The best day bed with storage in NZ overall is the Xclusive Thanham Daybed with Drawers, thanks to its solid pine frame, built-in drawers and space-saving single footprint that suits guest rooms and small bedrooms. A day bed with storage works as a sofa by day and a single bed by night, with drawers or a trundle underneath that put otherwise wasted floor space to work.
This guide compares six day beds with storage sold by TSB Living, ranking each for a specific need so shoppers can match a frame to their room, guest habits and style. If a full second bed matters more than storage, it is also worth comparing sofa beds before deciding. For occasional visitors only, an air mattress may be all that is needed.
Quick comparison
| Day bed | Best for | Storage type | Colour / finish | Dimensions (L x W x H) | Weight capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xclusive Thanham | Best overall | Built-in drawers | White pine | 197.3 x 97.3 x 63.8 cm | 160 kg |
| Aquilo | Best upholstered | 2 drawers on wheels | Slate fabric | 209 x 99 x 76 cm | 200 kg |
| Herb (Black) | Best modern look | Built-in drawers | Black pine | 194 x 96.8 x 66 cm | 160 kg |
| Herb (White) | Best for kids’ rooms | Built-in drawers | White pine | 194 x 96.8 x 66 cm | 160 kg |
| Ainsley | Best for two guests | Pull-out trundle | Grey velvet | 214 x 103 x 82.5 cm | 200 kg |
| Xclusive Aigen | Best value | Built-in drawers | White pine | 197.5 x 97.3 x 64 cm | 160 kg |
What is a day bed with storage?
A day bed is a single-size frame with a back and two sides that doubles as a sofa during the day and a bed at night. A day bed with storage adds built-in drawers or a pull-out trundle beneath the mattress base. Drawer models hide bedding, clothes or toys, while trundle models tuck away a second low mattress for guests. Every frame in this guide fits a standard New Zealand single mattress (190 cm long by 90 cm wide), sold separately.
1. Xclusive Thanham Daybed with Drawers – Best Overall
The Xclusive Thanham is the best all-round day bed with storage for most NZ homes, pairing a sturdy pine frame with hidden drawers in a footprint that sits neatly against a wall. As a single-size frame measuring 197.3 cm long, 97.3 cm wide and 63.8 cm tall, it reads as a low three-sided single that works as a sofa by day and takes a standard NZ single mattress by night. The clean white finish and simple lines blend into guest rooms, kids’ rooms and apartments without dominating them.
The frame is built from pine wood with high-quality LVL slats that spread weight evenly, plus MDF panels and smoothed edges for safer handling. It arrives as a two-box flat pack and needs assembly, after which the base drawers slide out for spare bedding or off-season clothes. Testers rate it to hold up to 160 kg including the mattress when the load is evenly distributed. The main trade-offs: it is single size only, so it sleeps one adult rather than two, the drawers are shallow so a bulky winter duvet can be a squeeze, and no mattress is included.
Pros
- Solid pine and LVL slat base feels sturdy for the price
- Compact single footprint suits small guest and kids’ rooms
- Built-in drawers keep bedding out of sight
- Neutral white finish matches most decor
Cons
- Single size only, not for two adults
- Drawers are shallow for bulky bedding
- Mattress not included; assembly required
Key specs: Model PR13398, white, pine wood / LVL slats / MDF, 197.3 x 97.3 x 63.8 cm, fits NZ single 190 x 90 cm, 160 kg capacity, flat-packed in 2 boxes, assembly required.
2. Aquilo Day Bed with Drawers – Best Upholstered Pick
The Aquilo is the best choice for shoppers who want a softer, sofa-like look rather than bare timber. It wraps a wooden frame in soft slate-grey fabric and sits on solid wood legs, giving it more of a lounge feel than the pine models. It is also the roomiest of the drawer beds at 209 cm long, 99 cm wide and 76 cm tall, with the tallest back in the group, so it doubles convincingly as a settee in a study or spare room.
Underneath, two spacious drawers roll out on wheels (each 92 cm long, 47 cm deep and 12 cm high) for hidden storage. The frame combines chipboard and MDF with solid wood legs and carries a higher 200 kg weight capacity than the pine frames. It ships in three boxes and needs assembly. The honest trade-offs are that fabric upholstery shows marks and needs more care than a wipeable timber frame, the drawers are shallow at 12 cm, and the larger footprint and three-box pack make it the most involved of the group to build.
