The History of Comfortable Outdoor Daybeds

If you are shopping for outdoor daybeds for your patio or garden space, you might be surprised to learn that daybeds have been around for centuries. Cultures throughout the ages have enjoyed spending time relaxing indoors and outdoors on these hybrid pieces of furniture that could be considered a cross between a sofa, a chaise lounge, and a bed. Daybeds take their name from the fact that they are a perfect place to relax and rejuvenate during the daylight hours. Whether you relax on an indoor daybed, or lounge outdoors on a patio daybed, you share in an activity that's been enjoyed by many people before you.

Daybeds were common in ancient Greece and Rome as a place to relax and unwind. The Greek word for these hybrid couch-beds was "klines." The modern word "recliner" comes from the same root, literally meaning "cause to lean." These klines were typically used during a gathering so that guests could lounge and socialize in a leisurely manner, or simply rest in comfort after the communal meal. Indoor and outdoor daybeds were made of a variety of materials, including wood, stone, and marble, and were often lavishly dressed in fine linens and pillows.

In the Victorian era, daybeds were also called "fainting couches." Unlike modern patio daybeds, these were indoor pieces of furniture designed for ladies to rest upon. Because Victorian women wore tight, constraining corsets, they sometimes had difficulty breathing, especially with any sort of exertion. Daybeds offered a place to rest in so-called "fainting rooms" where ladies would stop for a moment before going on about the day's activities.

Even the medical profession embraced the use of daybeds. The proverbial couch upon which Dr. Freud examined his patients was much like a daybed. Earlier iterations of daybeds were known as "cure chairs," and were a more comfortable alternative to the flat cot-style beds of that time. Because these could be used as indoor or outdoor daybeds, they allowed patients dealing with respiratory ailments, particularly tuberculosis, to spend some time in the fresh air of the outdoors.

Nowadays, there are daybeds for a variety of purposes. They are common for kids' rooms and guest rooms, and patio daybeds turn a lovely garden or patio area into a space to relax outdoors in the open fresh air. Outdoor daybeds can help bring warmth and charm to your garden or patio area, making it a true outdoor living space. Just like the cultures of antiquity, you can create a space to enjoy quiet solitude, or relax with friends and family. Most patio daybeds include an awning or canopy to keep you dry on rainy days, or to shield you from the heat of the sun on very hot days. An outdoor daybed is a perfect place to relax, whatever the weather may be.

Daybeds have been popular throughout the centuries, and with good reason. They're versatile, comfortable, and are a portable option for both indoor and outdoor living spaces. Consider adding a patio daybed to your garden area to create a cozy, comfortable space to enjoy the outdoors. A quality outdoor daybed can add a world of charm and comfort to your garden or patio area.