apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have a daybed, too, and I want to re-do it a bit. I have a ton of pillows on it, but my real issue is the mattress.

I bought a nice linen futon cover from West Elm to cover the mattress and that worked ok for a while. At least it made it look a bit more tailored. Now, I want to find a better solution for covering the mattress. So far, ti seems most of hte daybed covers have elastic at the bottom which can bunch up a little and make the mattress reall look like a mattress. I don't have a lip that might hide that either.

In any case, if anyone has experience covering hte mattress in anything other than a daybed mattress cover or had a cushion custom made for it, that would be wonderful info.

Thanks!

Someone just asked this in an open thread & my reply was to do what a buddy of mine's mom did many years ago for his daybed. She covered 3 of those bodyhugger pillows (the bed-length ones) with material to match the rest of the room. You could always open the pillows up and add more stuffing for short money.

Joey, that's a great idea. I've been thinking about it since you posted it before. When I was a kid my mother made custom foam bolsters for a daybed, and they were attractive, but incredibly uncomfortable and un-couch-like. The big pillow thing seems as though it would work much better.

Pottery barn actually has pillow "inserts" for pretty cheap, including bolsters and whatnot:

http://ww2.potterybarn.com/cat/pip.cfm?src=shpcprwplwins%7Crshop&pkey=cprwplwins&gids=p206

you could certainly buy a few of these for pretty cheap and then cover them in a matching fabric.

Yoga bolsters?

Very firm/supportive but comfortable.
The canvas material may not be right - but custom covers might be easy to have sewn.

http://www.huggermugger.com/productDetailServlet?M_ProductStoreCategory_ID=1000077
http://www.huggermugger.com/productDetailServlet?M_ProductStoreCategory_ID=1000091

griff,

what's wrong with the pillows from west elm? at the end of the season they clear em out! last month i saw a bunch of them for less then $10 each. not many left now but something to keep an eye out for.

Don't companies make a wedge-shaped foam piece, exactly the length of a day bed, squared in the back, slight angle in the front, specifically for the use you describe?

I want to say it is for a "California- or Hollywood-style" daybed, but I'm not sure I am remebering the name correctly.

or, spelling "remembering" correctly, for that matter...

It was precisely those wedge-shaped foam pieces that my mother used that were so uncomfortable.

I think you're channeling my husband (deceased) because he wanted us to by this bed for guests and we didn't. Now I want it. :D

My concern about the back pillows was the same. I think the body huggers are an excellent idea. Here's the Gaiam link to them. I agree the other bolsters are stiff and unyielding. Maybe a few of the Gaiam's (or similar) and a few georgeous throw pillows would do the trick.


http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=gai&category%5Fname=l3%5FPillows&product%5Fid=03%2D0182+MSTR

Apparently I am also spelling challenged.

I actually bought that same bed from West Elm a few months ago, and I bought pillows from West Elm and Ikea. The long suede bolster has been the most useful addition (on the website it's on sale for $19.99--I bought it for $59!) Since a twin mattress has a bigger seating area than a normal couch (esp with no back cusions), I keep finding myself throwing more pillows on in order to not have to lean back. I think I've spent more on pillows than the frame and mattress! (i have 14 on there now) Small pillows are cute (I bought several from West Elm), but not nearly as practical as larger, more sturdy ones. If I had it to do over, I'm not sure that I would go this route again. It's practical in theory and it's definitely stylish (esp if the back of the daybed is not against a wall), but it's not as comfortable as a couch as you'd imagine. Great for guests, though...

i have no complaints about watching tv on your couch or sleeping in your bed---ouch my back hurts.

It looks so uncomfortable...guess pillows would help.

In our guest room (which doubles as the tv room) we have a double bed against the wall. Not the most attractive right now, but it works ok. We have a ton of *real* pillows on it, and they are not that attractive (look like pillows) but in front of them, we have 3 down/feather euro sham type things (20" square) this gives you a lot of resistance, and support space, like the back cushion of a couch - plus it's 20" high, so it's the right height. Maybe that would work?

I love body pillows and have long been tempted by this bizarro super-long one called "Comfort-U" (sounds like a really low-pressure college). Googling it comes up with many iffy online stores and nothing official-looking, but my name is linked to one that at least has good pictures and a funny testimonial quote. Might not have the structure you want but would certainly be long enough to form back & sides of a sofa on a twin-size daybed.

patrick, it was called a hollywood bed, but i think a hollywood bed had another mattress under the top one that could roll out for an extra guest. no one speaks of hollywood beds anymore
and that truly saddens me (apoligies to sandra bernhard)
griff, if you will be the primary user of this daybed, you could have 2 square pillows 1 large breaking the line of the back of the bed and another a size smaller. you would have comfortale pillows to rest against and the detail of the back of the bed would not be completely covered over.

Would a futon mattress not be more comfortable for this type of setup? I've had one for the past 8 years. Actually, despite living in a tiny, tiny studio, I have ordered a 5' sofabed from Jennifer (for guests) and will next get a full-size platform with regular mattress/box spring for myself.

I don't care how tight it is in here. I'm a working woman who's earned the right to sleep well on something other than the couch.

I just bought this exact same daybed but was lucky enough to already have a profusion of pillows. So right now four regular bed pillows are lined up along the back and another six or seven other pillows are scattered around; it's fine for lounging but not a real couch replacement.

