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Daybeds for Double-Duty Guest Rooms

Having a guest room with a full-size bed is a nice luxury, but for most of us lucky enough to have a spare room, that room needs to serve several purposes at once. Frequently the guest room is the home office too, or the exercise room, or maybe a family room for casual lounging with books and TV and toys. When you're trying to address so many different needs in a single space, it's tough to make allowances for a giant bed. Which is why a daybed is often the next best thing...
 
 

True, having a daybed for guests does limit the sleeping options. Most daybeds, of course, aren't big enough for two. But if your guests are commonly single travelers—a parent, or a college-age kid home from school, or a couch-surfing friend—then the daybed is a great solution. You can always keep the dreaded (gasp!) airbed in a closet in case you end up with a crowd.

Here are some images for inspiration:

FIRST ROW

1 - A cozy guest room and den from luvdecor on Decorpad.

2 - Comfy home office and guest room in one from designer Mae Brunken on Design*Sponge.

3 - A daybed/window seat in a walk-in closet (!!) from Domino. Perfect for curling up with a book when your home is guest-free.

4 - Martha Stewart shows how a daybed can provide a nice place for family time when it's not being used for guest quarters.

5 - Another day bed and den from PointClickHome.

SECOND ROW

6 - Coburn Architecture uses a daybed in a long, narrow TV room that doubles as guest quarters.

7 - This sunny office from House to Home is a perfect place to work, and with tidy storage solutions, guests won't feel unsettled by all your paperwork. The opposite side of the memo board in this photo is actually a mirror guests can use.

8 - Nicole from Making it Lovely chose a daybed from CB2 for her guest room. That rug would feel great on the feet in the morning.

Does your guest room do double-duty? How do you make it work?

Tags

inspiration, beds & mattresses, guest room, daybed, multipurpose, spare room

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Comments (25)

You can also slide a mattress under the daybed if it's tall enough. When I was younger, my family and I would visit some relatives in Naples, Fl. They had very little room in their house, so my cousin's room had a twin-sized bed with a roll-out mattress underneath. That way, it was out of the way most of the time, but when they needed it they just pulled it out and set it up.

Day bed Hidden Roll-Out Mattress Air Mattress = a guest bedroom for a family of four.

posted by SIUCarbondale10 on April 10th 2009 at 9:31pm
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Make that a day bed, a hidden roll-out mattress, and an air mattress would make up enough sleeping spaces for a family of four.

posted by SIUCarbondale10 on April 10th 2009 at 9:32pm
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I really love the bed in the third picture.

posted by ChrisGal on April 10th 2009 at 9:45pm
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Thanks for including my guest room (the last picture)! The thing I love about that daybed is that the top comes apart and the whole thing turns into a double bed.

posted by pinklovesbrown on April 10th 2009 at 11:11pm
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What beautiful rooms. Apart from the daybed idea, I am getting a lot of decorating inspiration out of this post.

posted by sally305 on April 10th 2009 at 11:12pm
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I've been on the lookout for a nice-but-affordable daybed for our office/music room/"man cave." Those rooms are lovely. I really like the one in the walk-in closet.

posted by Brandyjane on April 11th 2009 at 8:07am
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One comment about guest beds...no matter what route you go, please, please sleep in your guestroom once in a while. Make sure there is light within reach, and that the bed is as comfortable as your own. I have a big circle of family & friends--love 'em all--but you wouldn't believe what I've had to sleep on and in over the years.

I just gave away a futon & frame that had been in my guestroom/office. It was comfortable but unattractive. I'm replacing it with a twin bed that has drawers underneath to store linens and other guest supplies for when the room needs to quickly transform from its usual office space.

posted by Charlotte on April 11th 2009 at 8:07am
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I forgot to say--if I have a couple come to stay they will sleep in my room and I will sleep in the guest room. Another reason to make sure it is as comfy as my own bed!

posted by Charlotte on April 11th 2009 at 8:10am
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Nicole, where did you get your daybed?

