Take a Break with 9 Daybeds at Historic Sites by Emma Peters (September 2026)

Daybeds and chaise lounges seem to encapsulate the drowsiness and languidity of the late summer season. Outdoor activities and gatherings can feel dulled by the scorching afternoon sun, while voices are muffled as the heat bends sound waves upward and away from the ground. A desire to retreat to cool indoor spaces is pervasive, and daybeds have long provided the perfect place to rest.

While the history of these furnishings can be traced back to ancient times, many historic daybeds and chaise lounges in the United States hail from the 19th and 20th centuries. Highly adaptable, they traditionally functioned as chairs or couches in parlors and other social spaces, while also serving as beds for people to rest in during the day.

To learn more about them, we asked staff at the National Trust Historic Sites and Historic Artists’ Homes and Studios to share information about the pieces in their collections. Read on to explore a selection of daybeds and chaise lounges preserved at historic sites around the country.