Upcycled Day Bed

Salvage DIY Guest Accommodation

Guests will only visit if you have enough comfortable beds for them - I can't say I blame them. 

In our tiny house of 500 square feet, we don't have enough room for a designated guest room, but we do have a special way of making them feel welcome; our Upcycled Day Bed.

It does double duty as a bed for guests, and as a couch for extra seating. 

As an added bonus, it's actually a captains bed with three drawers for storage below the mattress.

Any kind of storage is welcome in this tiny house.

I use the drawers for storing blankets, sheets and pillow cases, both for the bed, and for the mobile massage table when my therapist shows up once a month for my treatment.

Found in the recycle center, for a great price (free) this captains bed and the little dining buffet were abused and abandoned. 

I've given them both a new home, with a few coats of paint, and some TLC. 

One thing that pulls them together and unifies them is the curved features - although both from different eras - the bed is circa 1980, and the buffet is from the mid fifties or a bit later, they each have similar lines.  Making some rustic hardware also gives them a complementary feel.

Two coats of white paint makes a big difference. Use something tough enough for the extra exposure, and that will be washable. Furniture in a living space gets more dirt, wear and stains than in a bedroom, so needs a tougher finish.

The three drawers hold bedding for the guests. This is the perfect opportunity to showcase all the gorgeous vintage textile pieces you've been saving 'for good'.

Pillows and bolsters make the day bed into a couch for extra seating, and are moved off for sleeping. Something this cozy will be sure to get a lot of use by family and guests alike.

The upcycled buffet makes a headboard to lean against and provides a spot for a lamp and other articles like books and a glass of water.