Where to find affordable daybeds? I've been on the hunt for a while.

posted by Where You Hang Your Hat on April 11th 2009 at 9:45am
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It's the lubi daybed from CB2. I don't know if they've changed it since I bought it because mine does not turn into an "oversized queen bed with king sheets", it's a double – maybe a queen at best.

posted by pinklovesbrown on April 11th 2009 at 9:54am
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Awesome eye candy!
Thx

posted by danze on April 11th 2009 at 10:05am
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Thanks for all the lovely ideas. Seeing the very first picture gave me a great idea for a DIY project. I have a twin bedframe ("This End Up" craigslist score) - and I have a book that explains basic upholstery techinques. I think I will try to staple some batting & fabric on the wood frame in such a way as to imitate that first bed. Oh thank you for the inspring photos!!

posted by RobinD. on April 11th 2009 at 10:18am
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Nicole (PLB): have you slept on the Lubi yet? I am considering that for my guest room,but its usually my parents who come to stay, and I want to make sure they won't complain about the bed the entire weekend!
TIA!

posted by babymomma on April 11th 2009 at 11:31am
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This would make a great day bed. If you position it against the wall add bolsters and the right size cushions along the wall it would look great.

http://www.ballarddesigns.com/comShop/customProdAction.do%3Faction%3DinitCustom?ruleID=2357&path=1%2C2%2C1752%2C1754%2C2577&iProductID=1060&itemID=1060&itemType=PRODUCT

West Elm has a good looking one have not tried it.

This one from Potter Barn kids you can add a trundle
http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/sb120/index.cfm?pkey=cbeds%2Dmattresses%7Ck

This one from Garnet Hill-
http://www.garnethill.com/jump.jsp?itemID=14337&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C5%2C8577%2C8578&iProductID=14337

I had a day bed in my office I used a twin bed and bought a very tailored bedskirt and a queen size guilt that draped over with bolsters and pillows. Stored the quest pillows and duvet in air tight containers under the bed. Nothing original but it looked good and was very comfortable.

posted by LoriSF on April 11th 2009 at 11:58am
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Country Living online has a DIY daybed project. The sides are made from two twin size bed boards.

posted by scandi on April 11th 2009 at 12:11pm
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babymomma, one of the nice things about CB2 is that you can read and submit reviews of their products: http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=400&f=3979#reviews.

I'm using the positive reviews to try to convince my husband that we should replace the queen bed in the overcrowded guest room with the Lubi. :)

posted by FiatLex on April 11th 2009 at 12:53pm
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Personally, I think daybeds are usually fine to sleep on, but not that comfortable to sit/relax/lounge on...which kindof defeats the purpose. Maybe I just need to try some of those suggested here, but in general I think an inexpensive sleeper sofa can meet both needs better.

posted by saraannsmith on April 11th 2009 at 1:05pm
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Look at the day beds here, I think they are west elm..they look short to me and for a tall guest not comfortable..but I love the look she created.
http://www.designspongeonline.com/2008/12/sneak-peek-leah-hennen.html

posted by LoriSF on April 11th 2009 at 3:18pm
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that first image is just amazing! such a gentle use of color and textures. i feel naptime comin' on.

posted by Brett Torrey on April 11th 2009 at 7:08pm
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I love the first picture.The wallparper is so beautiful!

posted by kiwitutu on April 12th 2009 at 10:09am
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My husband and I just turned our guest room bed so the long edge of the bed is against the wall. It's daybed style but 2 people can still stay over if they need. That way we also get extra space for our desk. Just posted about our new bed frame actually: jjtubbs.blogspot.com

posted by JanelleT on April 12th 2009 at 2:36pm
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Can anyone please help me find the chair in the first picture?

posted by decor on April 13th 2009 at 9:43am
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Does anyone know where the 1st upholstered daybed is from?

posted by rscarlett on April 13th 2009 at 2:34pm
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Daybeds must be the most beautiful thing a house can have. I decorated my home with the daybed I bought at Ballard Designs before moving into my house.

posted by bettyhall on June 25th 2009 at 7:49am
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I love love love the first picture! Does anyone know where I can get the wallpaper?? the Cherry blossom with the birds? :-) also, the daybed?

posted by PinkMartini on July 24th 2009 at 1:22am
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