Swinging garden day beds, handcrafted in oak for calm outdoor living
Our swinging garden day beds are made in Britain from prime European oak, designed to bring calm to outdoor life. A generous place to recline, gently suspended, and crafted with the same quiet attention to detail that defines every Sitting Spiritually piece.
Choose a simple open setting or add an optional oak pergola to frame the day bed and define the space. Built to live outdoors and age beautifully, it’s an invitation to slow down - season after season.
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Commonly Asked Questions Around Day Beds
What sizes does the day bed come in?
Three: Queen at 2.0 x 1.5m, King at 2.25 x 1.5m and Super at 2.5 x 1.5m. In our standard oak pergola the footprint is 2.65 x 1.9m, 2.95 x 1.9m and 3.15 x 1.9m, measured to the posts at the corners. The bed swings inside that footprint, so you need clear space only to walk around it and climb on. Each one is made by hand, so allow a centimetre or two either way.
Why does a day bed need its own pergola?
Because a swinging bed pulls sideways, and a garden pergola is not built for that. A pergola made for climbing plants carries a still load from above. Ours carries the bed, everyone on it and the sideways pull every time it moves, so the posts, beams and joints are sized for that. If you want to hang a day bed from an existing structure, send us drawings or photographs and we will tell you whether it can take one.
Why is the bed air-dried oak but the pergola green oak?
Each timber suits its job. The bed is air-dried Sterling grade oak, the same as our swing seats, because it is a piece of furniture you lie on and it needs to stay true. The pergola is green oak, the traditional choice for large structural frames: it is strong, and as it seasons over a year or two it shrinks and tightens at the joints. Expect fine checks along the pergola's grain as it does; they do not weaken it.
Can the day bed stay outside all year?
Yes. The frame is oak and the mattress is made to measure in Nautolex, a waterproof marine vinyl made to be left outside. Bring scatter and bolster cushions in when you are not using them, or pull the waterproof cover over the bed and cushions together.
What is the waterproof cover made from?
Top Notch 9, a breathable, water-repellent polyester with a vent built in. The vent matters more than the fabric: a cover that traps damp underneath does more harm than no cover, and this one lets air move and moisture out. It pulls over the bed and its cushions together.
Can I add a roof or screens?
Yes. Clear, UV-rated polycarbonate roof panels fit the top of the standard pergola, and UV screens fit its sides. For a full roof, our day bed with a cedar roof is built as one structure, from £32,540. Where a garden needs a different footprint, roof or set of screens, we design a structure around the bed to suit it.
Can I stop it swinging?
Yes. Restraining straps hold the bed still when you want it to be a bed for reading or sleeping rather than a swing, and unclip when you want it to move again. Suspension springs are available for a softer, smoother swing.
How is it delivered and installed?
The bed arrives fully assembled and weighs about 200kg, so it is installed and levelled in place by our team. The pergola is built in full in our workshop first, then taken down, numbered and rebuilt in your garden, usually in a day. On soft ground the posts are set in concrete; on paving, stainless steel fixing-down shoes secure them with no groundwork.
How much does a day bed cost?
The bed alone starts from £5,190 for a Queen, £5,575 for a King and £5,900 for a Super. With our oak pergola, from £10,680, £11,280 and £11,885. Prices include VAT. Cushions, covers, screens and roof panels are chosen with your day bed and priced with it. Delivery and installation are quoted for your postcode.
How long does a day bed take to make?
4 to 6 weeks from order. Every bed is made to order in our Devon and Dorset workshops; nothing is held in stock. If you have a date in mind, tell us at the start and we will say plainly whether we can meet it.
For more frequently asked questions, please see our FAQ page or email us at info@sittingspiritually.co.uk.
Long afternoons, beautifully spent
From shaded pergolas to sunlit terraces, our day beds have a way of becoming the most-used corner of the garden. These are the words of the people who commissioned them.
"Far beyond our expectations"
Absolutely first rate service from Martin, Celia and everyone else and Sitting Spiritually.
The team of craftsmen that installed our daybed and custom oak pergola were fantastic - hard working, tidy and phenomenal attention to details. The quality of the finished product is second to none and we can't wait to enjoy the structures in the summer!
Google Review
Guidance around a Swinging Day Bed
Expert guidance and garden design advice for our beautiful range of handcrafted swinging day beds.
An Oak Swinging Day Bed, Made to Live Outdoors
A centrepiece for slow afternoons, or a subtle sanctuary tucked beneath a tree. Let clematis soften an oak pergola, or settle your garden day bed into a secluded corner of planting. However you place it, it becomes the part of the garden you return to.
Our Swinging Day Bed is a luxury garden day bed swing designed for real outdoor living — to sit, recline or drift into an afternoon doze. Handcrafted in prime oak for strength and longevity, it’s made to live outdoors year-round and will naturally weather over time to an elegant silvery grey. Choose to hang your day bed from your own structure, or pair it with our bespoke oak pergola for a beautifully framed, architectural setting.
For comfort, we offer perfectly sized cushions made to suit the day bed, with a wide choice of weather-resistant outdoor fabrics so you can create the look you love — calm neutrals or a considered note of colour. Optional glass and bottle holders keep everything within arm’s reach, so the garden day bed becomes what it should be: effortless, unhurried, and entirely yours.
Behind the scenes:
The Sitting Spiritually
Experience:
Installing Our
Swinging Day Bed
Your Perfect Garden Swing Bed
On a beautiful sunny day, you sit on your sofa and yearn to be outdoors. The outdoor day bed is the perfect solution, you can enjoy the outdoors without giving up the comfort of your indoor furniture.
Our day beds have mattresses and cushions designed to fit perfectly. You can select the colours for your bedding to reflect the colours in your garden or your favourite colours. We have a wide range of fabric options for your new garden furniture. We use Sunbrella® fabric, to ensure durability and easy maintenance.
There's no need for assembly instructions, your new day bed can be delivered to your garden and assembled for you by our associates at Saturn Removals. They'll even put all your chosen accessories onto your day bed for you, so you're ready for a relaxing swing.
Don't worry about leaving your day bed over winter. We have a pullover cover that will keep your day bed and bedding safe from the elements. The covers fabric is breathable, water repellent and exceptionally high quality.
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