Day Beds: A UK Buying Guide to Sizes, Storage and Trundles
A day bed is a sofa by day and a proper bed by night, which makes it one of the most useful pieces of furniture you can own. It turns a box room, home office or teenager’s bedroom into a guest room in seconds, and with a storage drawer or pull-out trundle underneath it works even harder. In this guide we explain what a day bed is, how it compares with a sofa bed, which size to choose and how to style it.
Published 29 October 2026 by Hush My Bed, Birmingham
Quick answers
- What is it? A single bed with a back and two arms, so it looks and works like a sofa during the day.
- Comfortable for adults? Yes. A 3ft day bed takes the same 190 x 90cm mattress as a standard single bed.
- Need storage? Choose a day bed with a pull-out drawer.
- Need a spare bed? Choose a day bed with a pull-out trundle, so it sleeps two.
- Delivery: normally within 2 weeks of your order; free to mainland UK addresses.
What is a day bed?
A day bed is a single bed framed on three sides: a backrest along the long side and an arm at each end. With cushions against the back it becomes a deep, comfortable sofa for reading, relaxing or watching TV. At night you simply move the cushions and sleep on it like any other bed.
Because the mattress sits inside the frame, a day bed always looks neat, even when it is made up as a bed. That is why it is so popular for rooms that have to do two jobs.
Day bed or sofa bed?
Both give you seating and a spare bed, but they work in very different ways:
| Day bed | Sofa bed | |
|---|---|---|
| Mattress | A real single mattress, the same as a normal bed | Usually a thin, folding mattress |
| Setting up for the night | Move the cushions and it is ready | Fold out the mechanism every time |
| Every-night use | Yes, it is a proper bed | Best for the odd night |
| Storage | Optional drawer underneath | Rarely |
| Sleeps | One, or two with a trundle | Usually two, on a double fold-out |
If the bed will be slept in often, or every night, a day bed is the more comfortable choice. If you need a full double for occasional guests in a living room, a sofa bed may suit you better.
Day bed with storage or with a trundle?
Most of the decision comes down to what you want underneath.
A day bed with a storage drawer
The Basil day bed has a jumbo drawer on castors that pulls out from underneath. It is ideal for spare duvets, pillows and towels for guests, or for toys and clothes in a child’s room. The drawer arrives fully assembled, ready to use.
A day bed with a pull-out trundle
The Noa day bed hides a second bed underneath. The trundle glides out on castors when guests arrive and slides away again in the morning, so one day bed sleeps two. It is perfect for sleepovers, visiting grandchildren and small guest rooms. The trundle arrives fully assembled.
Both designs have a fluted backrest, plain padded arms and solid wooden slats, and both are handmade to order in our Birmingham workshop. See them side by side in our day beds collection.
Day bed sizes
We make our day beds in two UK sizes. The arms stand 100cm high, and the 2ft6 and 3ft frames are built around a standard 190cm long mattress:
| Size | Frame width | Day bed mattress | Trundle mattress (Noa) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2ft6 Small Single | 84cm | 190 x 75cm, 24cm deep | 190 x 75cm, 20cm deep |
| 3ft Single | 100cm | 190 x 90cm, 24cm deep | 190 x 90cm, 20cm deep |
Frame length is 210cm for the Basil and 203cm for the Noa. Full dimensions are on each product page.
Which size? The 2ft6 Small Single suits box rooms and younger children. The 3ft Single is the better choice for adults, teenagers and anyone who will sleep on it regularly. Check how much room each size needs in our UK bed sizes guide.
How much space does a day bed need?
- Against the wall: a day bed is designed to sit with its back against a wall, so it takes up little more floor than a single bed.
- In front: leave clear floor in front for the drawer or trundle to pull out. As a rough guide, allow about a metre so you can open it and still step around it.
- Under a window: the 100cm arms and back sit low enough for most windowsills, which makes a day bed a good fit for a bay or a short wall.
Choosing the right mattress
A day bed is only as comfortable as its mattress. Use a proper mattress at the depth recommended for the frame: 24cm for the day bed and 20cm for the Noa trundle. A mattress that is too deep sits above the backrest and looks untidy; one that is too thin will not give enough support for a night’s sleep. Browse our mattresses, or call us and we will help you find the right fit.
Where a day bed works best
- Home office: a sofa for breaks during the week, a guest bed at the weekend.
- Box room or small spare room: seating and a bed in the footprint of one single.
- Teenager’s bedroom: somewhere to sit with friends that does not look like a bed, with a trundle for sleepovers.
- Child’s bedroom: the arms and back help stop pillows and little ones rolling off.
- Snug or reading nook: a deep, cosy seat to stretch out on.
Short of space everywhere? See our small bedroom ideas for more space-saving tips.
How to style a day bed as a sofa
- Add back cushions. Two or three large square cushions against the backrest give you sofa depth. Use 60cm or 65cm cushions for a 3ft day bed.
- Add bolsters at the arms. Round bolster cushions make the ends comfortable to lean on.
- Use a fitted cover or a throw. A fitted mattress cover in a colour that matches the frame looks smart, and a folded throw adds texture.
- Keep the bedding in the drawer. With the Basil, the duvet and pillows go straight into the drawer each morning, so the room looks like a living space again.
Choosing a fabric
A day bed gets sat on every day, so choose a fabric that suits how you will use it:
- Smooth Velvet: rich and elegant, and it shows off the fluted backrest beautifully.
- Atlanta Soft Teddy: warm and cosy, a favourite for children’s rooms and snugs.
- Chenille: soft and hard-wearing, practical for busy family rooms.
- Linen-Textured and Wool-Textured Tweed: relaxed, natural looks for home offices and guest rooms.
We also have other fabric ranges available to special order. Call us on 0121 630 7005 to ask. Colours change under different lighting, so order free fabric samples first, and read our guide to our fabric collections.
Day bed buying checklist
- Measure the wall and allow about a metre in front for a drawer or trundle
- Choose 3ft for adults and regular sleeping, 2ft6 for small rooms and younger children
- Decide what goes underneath: storage drawer or trundle
- Buy a proper mattress at the recommended depth
- Check the fabric with free samples
- Look for solid wooden slats and a handmade frame
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a day bed and a sofa bed?
A day bed is a single bed with a back and arms, using a real mattress, so it is ready to sleep on as soon as you move the cushions. A sofa bed folds out from a sofa and usually has a thinner mattress, so it is better for occasional use.
Are day beds comfortable for adults?
Yes. Our 3ft day beds take a standard 190 x 90cm single mattress, the same size as a normal single bed, so they are comfortable for adults to sleep on every night.
Can a day bed sleep two people?
Yes, if it has a trundle. The Noa day bed has a pull-out trundle guest bed underneath, so one person sleeps on the day bed and one on the trundle.
What size mattress does a day bed need?
Our 2ft6 day beds take a 190 x 75cm mattress and our 3ft day beds take a 190 x 90cm mattress, both 24cm deep. The Noa trundle takes a 20cm deep mattress in the same width as the day bed.
Do your day beds need assembling?
The main day bed frame has a quick, simple assembly. The Basil storage drawer and the Noa trundle are both supplied fully assembled on castors.
See our day beds in person
Visit our factory showroom at 24 Athole Street, Highgate, Birmingham, B12 0DA to sit on a day bed, pull out the trundle and feel our fabrics, or call 0121 630 7005. Every day bed is made to order in Birmingham. Delivery is normally within 2 weeks of your order. Delivery is free to mainland UK addresses.
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