Is a daybed smaller than a twin bed?

No, daybeds are not typically smaller than twin beds. While today's daybeds can be found in all kinds of sizes, they were traditionally in fact the size of a standard twin bed. Variations on the daybed have been developed all over the world, and contemporary examples come in all shapes, upholstery options and sizes. 

Daybeds, which traditionally comprise a simple three-sided frame and twin-size mattress or boxy foam cushion, have a long history that dates back at least to the early Greeks and Romans. Daybeds are no longer limited to twin size, and you're unlikely to find many that are smaller than twin beds.

All manner of daybeds have materialized over the years. There are ornate, unconventional versions created in the Louis XV, Art Deco and Empire styles, while popular mid-century modern iterations include the Barcelona daybed, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich, as well as the Nelson daybed, which architect George Nelson created for Herman Miller in the 1940s. But you don’t have to limit yourself to one of the classics.

Find vintage daybeds for sale on 1stDibs.