Instructions for a Day Bed or Guest Bed
Day beds are double-duty furniture. They give you a comfortable, even lavish place to seat several people during the day, then give you a place to let a guest sleep at night. They fit into almost any decorating scheme, and they are not too difficult to build. You might be surprised at just how many rooms in which you will want to place one. Does this Spark an idea?
Mattresses
The mattress for a twin bed is 39 x 75 inches (or 99 x 190 cm) long, and is the size of choice for a day bed. That does not mean you cannot build one using a larger mattress, only that twins are the most commonly used. This size is large enough for an average-sized person, but not so wide that it becomes uncomfortable for sitting. You will use a number of pillows to serve as a backrest, filling in the extra space behind your sitters.
You will also want to put the mattress inside an upholstered cover. This will disguise the fact that it is a mattress and make it blend with the decor.
Frames
There is no set "look" for a day bed frame. Some resemble a sofa, some a bed with a tall footboard, some an extremely large ottoman. You can make them look like any piece of furniture that pleases you, but many builders choose to make their day bed resemble a bench. The headboard, footboard, and backrest are all joined, and all are the same height. Unless you intend to assemble and disassemble it frequently, you can simply bolt the frame together.
You can build the frame from 2 x 4s or from fine lumber, whichever suits you. Your primary concern is a sturdy base for the mattress. Just as a bed has two side rails, each with a ridge on its inner side for a series of rails to rest on, you can use the same technique to hold your mattress. Create a ridge on the insides of the backrest and front rail by attaching a narrow length of wood to each; this ridge will hold a large number of rails or a platform made from plywood.
Trundles
Trundle beds are a popular addition to day beds. They are low beds on casters that roll underneath the day bed, providing a bed for a second guest when it is rolled out.
You build a trundle bed frame as a shallow box with a plywood bottom, with casters or wheels of some sort attached on the bottom, and then place a mattress inside. The construction is simple; the real trick of a trundle bed, since it also uses a twin mattress, is to design the day bed so the trundle bed will fit underneath. The day bed should be built long enough that the trundle bed fits without hitting the legs of the day bed.
Tags: Instructions Guest, mattress inside