Choose a fabric double bed if the room is used mainly for sleeping, especially by two adults or by one adult every night. Choose a fabric day bed if the room needs to work as a sitting space during the day and only hosts overnight guests from time to time. A day bed takes a single mattress and doubles as a sofa, while a double bed offers more sleeping width and a more restful, bedroom feel.
Our range of modern double fabric beds UK sale covers frames with panelled, buttoned and winged headboards. Day beds sit closer to living room furniture in spirit. Below, we look at how the two compare in real UK rooms, so you can see which makes more sense for yours.
A fabric double bed is a conventional bed frame upholstered in fabric, with a headboard at one end and a mattress measuring 135cm by 190cm. It sits with the headboard against a wall and the bed projecting into the room, so it is accessed from both sides and the foot.
A fabric day bed is designed to sit lengthways against a wall. It usually has a back and two arms, or a back and one arm, which gives it the look of a sofa. It takes a single mattress, typically 90cm by 190cm, which acts as the seat during the day and the sleeping surface at night. Some day beds include a trundle underneath that pulls out to create a second sleeping space.
This is the question that settles most decisions. If two adults share the bed every night, a double is the obvious choice. A day bed is simply too narrow for comfortable shared sleeping.
If one adult sleeps in the room every night, a double still tends to be more comfortable over the long term, as it gives room to move and a more settled sleeping position. A day bed can work for a single adult, but the sofa style back and arms make the sleeping area feel more enclosed.
If the room hosts guests only occasionally, the balance shifts. A day bed gives you a comfortable place to sit for most of the year and a proper bed when someone stays. For a single guest, this works well. For couples, a day bed with a trundle provides two separate sleeping spaces, though not a shared one.
Think about how the room is used between morning and night. A double bed takes up a large central area of floor and reads clearly as a bedroom. That is fine in a dedicated bedroom, but in a room that also serves as a home office, snug or playroom, it can feel like the bed is in the way.
A day bed sits against the wall and looks like seating. With cushions arranged along the back, it becomes a comfortable place to read, take a call or relax with a cup of tea. This makes it well suited to rooms that need to be useful all day, not just at night. Planning the rest of the room matters too, and our wider range of bedroom furniture UK includes compact chests and cabinets that work in multipurpose spaces.
A double bed occupies roughly 135cm by 190cm of floor for the mattress alone, plus the frame and headboard. To use it comfortably, you need clear space on at least one side, and ideally both, as well as at the foot. In a small room, this can leave limited space for anything else.
A day bed occupies roughly the footprint of a single mattress, plus its arms and back. Because it sits along a wall, you only need clear space along one side. The result is a much larger area of open floor, which can be used for a desk, a play area or simply breathing room.
If the day bed has a trundle, remember to leave enough clear floor for it to pull out fully when guests stay.
A double bed is designed purely for sleep. You can choose the mattress you prefer, the headboard supports you while reading and the bed feels like a settled place to rest.
A day bed offers good comfort for occasional sleeping, provided you choose a quality single mattress. The back and arms can feel cosy, which some guests enjoy, but taller sleepers may find the arms restrictive. If guests stay for a week or more, a double usually feels more comfortable.
This is where the day bed has the advantage. A day bed is built to be sat on, with a back to lean against and arms to rest on. A double bed can be used for sitting, but it is less comfortable without a sofa style back, and using it as daytime seating often leaves the bedding creased.
If you want a room that works as a quiet retreat or a second living space, a day bed tends to suit it better. If that is not enough and you need full sofa seating with a pull out mattress, our selection of sofa beds UK sale offers another option worth comparing.
Fabric double beds are widely available with ottoman storage bases or drawers, which provide a generous amount of hidden storage. This is a significant benefit in a bedroom where cupboard space is limited.
Day beds tend to offer less storage. Some include drawers underneath, and those with trundles use that space for the second mattress. If storage is a priority, a double with an ottoman base is the stronger choice.
A fabric double bed brings a classic bedroom feel. A well chosen headboard becomes the focal point, and the bed can be dressed with layered linens and cushions for a restful look.
A day bed has a lighter, more relaxed character. It works well in rooms with a living room feel, such as a snug or a garden room, and it is easy to style with throws and cushions so it feels inviting rather than temporary. Upholstered day beds in soft linen or textured weaves suit calm, natural schemes, while velvet versions bring a more tailored, sophisticated look.
A day bed usually works better here. It keeps the floor clear for a desk and chair and provides comfortable seating for reading or calls. When guests stay, it becomes a bed without needing to move furniture.
A double bed is the more comfortable choice, especially for couples. If space is tight, a double with an ottoman base makes up for limited storage elsewhere.
A day bed can work well, giving teenagers somewhere to sit with friends during the day while still providing a proper bed at night. A trundle adds space for sleepovers. A single fabric bed is another sensible option, and our range of single fabric beds UK includes compact frames that suit younger sleepers.
If the room is only used for guests and nothing else, a double gives visitors the most comfortable stay, particularly couples. If guests are usually single, a day bed keeps the room more versatile for the rest of the year.
Whichever bed you choose for a guest room, think about what visitors need: somewhere to hang clothes, a surface for their belongings and a light to read by. A compact wardrobe or a few hooks, a bedside table and a lamp go a long way. Our article on wardrobe ideas for a UK guest bedroom offers practical suggestions for clothing storage in rooms that are only used part of the time.
At Furniture in Fashion, we offer fabric beds in a range of sizes and styles, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, so you can find the right fit for each room in your home.
Not comfortably on the main mattress, as day beds take a single mattress. A day bed with a trundle provides a second sleeping space at floor level, which works for two guests who do not need to share.
It can be for one person, provided the mattress is good quality. However, many adults find a double bed more comfortable over the long term because of the extra width and absence of arms.
A day bed takes up less floor space because it uses a single mattress and sits lengthways against a wall, leaving more of the room open.
Some include drawers, but most offer less storage than a double bed with an ottoman base. Day beds with trundles use the space underneath for the second mattress.
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