Today’s Project

If you have out-of-town family and friends but space is limited, you know how challenging it can be to comfortably accommodate overnight guests. This do-it-yourself daybed project will keep your loved ones off the sofa (or the floor) while adding a comfortable spot to sit or sleep in the family room, den, office or spare bedroom.

By day, the project serves as a comfortable and attractive sofa; once the sun goes down, it easily converts into two beds. The traditional design is characterized by the “trundle” bed that rolls out on casters from underneath the main unit.

Both the upper and lower beds are designed for standard twin mattresses. With quality mattresses, these beds are far more comfortable (as well as attractive and affordable) than a traditional pull-out sofa bed.

Materials required for the project include standard dimensional lumber, three sheets of plywood, wood screws, wood buttons, nails, casters and finish of choice.

The completed daybed measures 88 inches long by 44 inches deep by 34 inches tall.

The Daybed plan, No. 810, is $9.95 and includes step-by-step instructions with photos, full-size traceable patterns, construction diagrams, a complete shopping list and cutting schedule and a toll-free help line for project questions.

For more space-saving sleep solutions, a package of two futon sofa-bed plans, No. C86, is $16.95. A catalog picturing hundreds of do-it-yourself projects is $2. Please include $4 for postage and handling (except catalog-only orders) and allow about two weeks for delivery.

To order by mail, clip this article and send it with a check or money order to U-Bild Features, c/o The Spokesman-Review, 15241 Stagg St., Van Nuys, CA 91405.

To order by credit card, call (800) 828-2453. Visit U-Bild on the Web at u-bild.com.