Pros
- Soft slate fabric gives a genuine sofa look
- Two drawers on wheels roll out easily
- Higher 200 kg weight capacity
- Solid wood legs feel stable
Cons
- Fabric marks and needs more upkeep
- Drawers only 12 cm deep
- Larger footprint; three-box assembly
Key specs: Model PR71791, slate, chipboard / MDF / wood legs / soft fabric, 209 x 99 x 76 cm, drawers 92 x 47 x 12 cm, fits NZ single 190 x 90 cm, 200 kg capacity, flat-packed in 3 boxes, assembly required.
3. Herb Daybed with Drawers – Black – Best for Modern Rooms
The black Herb is the pick for a bolder, contemporary bedroom. It is an all-timber day bed with built-in drawers and no upholstery to maintain, finished in matte black pine that makes more of a statement than the white frames while staying neutral enough to pair with most bedding. At 194 cm long, 96.8 cm wide and 66 cm tall it is the most compact length in the line-up, which helps where floor space is tight.
The frame uses pine wood with timber slats and ships as a two-box flat pack, so assembly is quicker than the upholstered models. It carries a 160 kg weight capacity including the mattress. The trade-offs are typical of dark timber: the black finish shows dust and lint more readily than pale wood, the 160 kg limit is lower than the fabric beds, and it is a single frame only with no included mattress. For nightly sleeping, adding a supportive mattress and a good mattress topper lifts comfort noticeably.
Pros
- Striking matte black timber finish
- Most compact length for tight spaces
- No upholstery to clean; wipeable frame
- Quick two-box assembly
Cons
- Dark finish shows dust and lint
- Lower 160 kg capacity than fabric models
- Single size; mattress not included
Key specs: Black, pine wood / timber slats, 194 x 96.8 x 66 cm, fits NZ single 190 x 90 cm, 160 kg capacity, flat-packed in 2 boxes, assembly required.
4. Herb Daybed with Drawers – White – Best for Kids’ and Neutral Rooms
The white Herb is the same compact, all-timber frame as its black sibling, finished in clean white pine that brightens small rooms and matches a wide range of bedding. That makes it the best fit for kids’ rooms, teen bedrooms and neutral schemes where a paler piece keeps the space feeling open. The footprint is identical at 194 cm long, 96.8 cm wide and 66 cm tall, with the same built-in drawers for tucking away toys or spare linen.
Construction matches the black version: pine wood with timber slats, a two-box flat pack and a 160 kg weight capacity. The trade-offs are that a white finish shows scuffs and marks over time, which is worth weighing up in a busy kids’ room, the single size suits one sleeper, and assembly is required with no mattress supplied. Choosing between the two Herb beds comes down to whether a room wants a bright, recessive piece or a darker feature.
Pros
- Bright white finish opens up small rooms
- Great match for kids’ and teen bedrooms
- Built-in drawers for toys or linen
- Same quick two-box assembly
Cons
- White shows scuffs and marks over time
- Single size only
- Mattress not included; assembly required
Key specs: White, pine wood / timber slats, 194 x 96.8 x 66 cm, fits NZ single 190 x 90 cm, 160 kg capacity, flat-packed in 2 boxes, assembly required.
5. Ainsley Velvet Pull Out Day Bed – Grey – Best for Hosting Two Guests
The Ainsley is the best choice when a second sleeping spot matters more than drawers. Instead of storage compartments it hides a pull-out trundle, so one frame can sleep two when needed. It is the largest piece here at 214 cm long, 103 cm wide and 82.5 cm tall, and the trundle (190 cm long, 93 cm deep, 20 cm high) rolls out on four smooth-gliding wheels to become an extra single bed.
The frame is upholstered in grey velvet over a chipboard and MDF structure with wood legs, giving clean lines and a contemporary silhouette, and it carries a 200 kg weight capacity. It ships in three boxes and needs assembly. The key honesty point: because the base holds a second mattress rather than drawers, this is a trundle day bed, not a true storage-drawer model, so it stores a bed rather than bedding or clothes. It also needs about a metre of clear floor to pull the trundle out, and the velvet needs regular care.
Pros
- Trundle adds a genuine second bed
- Largest, most sofa-like frame in the group
- 200 kg weight capacity
- Velvet finish looks contemporary
Cons
- Trundle stores a mattress, not drawers
- Needs about a metre of pull-out clearance
- Velvet needs regular upkeep; three-box assembly
Key specs: Model PR71790, grey velvet, chipboard / MDF / wood legs / velvet, 214 x 103 x 82.5 cm, trundle 190 x 93 x 20 cm, fits NZ single 190 x 90 cm, 200 kg capacity, flat-packed in 3 boxes, assembly required.
