How to Choose an Outdoor Daybed: The Complete Buying Guide

Few pieces change how you use your outdoor space like a daybed, and none makes a statement quite like a round one. A round daybed turns a spare corner into the best seat in the backyard: somewhere to read, nap or lose a Sunday afternoon, from the first warm day of spring to the last of autumn. Round or rectangular, canopy or open - choosing the right day bed for you comes down to four decisions.

1. Round or Rectangular?

Round daybeds are the statement piece. They work best anchoring a corner of a deck or sitting beside a pool, and a few people can share one comfortably. The trade-off is the footprint: a two metre circle needs clear space around it, or it ends up looking squeezed in. Rectangular and sofa style daybeds or sun loungers take up less space, which suits balconies and smaller courtyards, and most of them double as ordinary seating. If you have a spare corner or a pool edge, round earns its space. If the daybed is sharing the area with a dining setting or a barbecue, rectangular may win.

2. Canopy or Open?

Whether you need a canopy comes down to how much sun your outdoor area gets. If your outdoor area is uncovered and gets full midday sun, a canopy is what makes the daybed usable past mid-morning, and it adds privacy too. If your patio is already covered, an open daybed keeps things simple and doesn't block the view. Most canopies fold back, so you're not locked into shade on a mild day.

3. Which Material?

Wicker is the classic outdoor daybed look, and for good reason - it doesn't rust, it handles rain and sun, and the weave hides everyday scuffs. Aluminium daybeds are the more contemporary take: the same weatherproof frame with a cleaner, more open weave that suits modern outdoor spaces. Teak is the timber that takes care of itself  dense with natural oils, it shrugs off weather and only gets more beautiful doing it.

Whichever you choose, check the cushions: quick-dry foam and removable, washable covers matter more on a daybed than on any other outdoor piece, because a daybed is basically all cushion.

4. Where Will It Live?

Measure the space before you decide. Leave at least sixty centimetres of walking room on whichever sides people pass. Beside a pool, wicker and aluminium handle splashed chlorine and salt without complaint. On grass, place pavers or a base under the feet so they are not sitting in the damp. Under a roof, almost anything goes.

As a guide, a round daybed is typically around two metres across, so allow the circle plus that sixty centimetres of clearance. Rectangular daybeds have a footprint closer to a large sofa and can sit flush against a wall, which is why they win in tighter spaces.

5. Looking After It

Outdoor daybeds are built to stay outside: wicker and aluminium frames handle every season, and teak has been living outdoors on boats for a century. The cushions are the part that rewards a little care. Most outdoor cushions are water resistant rather than waterproof - they will shrug off a shower and quick dry foam recovers fast, but if a long wet stretch is forecast, storing them under cover keeps them fresher for longer. Removable covers earn their keep here: when they need a wash, they come off and go in the machine.

Cleaning is simple whatever the material. Warm soapy water and a soft brush covers almost everything: work along the weave on wicker, rinse and wipe dry on aluminium, and let teak either silver naturally or take an occasional oil to hold its colour. For a deeper clean on woven pieces, see our guide to cleaning wicker furniture.

Ready to choose? Browse the full range of outdoor daybeds - every listing has detailed photos and dimensions, so you can check the fit against your measurements before you buy. See the round outdoor daybeds if you have the corner for one, or explore our outdoor sun lounges if a slimmer poolside shape suits your space better. 

Every daybed ships Australia wide. Or if you'd rather try before you buy, come and visit our showrooms in Castle Hill, Penrith or Yatala