History of the Day Bed

The day bed is a well-traversed design. It is found early on among ancient royal households of the Egyptian, Greek and Roman. Many versions of it appear throughout history and across the globe including: China, Africa and the Americas. However, it is the evolution of the day bed introduced in France around 1625 that best resembles and influences the day bed we see today.

During the reign of Louis XIV, the day bed grew into favor and continued to rise in popularity. Around 1750, during the Louis XV period, a version of the day bed with scrolled-out sides and a long cushioned seat, called the turquoise was introduced. It is a reflection of the lavish lifestyle of Louis XV's court, and a hallmark of both beauty and comfort.

Day beds, also called rest beds, and the chaise lounge remained similar throughout history as they provided the same function. But, early in the 18th century a new form of the day bed modeled after alcove beds appeared. The influences of Empire style under the reign of Louis XVI are still reflected in the modern day bed. The current form of a day bed is an actual bed with ends of equal height, and the bed positioned lengthwise to a wall.