This IKEA Daybed Delivers in Form, Function, and Price (It’s Under $500!)

My spouse and I have lived in our house for five years, and in that time, we’ve basically played Jenga in nearly every room. It’s almost like a design challenge to see how many spaces can serve dual functions: Can we make this room into a gym? What about a gym/office? What about a guest room/office? Right now, we are transforming our office/gym into an office/guest room (the Peloton now lives in the makeshift sunroom downstairs). 

The only problem? We don’t have the room in our office for a full-size guest bed. Enter: daybeds. The HEMNES Daybed from IKEA in gray-green topped the list of our picks. The color adds a woodland vibe to even the starkest of rooms and just makes us want to buy a bunch of plants to match. Plus, this versatile beauty can be a twin or fold out into a double — which is a pretty good deal at $399. 

With close to 4,000 reviews, the HEMNES Daybed is in high demand. It is part of the HEMNES collection, which originally launched in the 2001 IKEA catalog. While perusing the retailer, we saw a few options that offer storage, but this one is attractive because it comes with three 7 1/8-inch drawers. We’ve accumulated a lot of extra pillows, duvets, and sheet sets over the years, so an under-the-bed option like this saves us a ton of space. 

The daybed has an inviting, elevated frame that offers back support if you’re the type who likes to prop up on some pillows and work (or lounge!) from bed. Reviewers also love its stability and that it converts from a twin to a full bed. Some struggle with the assembly, while others say it’s pretty much on par with other IKEA builds they’ve done. Another issue to consider: Some reviewers have struggled with broken slats, but IKEA customer service seems to address commenters’ issues with efficiency. 

If you’re into the gray-green option and are dreaming of a lush garden theme to complement it, jump on this now! 

Average Rating: 4.4/5

“We downsized from a huge house with huge bedrooms to a small house with small bedrooms and needed something attractive that wouldn’t take up a lot of space. The bed comfortably accommodates two adults when fully extended. That was a huge factor in deciding to choose this daybed. We now have one of these in a guest room and a second one for our small office. They are attractive. We appreciate the base having ample drawer storage for linens, pillows, and blankets. I think that as long as no one decides to use them as an indoor trampoline, we will have these daybeds for a very long time.” —Denise

“Perfect fit to our bonus room. It replaced our worn sleeping sofa. Now we enjoy watching movies and hosting friends overnight. The storage underneath keeps the linens with the bed and not in some far reaching closet. No upholstery to clean and protect. Solid wood surfaces are easy to clean and keep the cats from tearing the upholstery. Once assembled (what a chore), it is solid and fits the space and our needs.” —Nicholas 

“My daughter had one of these. My husband and I spent many nights sleeping on it. She had purchased 8”-10” foam mattresses, which made it very comfortable. Highly recommend, very practical. The assembly took a bit. Two are needed, but as always IKEA gives you everything you need! Nice quality as well.” —Anonymous 

Buy: HEMNES Daybed, $399