Day Beds Buying Guide | How to Choose the Right Day Bed
A day bed can be one of the most versatile pieces of bedroom furniture. See also our earlier Buyers Guide: Day Beds.
Unlike a conventional bed, a day bed is designed to work during the daytime as well as at night. Depending on the design, it can provide somewhere to sit, relax, read or socialise while also providing a comfortable place to sleep.
Some day beds also incorporate storage drawers, shelving or pull-out trundle beds, making them particularly useful in smaller bedrooms and guest rooms. Our Beds with Sleepover Beds guide covers trundle options in more depth.
This guide explains the different types of day beds available and what to consider before choosing one.
What Is a Day Bed?
A day bed is a bed designed to look and function more like a piece of seating furniture during the day.
Many day beds have a back and/or side panels, allowing cushions to be placed against them so the bed can be used as a sofa or lounging area.
At night, the same piece of furniture provides a sleeping surface.
Depending on the design, a day bed may also include:
- Storage drawers
- Shelves
- A pull-out trundle
- A second mattress
- Additional sleeping space
- Cupboards
- Bedding storage
This makes day beds particularly versatile.
Why Choose a Day Bed?
A day bed can provide several functions in one piece of furniture.
It can be used as:
A bed at night
and:
A sofa or seating area during the day.
This can be particularly useful in:
- Children's bedrooms
- Teenagers' bedrooms
- Spare bedrooms
- Guest rooms
- Small bedrooms
- Home offices
- Multi-purpose rooms
A day bed can also be a good solution where you don't want to have a conventional bed dominating the room during the day.
Day Beds for Children's Bedrooms
Day beds can work particularly well in children's bedrooms.
During the day, the bed can become somewhere to sit and read, relax or play.
At night, it becomes the child's bed.
Some children's day beds also have drawers or pull-out guest beds underneath, providing additional functionality.
When choosing a day bed for a child, consider:
- Age suitability
- Mattress size
- Storage requirements
- Whether a guest bed is required
- Available bedroom space
- How long you expect the bed to be used
Day Beds for Teenagers
A day bed can be particularly attractive to teenagers because it gives them somewhere to sit during the day without needing a separate sofa.
It can become a place to:
- Read
- Relax
- Listen to music
- Use a phone or tablet
- Chat with friends
- Watch television
- Play games
A day bed with a trundle can also provide a convenient solution when friends stay overnight.
For teenagers, consider whether you need additional storage as well.
If so, a day bed with drawers or shelves may be preferable.
Day Beds for Adults
Day beds can also be useful for adults.
They can work particularly well in:
- Spare bedrooms
- Guest rooms
- Home offices
- Conservatories
- Smaller bedrooms
- Multi-purpose rooms
A day bed can provide somewhere to sit during the day and a guest bed when required.
If the room is primarily a guest bedroom, a day bed with a pull-out trundle can provide additional sleeping capacity.
Day Beds with Storage
A day bed with storage is an excellent option when you want to combine flexible sleeping and seating with additional storage. Our Beds with Storage Buying Guide covers the wider range of storage options.
Storage may take the form of:
- Drawers
- Shelves
- Cupboards
- Under-bed compartments
Storage drawers can be used for:
- Bedding
- Clothes
- Toys
- Books
- Shoes
- Games
A day bed with storage can therefore be particularly useful in smaller rooms where a separate chest of drawers would take up too much space.
Day Beds with Trundle Beds
One of the most useful features available on some day beds is a pull-out trundle bed.
A trundle is stored underneath the main bed when not required and can be pulled out to create an additional sleeping surface.
This can be particularly useful for:
- Children's sleepovers
- Teenagers having friends stay
- Guest bedrooms
- Visiting family
- Holiday homes
When buying a day bed with a trundle, check whether the lower section is supplied with a mattress or whether one needs to be purchased separately.
Also check whether the trundle is designed to be used as a bed every night or primarily as an occasional guest bed.
Day Beds with Drawers
Some day beds combine the main sleeping area with storage drawers underneath.
This can be a particularly practical configuration because the space underneath the bed is used for storage rather than being left unused.
Drawers are useful for items that you want to access regularly.
For example:
- Clothes
- Toys
- Books
- Bedding
- School equipment
Check how far the drawers need to extend and make sure there is enough clear floor space.
Day Beds with Shelves
Shelving can provide another useful storage option.
A day bed with shelves can give you somewhere to keep:
- Books
- Decorations
- Toys
- Personal belongings
- Bedtime essentials
Shelves can also help create a more sofa-like appearance and make the bed feel like part of the room's overall furniture.
Day Beds for Small Bedrooms
A day bed can be particularly useful in a smaller bedroom because it can provide both seating and sleeping space. Our Best Bed for Small Bedrooms guide has more comparisons.
Instead of having:
Bed + sofa
you can have:
Day bed = bed + seating
And with the right model, you could potentially have:
Day bed + storage + guest bed
This makes day beds a useful option where every centimetre of floor space matters.
Day Beds Under Windows
Day beds can work particularly well beneath or alongside windows.
A low-profile day bed can create a comfortable seating area in front of a window while still providing a sleeping space.
However, check the dimensions carefully.
Before positioning a day bed under a window, consider:
- Window height
- Radiators
- Curtains
- Window opening
- Bed height
- Access to the window
- Natural light
- Ventilation
Don't position furniture where it prevents windows, doors or heating controls from being safely accessed.
Day Beds Next to Windows
A day bed doesn't necessarily need to sit directly underneath a window.
Positioning it alongside a window can create a comfortable seating area while leaving access to the window unobstructed.
This can be particularly useful in bedrooms with awkward layouts or bay windows.
