How to Dress Your Daybed

A daybed is a wonderfully versatile piece of furniture, working equally well as a bed, a sofa, a napping spot or an extra seat. A daybed can also prove to be a bit confusing to dress — do you make it like a bed, get a special daybed cover or just throw a bunch of pillows on it? How to dress your daybed depends on what sort of daybed you have, plus how you typically use it.

If You Use Your Daybed as a Sofa

Add comfort to an open-backed daybed with bolsters and pillows. This type of daybed looks elegant floated in the center of the room. Make it more inviting to sit on by adding a pair of bolsters that match the daybed upholstery, plus a few large square pillows in a complementary hue.


To bring in another layer of softness, wrap a throw snugly around the middle of the daybed mattress, tucking the ends neatly underneath.

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Drape a streamlined daybed with a cozy throw. If you have a backless daybed with low sides, it may not look right with bolsters and a bunch of pillows. Simply drape a supersoft throw casually across it to make a tempting seat.


Modern daybeds like the one shown here may come with a single bolster already attached. Adding pillows here just wouldn’t look right; if you want to add something, make it a throw.


Plump up a hard-backed daybed with bountiful pillows. A daybed with a carved wood back is just begging for a bunch of plump pillows to make it more comfortable. Try an assortment of sizes and patterns for an eclectic look.


Using pillows all of one size or shape also works well. Just beware of going overboard with large pillows. Too many and you won’t be able to sit down! Test the “squish factor” of the throw pillows before deciding how many to buy — down-filled pillows typically have more give than synthetic ones, so they will be squashd down more when someone leans against them (meaning you may be able to fit more).


Enhance an upholstered daybed with a tailored cover. If you don’t typically use your upholstered daybed as a bed, consider having a tailored, all-in-one cover made, with matching bolsters. Contrasting piping looks especially sharp.


If You Use Your Daybed as a Bed

Dress it with crisp sheets, a folded duvet and a tailored bed skirt. Go with classic bedding, like crisp white hotel-style sheets and a matching duvet. The tailored bed skirt helps the daybed look smart. This look works well for a daybed in a guest room.


Or try sheets, a duvet and an armful of pillows. If the daybed is your bed, make it up as usual but toss on a few throw pillows at the end. And pay attention to the color of your bedding — if your bed is on view in a studio apartment or loft, make sure the bedding works with the overall color scheme.


If You Use Your Daybed as a Napping or Reading Spot

Layer on supportive and soft pillows, plus a throw. Firm pillows are good for leaning against while reading; soft bed pillows are perfect for a nap — have both on hand, and you’ll be set. And be sure to keep a warm throw blanket within reach for when you start to doze off!


This daybed looks well dressed for reading and napping, with plenty of comfortable pillows, good lighting and a table within reach for a book or a cup of tea.


If Your Daybed Serves Multiple Purposes

Try a fitted daybed mattress cover plus bolsters. A fitted mattress cover made for a daybed is not much harder to get on and off than a fitted sheet and looks much more put together than a bunch of loose bedding pieces. When it comes time to use the daybed as a bed, pull off the cover and make it up — you can even have it made with sheets under the cover, so all you’ll need to do is add a blanket.


Or drape a loose cover over sheets, with throw pillows in front of bed pillows. If you frequently use your daybed as a bed, you may not want the hassle of taking a fitted cover on and off. In that case choose a neat-looking coverlet that can do double duty as bedding. Make the daybed as a bed, putting the coverlet on top but tucking in only the back and sides. Top the daybed with bed pillows and throw pillows, and it will work as a couch until you need it again.


Place one long bolster across the back. One extra-long bolster is simpler to remove than a bunch of pillows and feels comfortable to lean against if you also like to use your daybed for reading.


Tuck in the bedding and nestle throw pillows on top. Tucking in the bedding completely is a nice compromise between leaving the sheets loose and springing for a fitted mattress cover. Throw pillows and a blanket on top add comfort — just grab a bed pillow from a closet and pull the covers back when you want to use the daybed as a bed.

More:
Flexible Furnishings: Great Ways With Daybeds
Get the Most Out of Your Space With a Daybed

Tell us: How do you use your daybed?

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