April 24, 2021

MODERN OUTDOOR DAYBED

Anyone else a summer babe? Me too. Well, maybe spring to early summer…like, before it’s 110 degrees. The light lasting late into the evening, a cool breeze in your hair, the smell of BBQs being lit, swimming like mermaids all day long, and ending with a cocktail or glass of wine under a string lit pergola…you get it. Check, check, and check. Except, we needed a large, comfy place to lay and enjoy it.

I thought about just doing a normal patio set (with the couch and chairs) but I wanted bigger and more comfortable. Then I found some porch swings that I fell in love with, except we haven’t bolted down our gazebo/pergola setup, so I thought maybe hanging a porch swing from it was a disaster waiting to happen. Then, why not combine the two into an outdoor daybed? A modern, chunky, outdoor daybed situation!

Here are the free plans.

SUPPLIES

STEP 1:

Cut the wood for the arm rests and frame for the bed.

STEP 2:

Make your pocket holes. I did the arm rests, bed frame runners, and middle support at this point.

STEP 3:

Screw together the armrests and sides of the bed. PAY ATTENTION TO THE POCKET HOLES. I used scrap lumber under the middle support to lift it into place. This is helpful if you don’t have another person or a ton of clamps.

STEP 4:

Once both armrests are built, attach the front and back runner. I mentioned this in the plans but it’s worth it to say it again. Off set the pocket holes on the center board of the armrest and the front and back runner so they don’t collide.

STEP 5:

Flip the bed over and attach the center support. If you don’t have a short kreg jig drill bit, you will need to attach the front and back pieces first, then the bottom. PAY ATTENTION TO THE POCKET HOLES.

STEP 6:

Cut and attached the 2×2 runners.

STEP 7:

Measure, cut, and nail the 1×6 bed slats to the 2x2s with finishing nails. I like to wait and make these cuts once the frame is assembled to confirm the measurement.

STEP 8:

Assemble the backrest. Measure and cut 1x2s and 1x6s to length. Wood glue (always) and nail the 1x2s to the 1x6s with finishing nails. The back of the backrest will have a 3/4″ overhang, use that to nail into the 1×6.

Ready for a little trick? Use two scrap 1x6s to hold up the backrest while you nail it into place. Perfect spacing and it gives you a couple extra hands.

STEP 9:

Sand with a coarse, then fine, sand paper. Stain and polyurethane. I used Flagstone by Varathane and this Polyurethane to protect it from the elements.

That’s it! Now throw a bed on there and some pillows and go take a well deserved nap! Below, I’ve shared the twin mattress I purchased that fits perfectly in this frame, along with the mattress pad protector and fitted sheet. If your daybed isn’t covered (by a structure), I would suggest investing in some outdoor cushions that are made for the elements and an outdoor cover. They make some that will cover just the mattress or the entire daybed. Eventually, I will make a true outdoor cover to fit the mattress, but for now, these Hearth and Hand linen sheets are working perfectly. I adore them so much, I think I may purchase a set for my son’s bed.