Back in October we mentioned our plans to add a hanging daybed to the covered portion of our front porch, and the whole family couldn’t be more excited that it’s finally finished.
Hanging daybeds are very popular around here, and we’ve always loved them. What’s better than reading or napping outside on a lazy Saturday afternoon?
An Airbnb we stayed at in Costa Rica last January had one that sealed the deal for us. Sherry and our daughter spent hours leaning against the arms with their legs stretched toward each other, reading, chatting, and swaying. It felt like the perfect outdoor lounging spot.
We realized our front porch had an almost-perfect spot for one: it’s covered to shield the bed from rain and strong sun, it has sturdy exposed beams to hang from, and there’s a fan to keep things cool.
The only limitation was depth — there wasn’t enough room for a full twin-mattress-sized daybed without blocking a well-used path to our outdoor shower and the area where we load beach chairs from a wicker bin. We needed clearance to move easily without feeling cramped.
We found a cushion just three inches shorter than a twin mattress (still six feet long) and 10 inches less deep, which was perfect. At nearly 30 inches deep it matches typical sofa cushion depth and feels comfortable, while leaving enough room to walk through to the shower and handle chairs without obstruction.
The nearby egg chair swivels, so someone sitting there can turn to face whoever’s on the daybed. But the main challenge was finding an outdoor cushion that fit our space and would handle weather, spills, and frequent use.
Finding an Outdoor Daybed Cushion
Even with a cover, we wanted a cushion that was made for outdoor use. Some people use a regular twin mattress inside a waterproof case and then slip on outdoor fabric. That works, but it can become heavy and awkward to move for cleaning or storm prep.
Instead we searched for a replacement outdoor sofa cushion sized to our space. That way the cushion is already mildew-resistant, tailored for outdoor conditions, and lightweight to handle. After some searching we found a replacement cushion designed for a well-known outdoor sofa that matched our measurements, color, and fabric.
We ordered the cushion and three large back pillows during an end-of-summer sale. They were back-ordered but arrived before Christmas. They turned out to be lightweight, quick-drying, and easy to clean — they’ve handled rain, sun, and kid spills with no issues so far.
Materials
In addition to your cushion or mattress, here’s what we used to build the hanging daybed. These quantities fit our cushion (28″ x 72″) — adjust for a standard twin (38″ x 75″) or other sizes. If you plan to stain instead of paint, don’t buy pre-primed wood.
- Three 8′ 2×4 boards (frame)
- Four 8′ 1×4 boards (slats)
- Three 8′ 1×8 primed boards
- Three 8′ 1×4 primed boards
- Two 8′ 1×3 primed boards
- Three 8′ 1×2 primed boards
- Box of 2″ exterior screws
- Exterior-grade wood glue
- Four 5-gallon buckets
- Eight screw eye hooks (ceiling and bed)
- 3/4″ natural hemp rope (we used a 48-foot length)
- Outdoor-rated primer and semi-gloss paint
Building the Daybed Platform
Building the platform was straightforward. We combined experience from building bunk beds with a clear tutorial we adapted for this project. The core is a simple 2×4 frame built to the exact cushion dimensions, connected with exterior screws to support the cushion and serve as attachment points for the hanging hardware.
To make the base look more substantial, we wrapped the 2×4 frame with 1×8 boards. We used primed boards since we planned to paint. Decide how much of the cushion you want recessed within the platform before attaching the outer boards — we left just enough lip to hold the cushion in place without making it uncomfortable to sit or lie on.
After wrapping the frame, we added 1×4 slats across the top to form the platform. We primed and painted the entire structure with exterior paint (we used a semi-gloss white) to maximize protection against the elements. Propping the frame on 5-gallon buckets made several steps easier during assembly.
Building the Daybed Arms
The arms and side rails are a matter of style. We chose a low-profile arm to mimic horizontal railings around our house and decided not to add a back rail so the daybed would encourage facing outward toward the view rather than leaning back like a sofa. It’s easy to add a back later if desired.
Begin by adding corner posts made from two 1×4 boards joined at a right angle. We kept our corner posts 17.25″ tall to support pillows without overpowering the design. From there we attached horizontal 1×3 rails with glue and brad nails, using small scrap spacers to ensure even gaps and level spacing.
We added a flat top piece to create an armrest and a 1×2 trim along the bottom for a finished look. After assembly we filled nail holes, sanded, caulked seams, and painted everything with the same exterior paint.
Hanging the Outdoor Daybed
We experimented with different hanging methods — starting with two anchor points and later moving to four — and plan to detail the best approach in a separate post. For hardware we used heavy-duty eye hooks in the ceiling and on the bed, 3/4″ natural hemp rope, and a few basic knots. The rope stretches a bit under load, and propping the assembled bed on 5-gallon buckets helped us align everything before tying off the ropes. Once the ropes relaxed under weight, the bed settled to the right height.
The most important safety step is locating strong ceiling joists or other reliable anchor points for your hardware. Our porch has exposed beams, which made finding solid anchors straightforward.
Although our initial hanging method wasn’t final, after rehanging we now use the setup daily. The spot has become a favorite place to relax during warm days.
The six-foot cushion comfortably seats two people upright at either end or allows someone taller to sprawl out completely.
Budget
Aside from the cushion, the build was budget-friendly. We paid $399 for the long outdoor cushion plus three oversized pillows during a sale. The material breakdown for the build was:
- Wood: $150
- Buckets: $14
- Eye hooks: $25
- Rope: $28
- Total for building materials: $217
Including the cushion set brings the project total to $616. That’s far less than many custom hanging daybeds on the market, which can run well over $1,000, making this a cost-effective way to get a durable, attractive outdoor lounging spot.
We’ll follow up with a separate post and video that dives into the hanging methods we tried and the one that worked best so you can avoid the mistakes we made along the way. For now, this finished daybed has already earned its place as a favorite porch hangout.
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