6. Xclusive Aigen Daybed with Drawers – Best Value
The Xclusive Aigen is the best value white day bed with storage, mirroring the Thanham’s pine build in a similarly compact single frame. It measures 197.5 cm long, 97.3 cm wide and 64 cm tall, with a clean white finish and simple, neutral styling that suits apartments and multi-use rooms. Built-in drawers in the base keep bedroom essentials organised and off the floor.
Like the Thanham, the Aigen uses pine wood with high-quality LVL slats and MDF, arrives as a two-box flat pack, and holds up to 160 kg including the mattress. The trade-offs: it is so close to the Thanham that the decision often comes down to current stock, price and small styling details rather than performance, the drawers are shallow, and it is single size with no mattress included. For winter guests, pairing it with an electric blanket is an easy comfort upgrade.
Pros
- Strong value for a pine storage day bed
- Compact footprint for apartments
- LVL slat base spreads weight well
- Neutral white finish suits most rooms
Cons
- Very similar to the Thanham
- Shallow drawers
- Single size; mattress not included
Key specs: Model PR13397, white, pine wood / LVL slats / MDF, 197.5 x 97.3 x 64 cm, fits NZ single 190 x 90 cm, 160 kg capacity, flat-packed in 2 boxes, assembly required.
How to choose a day bed with storage
Decide on storage type first. Drawer day beds (the Thanham, Aquilo, both Herbs and the Aigen) hide bedding, clothes or toys, while a trundle day bed (the Ainsley) tucks away a second mattress for guests instead.
Check size and mattress. Every frame here fits a standard NZ single (190 x 90 cm), usually bought separately. Measure the room, and for a trundle allow about a metre of clear floor to roll it out.
Weigh up frame material. Timber frames (pine) are easy to wipe down and hard-wearing; upholstered frames (fabric or velvet) look softer and more sofa-like but need more care.
Match the weight capacity. The pine models are rated to 160 kg, while the upholstered Aquilo and Ainsley take up to 200 kg including the mattress.
Plan for nightly comfort. For everyday sleeping, add a supportive medium-firm mattress and consider a topper for extra cushioning; the frame matters less than the mattress on top of it.
Verdict
For most NZ shoppers the Xclusive Thanham Daybed with Drawers is the best day bed with storage, balancing a sturdy pine frame, hidden drawers and a compact single footprint. Choose the Aquilo for a soft, sofa-like upholstered look, the black or white Herb for a compact all-timber frame, the Ainsley when you need a second bed via its trundle, and the Aigen for the best value white pine option.
FAQs
What is a day bed?
A day bed is a single-size frame with a back and two sides that works as a sofa by day and a bed by night. Day beds with storage add built-in drawers or a pull-out trundle underneath, making them popular in NZ guest rooms, kids’ rooms and small apartments where floor space is limited.
Can you sleep on a day bed every night?
Yes. A day bed is fine for nightly sleep as long as it has a supportive single mattress. The frame itself does not affect comfort much; a good pocket-spring or foam mattress on a day bed sleeps much like the same mattress on a standard single bed.
What size mattress fits a day bed in NZ?
Most day beds, including all the TSB Living frames in this guide, take a standard New Zealand single mattress measuring 190 cm long by 90 cm wide. Mattresses are usually sold separately, so check the frame’s stated mattress size before buying to avoid gaps at the sides.
What is the difference between a day bed with drawers and a trundle?
A day bed with drawers has pull-out compartments for storing bedding, clothes or toys. A trundle day bed, like the Ainsley, hides a second low mattress on wheels instead. Drawers suit organising a room, while a trundle suits hosting an extra overnight guest.
Are day beds with storage good for small rooms?
Yes. Day beds have a compact single footprint and put otherwise wasted under-bed space to work, so they suit small bedrooms, studios and multi-use rooms. A drawer model keeps bedding out of sight, while a trundle adds a second bed without needing extra floor space.
Do these day beds come with a mattress?
No. The TSB Living day beds in this guide are sold as frames only and fit a standard NZ single mattress (190 x 90 cm). Buyers add their own mattress, and for nightly use a supportive medium-firm mattress with a topper is worth considering.