12 of the best minimalist daybeds

Daybeds can feel like an indulgence or a piece of furniture that’s a luxury rather than a necessity. But daybeds are actually very useful pieces and offer a lot of flexibility too.

Firstly daybeds are visually considerably less bulky than sofas and so can be used as extra seating in small living rooms. They can even be used instead of a sofa in the tightest spaces. They can also be used as a spare bed for guests. As they’re usually lighter weight than sofa beds, they can be moved around from room to room, allowing you to have flexible seating or an extra bed wherever needed. They can also serve as a low profile room divider in a room that serves more than one purpose. And they’re equally handy as seating in an entryway.

I’ve rounded up some of the best daybeds that are ideal for those who prefer a minimalist design. With day beds offering so much functionality, it’s no surprise that they tend to be on the pricier side. That said, I’ve included a couple of pieces that are budget friendly but that still offer the minimalist aesthetic.

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striped daybed – £1,976 on sale (usually £1,989 and available in different fabrics)
oak and rattan daybed – £2,345
walnut and fabric daybed – £3,487.50 on sale (usually £3,875 and comes in a large choice of fabrics)
long dark oak daybed – £1,086.75 on sale (usually £1,449)
wood and fabric daybed – £2,289 (comes in a large choice of fabrics and leather finishes)
oak and leather daybed – £3,706 (comes in a choice of colours for the cushion)
extra wide wood and fabric daybed – £3,527 (comes in a huge choice of fabrics and colours)
white and oak daybed – £499 (can be used as a kids bed and a daybed)
low profile oak daybed – £449 (it’s a single bed but can easily be used as a budget-friendly daybed)
steel frame and quilted seat daybed – £1,799 (available in a choice of neutral colours)
black leather and wood daybed – £2108.29 (also available in oak and light grey)
steel and cognac leather daybed – £2,495 on sale (usually £3,090)

Tips on choosing a daybed

First and most importantly consider the primary usage — is it going to be used as a bed or as mostly as seating? Or maybe it’s a room divider or spare seating so it may get occasional use. For e.g. if it’s going to be used as a bed, you’ll need to get one thats long and wide enough to be comfortable.

Also consider if it’s got a permanent home or needs to be moved around often. If it’s the latter, than opt for lighter weight ones that will be easier to move. For e.g. many of these daybeds will be useful as extra seating outdoors in summer or may need to be moved to the home office as an occasional guest bed.

If you’ve got kids or pets like me, you might want to consider a more durable fabric like a wipe clean leather. Alternatively, you can opt for a daybed with removable and washable covers. Even if you don’t have kids or pets but your daybed is going to get a lot of use, it’s worth considering this.