Day In Day Out

Come into my mind's eye of the romantic world of the daybed.


What is a daybed? It sounds so decadent, a bed for the daytime. Officially it is defined as an armless couch; a seat by day and a bed by night; chaise lounge: a long chair; for reclining.


It conjures up romantic images of rakish men and languid ladies.



And of course visions of les liaisons dangereuses.

Laura Linney as Marquise de Merteuil and Ben Daniels as Vicomte de Valmont

in Roundabout Theatre Company's 1988 production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Simple pleasures like eating whilst reclining on a daybed are a delicious respite from the daily grind.

Emily Post having a little snack in bed

Even a nap stolen during the day on a daybed is so much more rewarding.

Photo: smithdan

Painting by Carl Holsoe [Danish, 1863-1935]
Title: Vilostunden
Medium: oil on panel
Dimensions: 18 x 22 inches
Location: Bukowski's Auctions, Stockholm, Sweden

And reading! Reading is the deepest pleasure of them all!

Domino fantasy

Books close at hand for some daybed reading time
in this modern and glam library


Or grab a book in this lovely Suzanne Kasler vignette


A cozy library with a daybed waiting for a good long read


This little flat leather beauty conjures up a neo classic reading nook

Do you work in bed? I often do, because the pitch of my back against the headboard offers the most comfortable support. I can pile up books, and magazines, and papers, and a tray with a snack, the remote, the cell phone, my lap top, and Cholo - it feels like the most glam command center.

Room for Cholo and his stuff in my work space


Henri Matisse working in a daybed in his studio

Truman Capote writing while reclining on his daybed

For me a daybed has the same height head and foot board and no back. Like the style made famous by Napoleon.

Lit bateau, French about 1804-1810

Medium: Mahogany and Gilded Bronze
Permanent Collection: Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris
Image Courtesy: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston


Classic French Empire daybed

Now this is what I'm talking about!


The Mac Daddy!

Napoleon's bedroom at Chateau de Fountainbleau


All in the family - his brother Jerome's bed.
The bed’s fabric has been recreated by the House of Prelle,
which was established in Lyon in 1752 and furnished the Emperor’s palaces.
Using their authentic Empire designs,
Prelle often utilizes its original period looms to create its silk and brocades.
This is the only royal bed of the First Empire in a private collection


Napoleon's bed chamber at Chateau Maimaison


I don't know where he ends and I begin... My Nap-y style wall in our guest room


The empress Josephine had a daybed too at Chateau Maimaison

Not all beds from the time of Napoleon were so fancy. The period was called Directoire. It was a style of French Revolution era furniture designs that spanned the end of the French Revolution and Napoleon's conquest in 1799, bridging the Louis XVI and Empire styles. Named for the Directory government replacing Louis XVI that called for designs of less ostentation and a smaller scale while eliminating regal references.

A sweet little Directoire part of a daybed

My little Directoire daybed used as our king size headboard
One day I hope to have room to set it up as a proper daybed,
and maybe a get a new headboard

Napoleon did not invent the daybed. It's as old as France.

Marie Antoinette's bed at Petit Trianon - it has the proportion of a daybed


Marie Antoinette- another bed at Petit Trianon


Marie again, this time at Chateau Versailles


Madonna off her daybed doing Marie Gone Wild

But one thing for sure, daybeds have remained popular, especially with visual vamps and decorators everywhere.

New Orleans designer extraordinaire Gerry Bremmerman uses the daybed to excellent effect

Boho room and daybed that evokes an artist's studio


Magazine worthy daybed from Domino


An 18th century Swedish beauty with fab upholstery

Bali inspired fantasy


So sweet!

Coastal Living sun room dreams

Power to the people! CB2 daybed

Modern Belgian style

Sexy rocker style!

Magazine worthy from Elle Decor

Floating daybed

Teen Chic

Lovely linen

Martha Stewart furniture line has a daybed


Great furniture arrangement


Flat and modern - a palet masks as a daybed


This antique beauty looks very modern
I love the lady near the bolster end of the bed


Nap time in the sun room


Pretty in pink


And pretty in baby blue from West Elm

No wire hangers! Only wire style iron daybeds!
Joan Crawford on a glam Hollywood Regency daybed circa 1930



Iron daybed used as a cute couch

Ikea wire style iron daybed for the masses


Antique iron child's bed turned into a daybed
from Aux Belle Choses in New Orleans



Pile on the pillows!


Mmmmm Stripey!

For me this is a daybed "don't"

I know the 20th century trundle style daybed is very much in use,
but to me it's just a funny looking twin bed -
The proportions are not right for a daybed


If you have to have a back on your daybed, do it like this!
Shawn from Country French owns a store and can hook you up



We got a little Swedish in the house!
From New Orleans at the shop of Anne Koerner
Now that's what I'm talking about!

Madame Juliet Racamier on her daybed
She looked so good they named the style of daybed after her

So there you have it. All the pretty pictures I could find about one of my favorite pieces of furniture: The daybed. If you own one, please send me a photo to mizvtheb@yahoo.com and I'll post it for all to ooh and ah at.
I'm pooped. I think I'll recline.



Props for images: The Paris Apartment, Girl Meets Glamour, Cote de Texas, Material Girls, Country French, Desire to Inspire, Apartment Therapy, Surroundings, Google Images