However, I used to use a twin bed with two headboards as my only couch when I lived in a studio. I got three heavier square floor pillows from BB&B for around $20 each - they were covered in a rough cotton fabric and were much more solid than down. Laying this back layer down is crucial, you should then put a softer layer of throw pillows in front of them. Using smaller pillows (and covering them if need be) also saves a lot of money over getting a larger bolster.

Trundle beds...that's the bed with the other one that rolls out for pillow fights and slumber parties.

Super reading all this since I've had my eye on this exact daybed for my office that I'm converting into an office/bedroom (moving into my office and finding a roomate to take my bedroom).

Body pillows are exactly the length of the width of a queen bed, so they make great bolsters for that.

I don't know about daybeds. They have always seemed way too deep, for me. If I had one I would just lie down on it (which is pretty much how I sit on a sofa, as well). They aren't comfortable for visitors to sit on.

Instead, I'd look at the kind of futon that folds up on its long center axis, so that one side of the mattress becomes the seat and the other side becomes the back. A peg or a mechanical system, depending on the expense of the frame, holds the back upright. All you have to do to lower it is pull the futon away from the wall a little, if it was against the wall, pull out the peg under each arm, and lower the back. On the pegless mechanical models, you don't have to worry about pulling the futon away from the wall (IIRC) - I think you just pull the bottom outwards.

Is Patrick talkin' to himself again?

Thanks so much for all the great comments and suggestions. It's a tough decision. I am thinking now about getting a leather loveseat from jennifer convertibles that pulls out into a twin bed. Not the most comfortable for sleeping, I know. But I'm thinking maybe I need to prioritize sitting over sleeping for the following reason.

My long-range plan is to turn the bedroom I am currently renting out into an office for starting my psychotherapy private practice. But I want something people can sleep on if the practice doesn't work and I need to rent the room again.

Here's the loveseat:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f210/ukulelejack/IMG_0477.jpg

If you were in therapy, would you rather sit on a loveseat or that daybed? If you were renting a room for 1-3 months, would you rather sleep on the pullout or the daybed?

Trying to do it all in one small apartment,
Griff

Bolsters used to be available at JC penny
you can buy "Hollywood" bed cover sets (two bolster covers and a matress cover at JC Penny and at Bed, bath, beyond. Some are very nice, but its out of fashion these days so its more difficult to find nice designs (Bloomingdales discontinued selling these)
I'm also looking for the round long bed size cushion for my full size bed...I haven't looked at JC Penny's website but they probably have it all for cheap

i have a west elm day bed. email me for pics of what i did....

thanks naomi, trundle beds! so hollywood bed is the two matching bolosters with a matching fitted cover for the bed.

I would highly reccomend the twilight sleep sofa from Design within Reach. It extends out to a full/queen bed and has a large bolster that adjusts to 3 angles when it is used as a couch, you get the best of all worlds! I got mine a year ago and have been very happy with it. Guests have said it is very comfortable, and you can fit four people on it as a regular sofa.

Two words: EURO SIZE - okay three- Euro size pillows (I think they are 16"X16") - that's what I've been using on my daybed. Two are down filled inserts from Pottery Barn (very puffy comfy and warm and reasonabley priced) and two are standard ones from Ikea. The rest of the area is filled out by 4 accent pillows. This seems to fill the space adequately - all have removable covers for washing and you can rearrange in various combos depending on how you want to sit (deeply, or shallowly like a couch)

where can i find a fitted twin mattress cover that is going to make this daybed look nice?

I'm glad I found this website. I measured the back of my daybed, ordered 3 20x20 pillows, and they are WAY too small. Argh! Back they go and I will now try 3 26x26 Euro Squares. If that doesn't work, all that's left are 30x30s. Sigh!!! I need this project to be finished before my houseguest arrives on May 11th. Panic!!!!

In case anyone is still interested...I found reasonably priced foam bolsters at: http://www.foamfabbed.com. The 36" long ones are $36.95. Two of these would be enough to stretch across the length of a daybed & shipping is free.

this is what's on our new daybed:

-a memory foam mattress, to die for -- no futon flipping, or hard edge under the knees from traditional mattresses. we don't regret one cent!
-two 9x36" bolsters from JCPenney -- great length, do not recommend, as not well stuffed. Get what you pay for, but comfy enough to pad the sides. we originally thought they'd go at the back, but they offer no support, just cushiness.
-three 26"x26" feather Euro king pillows. very supportive, sometimes used two deep. three are enough at the back with the side bolsters.
-four matching 14"x14" accent pillows.

as for mattress cover, we have a mattress protector and regular fitted bedsheet for now, but are looking at orvis.com or westelm's mattress covers. if not, i bought a pattern and will have something made up by a seamstress. we have a fabulous piece of tapestry on it now like a throw.

good luck, all -- daybeds are great, but the mattress cover options for daybeds haven't caught up with an 'upholstery' look yet!

For Tom who posted on 3/3/06, do you still have pix up to show of what you did with your west elm daybed. I feel like there's got to be some way of customizing it to look a little less West Elm and a little more me.

Actually there is a product on the market to solve this exact problem in every way! check it out at http://SlouchBack.com its designed to turn that day bed into a comfy couch without buying a million pillows. The SlouchBack is pure comfort!