Measure the available wall space carefully before choosing the bed.
Day Beds in Guest Rooms
A day bed can be an excellent choice for a spare bedroom that isn't used exclusively for guests.
During normal days, the room can function as:
- Home office
- Reading room
- Hobby room
- Study
- Relaxation space
When guests arrive, the day bed becomes a proper sleeping area.
A trundle model can provide even more flexibility when two guests need somewhere to sleep.
Day Bed or Sofa Bed?
Day beds and sofa beds both provide flexible sleeping and seating, but they work differently. Our Beds with Sofas Buying Guide covers sofa bed options in more detail.
A sofa bed is primarily designed as a sofa and transforms into a bed when required.
A day bed is generally built around a permanent mattress and is designed to function as both a bed and seating area.
Choose a day bed if:
- You want a permanent sleeping surface
- You like the appearance of a bed
- You want built-in storage
- You want a trundle
- The bed will be used regularly
Choose a sofa bed if:
- Seating is the main priority
- Sleeping is occasional
- You want a conventional sofa appearance
- You don't want a bed occupying the room permanently
Day Bed vs Captains Bed
A captains bed and a day bed can sometimes look similar, particularly when both include storage.
The main difference is their intended function.
Captains bed
Primarily:
Sleeping + storage
Day bed
Primarily:
Sleeping + daytime seating
Some products combine characteristics of both, which is why the terminology can sometimes overlap.
If you mainly need storage, look at captains beds and storage beds.
If you want the bed to double as seating, a day bed is likely to be the better choice.
See our buying guide to Captains Beds for more
Day Beds with Storage vs Separate Furniture
One of the biggest benefits of a day bed with storage is that it can reduce the need for additional furniture.
For example:
Conventional arrangement:
Bed + sofa + chest of drawers
could potentially become:
Day bed with storage:
Bed + seating + drawers
This can make a significant difference in a smaller room.
What Mattress Does a Day Bed Need?
Always check the individual product specifications. Our Children's Mattress Buying Guide explains mattress sizes and depth for every bed type in full.
Many children's day beds use a single mattress, but the exact dimensions can vary.
Common single mattress sizes include:
90 × 190cm
and:
90 × 200cm
Some day beds may require a small double, double or another mattress size.
Never assume that a day bed takes a standard UK single mattress simply because it is described as a single bed.
Does a Day Bed Come with a Mattress?
This depends on the individual product.
Some beds are supplied without a mattress, while others may have a mattress available as an optional extra or package.
Always check the product description before ordering.
If a day bed has a trundle, also check whether the trundle mattress is included or needs to be purchased separately.
What Size Room Do You Need for a Day Bed?
There isn't one minimum room size for every day bed.
The important thing is to measure the specific bed and allow additional space around it.
Remember to account for:
- Walking space
- Drawer opening
- Trundle extension
- Doors
- Wardrobes
- Windows
- Radiators
- Other furniture
If the bed has a pull-out trundle, measure the room with the trundle fully extended.
Choosing a Day Bed for Sleepovers
If sleepovers are an important consideration, look for a day bed with a pull-out guest bed or trundle.
This allows the second mattress to remain underneath the main bed when it isn't required.
Check:
- Trundle mattress size
- Maximum mattress depth
- Whether the trundle is included
- Whether the second mattress is included
- How far the trundle extends
- Whether there is sufficient room to pull it out
This can be an excellent solution for children's and teenagers' bedrooms.
Choosing a Day Bed for Storage
If storage is more important than additional sleeping space, choose a model with drawers or cupboards.
Think about what you need to store.
For clothes:
Drawers
For books:
Shelves
For bulky bedding:
Larger storage compartments
For occasional guest bedding:
Under-bed storage
Choosing storage based on what you actually need to keep will make the bed more useful.
What Should You Check Before Buying a Day Bed?
Before ordering, check:
- Overall bed dimensions
- Mattress size
- Mattress depth
- Recommended age
- Maximum user weight
- Storage dimensions
- Drawer opening
- Trundle dimensions
- Trundle mattress requirements
- Whether a mattress is included
- Whether assembly is required
- Available space around the bed
- Whether the bed can be positioned under a window
- Whether doors, windows and radiators remain accessible
Day Beds Buying Checklist
Before buying your day bed:
- Do you want seating and sleeping in one?
- Is storage required?
- Do you need a trundle bed?
- Will the bed be used every night?
- Is it for a child, teenager or adult?
- What mattress size is required?
- Is the mattress included?
- Does the room have enough space?
- Can drawers open fully?
- Can the trundle extend fully?
- Is there a window behind or beside the bed?
- Are there radiators nearby?
- Does the bed fit around existing furniture?
Are Day Beds a Good Choice?
For the right room, a day bed can be an extremely practical choice.
It combines the function of a bed with a more relaxed seating arrangement, while some designs also provide storage or additional sleeping space.
They can be particularly useful for children, teenagers, guest rooms and smaller bedrooms.
If you regularly have friends or family staying, a day bed with a trundle can provide a particularly flexible solution.
Final Thoughts
A day bed can provide much more flexibility than a conventional bed.
During the day, it can provide somewhere to sit, relax or read. At night, it provides a comfortable sleeping space. Add storage drawers or a pull-out trundle and it can become an even more practical solution for smaller bedrooms.
When choosing your day bed, think about how you will actually use it.
If you need seating and sleeping, a day bed could be ideal.
If you need storage and sleeping, a captains bed may be more appropriate.
If you need an additional guest sleeping space, look for a day bed with a trundle.
And if you need several functions together, look for a multifunctional design that combines sleeping, seating, storage and guest accommodation.
For more information about the storage-focused alternative, see our Captains Beds Buying Guide.