7 Best Garden Day Beds [Buyer Guide] 

Summary

So after you’ve read all of those reviews, we hope you’ve found a garden day bed that’s taken your fancy and suits yours and your gardens needs. However, if you’re still not so sure, this section of the buyer guide will help you make your mind up. Here we’ve listed some essential considerations that you might want to make before you commit to your purchase. We know what you’re probably thinking – “how hard can choosing a garden day bed really be?” – however, there are a whole host of different things to look out for that may not have crossed your mind so far. Whenever you’re buying anything, it’s good to get clued up on the facts before you make your purchase. If you don’t research, you might not be making a super informed decision and then therefore end up regretting your purchase. Especially with something like a garden day bed, they’re not the cheapest of garden additions, so we’re here to help and give you all the knowledge you’ll need. If you still by any chance have any unanswered questions, we’ve also added in an FAQ section that answers some of the most common questions regarding garden day beds. If all that isn’t enough – we’ve also added in a YouTube video, which is great for the gardener who prefers watching something rather than reading. We’ve also linked some further reading about garden day beds after that in case you’re still undecided. So, without further ado – lets get into the buyer considerations!

Material

Lets first discuss the material. Garden day beds come in a range of different materials, and you will need to consider which one best suits yours and your gardens needs. For example, wooden day beds that are made from something like solid teak wood are very durable and weather resistant – this means that you won’t have to panic if you’ve accidentally forgotten about your garden day bed in the rain. Solid teak is also a great option for gardens that get a lot of sun as they’re very resistant to rays of sunshine too – that essentially means there will be no unwanted discolouration here! If you’re not wanting a day bed made from solid wood – as they’re often the most expensive and not very easy to move around – there’s loads of garden day beds made from a whole host of different materials. For example, rattan. We’ve written lots of different buyer guides on rattan furniture and accessories – for example, rattan cube furniture, rattan sun loungers, rattan side tables, rattan benches and rattan mirrors – to name a few. This is because, here at Konservatory, we just love rattan as a material for both inside and outside the home! Rattan is having a real moment right now, its 70’s vibe and cool aesthetic is really in fashion for homeware and garden furniture. Along with its ‘cool’ status, rattan is a fabulous, low maintenance material that can be put outside and pretty much forgotten about without it getting ruined in the unpredictable British weather. If wood or rattan aren’t your thing, a lot of garden day beds come in a range of different metals, too. For example, a powdered aluminium frame is quite common and is a great alternative. Powdered aluminium is weather resistant, strong but also lightweight and very easily moved around. If portability is high up on your list of essentials, we recommend going for a garden day bed that has a frame made from aluminium as it means you’ll be able to take it anywhere with you. The garden day beds that are made from aluminium also are more likely to fold flat, which is another great feature if you’re looking to take your day bed to the beach or park on a nice sunny day. Other reliable frames to look out for include stainless steel, wrought iron and wicker iron.

Comfort

Have a look if you can find a garden day bed that has a built in cushion area or head rest so you can be sure you’ll be comfortable when reclining in your outdoor space. Most of the garden day beds that we’ve featured in this guide have been made with your comfort in mind. Things like full padding along the entire bed or some removable cushions for the more portable beds. The garden day beds with padded cushions are also a must-have if you suffer with any back pain. These offer a lot more support than the beds that don’t have any padding, which is great if you already have pain or you’re trying to prevent any back problems. The beds with built-in padding are a little more difficult to move around and take with you, however a lot of garden day beds have the option to remove the cushions/padding which means they’ll be just as portable. Another thing to note is that the day beds that come with cushions are also often coated with a water-repellent which means the cushions won’t get sodden and ruined in Britains unpredictable weather.

Portability

We’ve mentioned it a few times already in this buyer guide but if portability is something you’re definitely wanting from your garden day bed, there are a number of different beds that will be able to fulfil this need. Many garden day beds are made with portability in mind, as you might be wanting to take them with you down to the beach or a park on a lovely hot summer’s day. If you’re wanting to go for this option, we recommend opting for a bed that is made from aluminium, is able to fold flat and has removable cushions or a head rest. This will essentially ensure you’ll be able to take your garden day bed wherever you see fit. Aluminium frames are also extremely lightweight, which means carrying your bed to your planned destination will be a piece of cake!

