The History of Daybeds

The ancient Egyptians and Romans both created seating that allowed the user to recline comfortably, typically using either palm sticks, stone, marble, and/or cloth. These seats were typically used for resting and socializing, but the Romans even ate dinner on lounges! The daybed reemerged in the late 1600s with the invention of the long chair; it featured multiple legs, a long seat, and an angled back. In the 1700s, the French developed the chaise longue, an upholstered chair with an elongated, upholstered seat for lounging. In the mid-1800s, the fainting couch became popular. It was so named because women wearing fashionably too-tight corsets would rest on these long couches and sometimes faint from lack of air. Daybeds were also popular in China, particularly during the Ming Dynasty, although they date back to at least the Han Dynasty. They were typically used for reading, socializing, and drinking tea. The modern day bed slowly developed from these older styles. It often features a railing or panel on three of the four sides, similar to a couch, although open versions with no rails are also available. Modern daybeds are used in many homes, in large part because they are slightly smaller than traditional beds, making them ideal for apartments, children’s bedrooms, guest rooms, and home offices. They are also quite multifunctional, offering a place to sit, socialize, relax, and sleep. Unsurprisingly, there are many modern daybeds on the market today, and they are popular in the U.S. as well as in many other parts of the world.