DIY: How to Make a Daybed

A day bed is just as wonderful as a reading place or a napping place.

A daybed, half sofa and half napping place, is a lovely way to turn a home office into a guest room. It's also a nice addition to your child's room, a soft spot for reading and a fun place for sleepovers.

Things You'll Need

• 2 wood pallets
• 6 large locking caster wheels
• 3 large hinges
• Wood screws
• Drill
• Foam mattress cut to the dimensions of the pallets when side by side
• Queen-size quilt
• Scissors
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• 3 large buttons
• Sandpaper
• Palm sander
• Paint or stain (optional)
• Paint brush (optional)

Instructions

1. Sand all surfaces of both pallets. If desired, paint or stain them.

2. Attach one side of each hinge evenly spaced along one side of one pallet. Line up the second pallet next to the first, and attach the other side of each hinge to the second pallet. The hinges should be attached so that they are opened wide on top of the pallets, and the pallets cannot move.

3. Turn the pallets over and use screws and a drill to attach three casters to each long side of the day bed, one on each corner and one in the middle.

4. Cut the foam mattress to fit on the pallets if it was not done at the store. Lay the quilt, top down, on the floor and place the mattress on it. Fold the quilt around the mattress. Mark and cut a piece of the quilt that is the length of the mattress and wide enough to wrap around plus 2 inches.

5. Cut a piece of quilt that is 1 inch wider than the thickness of the mattress and 1 inch longer than the width of the mattress for an end piece. Cut a piece of quilt that is 8 inches wider than the thickness of the mattress and 1 inch longer than the width of the mattress for the closing flap of the mattress cover.

6. With right sides facing, sew the long sides of the large piece of quilt together. The mattress should slip into this long tube of quilt. This is the body of the mattress cover. Sew the smaller rectangle to the end of this tube, right sides facing. Hem the edges of the tube opening.

7. Hem the edges of the quilt rectangle that will be the closing flap of the mattress cover. Make three evenly spaced button holes to fit the three large buttons in one long side. Sew the other long side to the mattress cover, right sides facing. Turn the mattress cover right side out. Slide the mattress into cover, fold up the flap and mark the placement for the buttons. Sew on buttons.

8. Place mattress on palettes. Attach the wooden crib side to the wall where your daybed will be placed, using wood screws and a drill, to use as a backboard.

Tips & Warnings

• Pile your daybed with pillows to make sitting on it comfortable.

• The casters allow the daybed to be moved from room to room. Make sure they are locked when the bed is in use.

References

• Ashley Ann Photography: DIY Reading Bed