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Since our new guest room is near the front door, I wanted to make it a little more versatile than just a bedroom. I’m sure I will be using the space for computer work and morning devotions so a DIY daybed seemed to be the best option for furniture.

The Creative Process

Not being one to go out and buy new furniture when I’ve got things stashed in the basement, I put my creativity to work to come up with the best solution using found materials. Using the frame from our bunkbed would allow me to stash another mattress underneath as a trundle. That is, if the house is completely full and I need to.

The pieces of a convertible bunkbed include 2 stackable ends that can be used as headboards, 2 stackable ends that can be used as footboards, and 2 bottom pieces made up of long sides with several slats.

To set this up as a bunkbed, you use a headboard at the head and foot of the bottom bunk attaching the bottom piece to create a bed. Then you would stack the two footboards above and attach the remaining bottom piece. Add a ladder and side rails and you have the bunkbed.

To create the DIY daybed, I simply started the same way with the two headboards on both ends with the bottom piece connecting them both. This was all that I had planned to do at first, besides adding some throw pillow across the back as a false couch back.

Then I thought about possibly adding a queen size headboard across the back instead…

But I had no headboard.

When I realized I had two quilted comforters from when it was used as a bunkbed, I began to imagine using the extra comforter to wrap around the back pillows. Which would additionally make my bed look more like a sofa.

Then in a brilliant moment, the thought came to take the second bunkbed bottom and flip it sideways across the back! Eureka!

Executing the idea

So that’s what I did. The second bottom, of course, fits exactly between the end pieces. Since Shawn was concerned about the corner brackets punching into the drywall, I cut a pool noodle piece and taped it around the sharp corners. I knew I’d also be covering it with a quilted comforter which adds further protection from those edges.

After I set up the bottom piece, leaning it against the wall, I draped my second comforter over it. Next I slid in the bunkie board into place and added my mattress.

I pulled out the mattress from the wall a little for the next step as I placed six bed pillows against the back. Bed pillows are something else I have in abundance! I tucked down the comforter and slide the mattress back into place. It was also easy to tuck in the edges of the comforter at the sides of the back. I love that these pillows are now easily accessible for sleeping but are not in the way while sitting.

Lastly, I made the bottom bed with the matching comforter and set up two body pillows that I recently purchased at Target.

Blast from the past

I searched through some old photos to see if I could give you an idea of what the structure looked like as a bunkbed. Here is a very cute one of my son as a toddler, and here is another one of his very crazy, busy teenager room! In the second picture, you can see the two quilted comforters that I used on my daybed.

Your turn!

I realize that the decor may not be very modern. But I was happy to be able to use what I already had on hand. I think you could recreate this using any convertible bunkbed and matching comforters or quilts so stylizing this according to your own preferences will not be a problem.

So I’m loving my new DIY daybed! I’m super grateful to have a cozy spot for both sitting and sleeping. And all I ended up spending money on was the body pillows!