood. A few at the top of the price range are upholstered with fabric. Many, but not all, daybeds in this price range include a trundle as part of the package.

Expensive: Larger daybeds in the queen-size range, with an included trundle, can run over $500, with some fetching more than $800. Padded ends and backs with tufted upholstery are found in this price range, too. They tend to be higher off the ground than other daybeds, but the trundle bed will still be a twin size.

Tips

• Couch pillows or large throw pillows are ideal for use on a daybed to transform it into a usable couch.

• In a small apartment or tight living quarters, a trundle beneath a daybed is an excellent place for storing towels, bedding, out-of-season clothing, and more.

• A daybed can be positioned as a room divider. Without the trundle under it, it will simply look like a deep couch that can be placed anywhere you like.

With two rows of throw pillows to provide back support, a daybed can double as a sofa.

FAQ

Q. Do daybeds have slats or solid bottoms?

A. Daybeds have slats, just like regular beds do.

Q. Does the trundle have a solid bottom?

A. It depends on the type of bed you get. Wood trundles normally have a solid bottom. Metal ones normally don’t.

Q. Can the trundle be used for storage instead of sleeping?

A. Absolutely. In fact, many people don’t bother getting a mattress for the trundle at all.

Q. How does the trundle connect to the daybed?

A. It doesn’t connect at all. It just rolls back and forth from underneath it.

Q. Do daybeds have box springs?

A. No. They only have a mattress, which is usually purchased separately.