Colour/style

This buyer consideration almost continues on from the ‘material’ section. This is because if you’ve already got a lot of different rattan furniture items or accessories (check out our blog on rattan lamps here!) you’re most likely going to want to match your new garden day bed to them. If you’ve got a rustic, natural look to your garden – opting for a rattan style will definitely be a great option and will blend in perfectly. The cushions that are usually provided on rattan garden day beds are often in very neutral colours which complements the overall natural look. Colours such as oatmeal, creams, whites, greys and blacks will all look great next to a rattan frame – so if that matches the colour scheme of your conservatory and outside space, perhaps a rattan garden day bed with neutral coloured cushions is the option for you. Now, if you’re wanting to make a bit more of a statement, the garden day beds that are made from aluminium usually have pops of colours on them. Whether the colour comes through from the frame – or the cushions on top – if you’re wanting a bright coloured bed in your garden perhaps these will be the option for you. Do you have bright coloured flowers growing on your garden obelisks? Or perhaps you have a certain coloured flower you’ve chosen to adorn your artificial hanging baskets? Then maybe opting for a bright coloured garden day bed that matches them will look great in your outside space. If you’re opting for a solid wood garden day bed, you can always adorn it with some coloured or patterned outdoor scatter cushions to match your other garden accessories for a seamless, elevated look.

Size

This buyer consideration is quite self explanatory. If your garden or outside space is on the smaller side – you’re going to want to opt for a smaller garden day bed. If you do have a smaller outside space, you should maybe consider a day bed that has been made with portability in mind. This will mean that they’re more likely to be a lot easier to move  around and are more likely to fold up, too. If size is a bit of an issue in your garden this folding feature is also great for storing your garden day bed. The fact that they’ll be able to fold will mean you can store them a lot easier in your garage or shed without needing to take up too much space. If your garden is on the larger side, you’ll be able to get away with a garden day bed that’s a lot bigger. Perhaps the solid, wooden day beds or the rattan day beds will be better suited to you and your space. If you’ve got a larger garden but don’t want to dedicate that much room solely to a garden day bed, maybe you can opt for an extendable version. These day beds are able to covert into larger sizes which is perfect if you have any friends, family or guests round yours.

Canopy/Sunshade panel

It’s essential in the hot weather to make sure you have access to some shade. Especially during the hottest hours of the day, having a garden day bed that has a built-in canopy or sunshade panel can be a real life saver. If you don’t have access to an umbrella or awning, opting for a day bed that has the option for shading yourself is huge plus. If you can get your hands on one, we definitely recommend it! It’s important to note that a sunshade panel or canopy is also great if you have children that want to lounge in the garden – it’s essential that they’re not in direct sunlight, so another plus for the built-in canopies or sunshades.

FAQ

Can I make my own garden day bed?

You can indeed make your very own DIY garden day bed! One way you can do this is by using pallets. Here we’ve linked a step-by-step guide on how to do this plus a YouTube video visually showing you how its done if thats what you prefer.

What is the point of a garden daybed?

Garden day beds are an excellent choice for any garden as they provide the perfect spot to sit and lounge around in the garden. Picture this, cocktail in hand reading your favourite new book when the sun is shining and a bbq is warming up. When not occupied by you, a garden day bed serves the same function for guests, giving the occupant somewhere cool and comfy to sit outside. Another thing that a day bed can do is add something beautiful to your garden. They’re not only functional, but often look really great too!

Are garden day beds waterproof?

A lot of the time, garden day beds will be waterproof and weather proof. This is because they have been designed to stay outside not matter what the weather. You may initially think that a garden day bed with cushions surely cannot be waterproof, but many day beds that have cushions supplied with them will be given a water-proof coating to make them resistant to rain. Some people do opt for keeping their cushions inside however if there is a lot of forecasted rain one week or throughout the winter. However, for the occasional unexpected rainfall surprise, these cushions will withstand the unpredictable British summer weather!

How do I waterproof my outdoor mattress?

If you’re looking to make your own garden day bed (for info on how to do that, see FAQ question 1) you’re probably wondering if you can make your mattress waterproof for outside use. In order to do this as cheaply and effectively as possible, you should get a really good waterproofing spray. All you really need to do is place the mattress outside or somewhere in a well ventilated area and lightly spray the entire surface, keeping in mind that you hold the can six to eight inches away from the fabric to ensure an even coverage.

Are garden day beds comfortable?

Most of the time, yes! Garden day beds can be very comfortable as a lot of them come with padding or very comfortable cushions. So, no need to worry if you’re worrying about how comfortable your new garden day bed will be, as most are designed with your comfort in mind!