How To Make A Daybed Look Like A Couch (6 Ways To Do It!)

Upgraded Home Team
by Upgraded Home Team

Often some spaces need to serve multiple roles. Whether for a small space or for guests that sometimes pop by, sleeping space is a must. However, this sleeping space shouldn’t be just designed for sleeping but also for relaxing during the day.

One piece of furniture that was made for this need was the daybed. This type of furniture is a cross between a lounging chair, bed, and a couch and is very useful. So, how do you make a daybed look like a couch?

If you want to make a daybed look like a couch, you will need to cover the legs first. Next, you will need to decorate it like a couch with pillows and other decors of choice. Then, you will want to make the surrounding area look like it is a couch by placing end tables and a coffee table. Last, you may want to add an Ottoman, which is like a footstool or extra seat. Added with the depth of a couch, the daybed will look just like a couch.

What Are Daybeds?

Daybeds are typically a twin mattress that is designed to be used in a lounge area, bedroom, or living space. The type of room depends on the owner’s wishes for the use. They can be made out of metal, wood, or a combination of the two.

Typically, the support system or the comfortable part of the daybed is the mattress. It does not have to be a traditional style mattress, but that is the most common. These beds can be put inside or outside, and they can also be hung.

This means that there is a world of possibilities for your daybed. One of them is a couch. Learn out how to convert the daybed into a couch by following the steps below.

Step 1: Cover the Legs of the Daybed

Usually, daybeds have feet or a bottom that resembles a bed frame. This is very practical for a bed look but less so for a couch look. One way to help address this issue is by covering the legs.

It is effortless to do, and you need a piece of fabric longer than the bed or a bed skirt. If you are using a bed skirt, follow the instructions that come with the packaging to attach. If you are using a piece of fabric, remove the mattress, lay the fabric over the box spring. Adjust so that the fabric covers the legs, and put the mattress back.

Both of these methods will cover the bottom of the bed and make it look more like the structure of a couch. It is also a customizable option. So you can decide what the fabric or bed skirt looks like in order to best match your design.

Step 2: Decorate the Daybed Like a Couch

Surroundings are everything in home decor. Use decoration to convert your daybed as if you are decorating a couch area.

If you decorate the area to look like a bed, then it will be more challenging to convert the appearance. If you add decor that is similar to the decor that you might find in a living room, this will help.

Examples of this decor would be end tables with lamps and potted plants. An end table on each side of the bed carries the appearance of a couch. These are simply ideas that look great in any space because of how customizable and adjustable they are.

Step 3: Place End Tables On Each Side of the Daybed

End tables are vital tools to making the space feel more like a living area. This type of table allows guests to have a place to set phones, drinks, etc. It also makes the space feel more intentional and gives the daybed more reality as a couch.

The end tables sandwich in the couch and help frame it as a focal point of the room. They can do the same for a daybed.

Be careful that you select end tables that do not look too much like bedroom furniture. If they look too much like bedroom furniture or side tables, the space will begin to feel more like a daybed than a couch.

Step 4: Add Pillows and Blankets To Make the Daybed Feel Like a Couch

This might seem like the opposite of what you should do, but it will help. It is dependent on choosing the right pillows.

Choosing smaller pillows that look like they should be on a bed will make it harder to get that couch look. The trick is to use larger pillows that resemble the cushions of a couch. Take these pillows and line them up against the back of the daybed.

It will give you the characteristics of a couch. Adding a nice throw blanket on the end can also help disguise your daybed. In addition to adding large pillows, consider adding bolster pillows on the end to replicate the arms of a couch.

Step 5: Include a Coffee Table

Coffee tables are essential to the atmosphere of a living room. It provides an area that allows people to gather and spend time together.

Adding a coffee table in front of the daybed will help create this environment and further hide the daybed legs. It will give your guests enough space to relax, which is precisely what a couch is for.

Try to avoid tables that look like they might be designed for a bedroom and instead choose tables that look like they should be with a couch.

Step 6: Try Out an Ottoman For the Added Comfort of a Couch

An ottoman can help make a room feel more open and inviting, which is key to creating your couch/daybed. By placing an ottoman near the daybed, you are inviting your guests to sit, kick up their feet, and relax.

It is extremely important that you choose an ottoman that is comfortable and matches the design of the room. If the ottoman does not match, it can give away the fact that you are trying to make your daybed look and feel like a couch. It will make it look like it does not belong.

Why the Depth Is So Important

The earlier mentioned pillows aren’t just for looks and decoration. They help with the fact that a daybed is more profound than a typical couch.

Typically, the depth of a couch will average around 22 inches. It is much shorter than the average daybed depth, which is usually approximately 39 inches deep. This means that the pillows and arrangement need to make up about 17 inches of extra space.

If the daybed is too deep, it loses some of its comfort as a couch. It will be hard to sit comfortably and get up quickly if the daybed couch is too deep. However, by layering and adjusting pillows, this problem can be easily fixed.

Location Is Everything

A daybed is usually constructed with two side panels and one long back panel. It can give your pillows some support so that it is easier to combat the depth of the daybed. However, this backing can serve another purpose, room dividing.

In a small space, studio apartment, or just a clever designer’s home, a daybed can be used to divide the space. By placing it facing the living area and away from the dining area, it creates a faux wall.

This technique will help to divide the space and make it feel like two separate rooms. It can also help the daybed feel more like a couch.

It is possible when using all of these techniques to make your daybed into a couch. Daybeds are extremely versatile, and one is waiting for you. These options will help you disguise your daybed as much or as little as you want.


Related Questions

Are daybeds and twin beds the same size?

Yes, they are as long as you are comparing an adult twin bed to an adult-sized daybed. If not, then these beds will not be the same size. They come in various sizes, and it takes shopping around to find the perfect size to fit your needs in your home.


Which Room is a Daybed Best Used?

Typically, you will see daybeds in home offices. This provides the owner space to relax and read or do work. However, this is not the only location that it can be used.It can also be used as a couch in the living room to divide the space. As well as in the guest room to accommodate overnight visitors, use the area for something else.


Does a daybed allow you to sleep well when taking a nap?

Daybeds are immensely comfortable and can be used for naps or sleeping on at night for guests. Sometimes you may find yourself falling asleep while watching a late-night movie. No problem, simply crash out right there. It sleeps just like a futon or a twin-sized bed.

Upgraded Home Team
Upgraded Home Team

We are a team of passionate homeowners, home improvement pros, and DIY enthusiasts who enjoy sharing home improvement, housekeeping, decorating, and more with other homeowners! Whether you're looking for a step-by-step guide on fixing an appliance or the cost of installing a fence, we've here to help.

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