I had a sleeping porch years ago when we lived in an art deco era house. But mine was on the second floor above a large porch off the master bedroom. It had a real ceiling (the 3rd floor was above). What made it a sleeping porch were the windows on three outside walls. These windows were very large so basically three walls could be open (there were screens to keep bugs out) to allow good air flow. The floor was beautiful wood and it was as nicely finished as the rest of the house. IOW, this wasn't a rustic or sleeping out in nature experience. There were window on the fourth wall shared with the master bedroom.

Maybe finish it with a spar varnish like what is used on boats. If you could find some boat cushions that would probably be waterproof/resistant.

I wonder if a plastic mattress cover that zips around entire mattress would keep a mattress dry in the upside conditions? Just a thought. Like the boat cushion idea if you can get big enough.

Yes, marine grade varnish or paint should protect the wood. I think a plastic mattress cover would be more likely to trap the humidity that will seep insode it and cause condensation on a hot day and subsequent mildew. On a porch that gets sunlight in the day, make sure the beds are in full sun at least part of the day.

And use mosquito netting at night!

If you are not set on metal or wood, I actually just bought a wicker outdoor bed from Wal-Mart after looking at many, many others that were a lot more expensive and not as nice looking (IMO). Comes in red and green. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Providence-Outdoor-Day-Bed-Red/29002326

I move its mattress into the screen porch when it rains because I want to be able to use it the next day, but I don't think you need to do that since it is designed for outdoor use.

I recently added a wood daybed from World Market to my screen lanai.

Wood Daybed

It's very hot and humid here in SW Florida & rains a lot during the summer. I was concerned about mold and mildew with the mattress, and I purchased this mattress protector from Amazon to use beneath the sheets and daybed cover.

Mattress Cover

So far so good. I added polyester floor to ceiling drapery over the screens to provide some sun control & minimize rain intrusion. They add a nice ambiance & dry quickly after the rain. Everything is holding up well.

Thanks for the ideas - marine paint and boat cushions, good. Wow beagles I never knew such a thing existed, worth looking into. Thank you!

alexamorrie, I've seen such sleeping porches on two occasions in old houses. I would love one if my house could accommodate it.

I have a swing bed on our screen porch (first photo). Since we live in the south (humid) and the wind blows rain into our house at time, I ordered fabric and foam that would hold up to the outdoors and not mold/mildew. The mattress is extremely comfortable and dries fast.

Dryfast foam mattress – TheFoamFactory.com
Sunbrella mattress cover – OutdoorFabrics.com

More good ideas. Thanks. Since I don't really have the right type of porch, I'd probably be putting this outside more or less in the open.

I don't think you can simply put the bed out there without some type of protection, maybe an offset umbrella? Don't know what part of the country you're in, but I'd be afraid of vermin nesting in the bed or mattress.

At first, I was thinking the same thing, Beverly. But then I realized I don't have the same concerns with other upholstered outdoor furniture. And now I'm thinking I'd like some sort of outdoor bed! I do think I would like it to have a canopy, though.

As pretty as a bed always looks in pictures out in a garden, a patio, or even a second floor veranda, I can't help but think what little 'things' might find the bed 'move in ready'. Having the mattress w/zippered mattress cover left out might be ok, but I could never leave the bed 'dressed' and feel comfortable about getting right in! Gives me the heebie geebies just thinking about it!

In a garden area it might be nice to have it setting on a bed of gravel, with sand underneath.

I could also never imagine feeling comfortable getting right in without screens around it - spiders - eek! But more power to you if you can! I would love a sleeping porch like alexamorrie described! But then I would love ANY screen porch, which is my dream, sigh!

Having slept outside on beds that are on a raised platform with tent sides and roof, I can attest that it's a lovely way to sleep. We had friends that lived that way each summer next to a lake. You could check pinterest for pictures of Mary Jane's Farm for ideas of beds on platforms. She has an open air b n b of these, but it looks like they aren't open this year. The tents I stayed in were retired army issue, so not nearly as glamorous, but still breezy, restful, and the night sounds couldn't be beat.

Well I don't think I'd go the whole nine yards with a matching sheet set,etc. It would be something you could just take a nap on like a hammock. I'm still liking my original idea of painting the wooden bed (with marine paint as suggested above) and finding a mattress or long cushion that is for outdoor use. I'm sure bugs could be a nuisance but I'll just have to shake the cushion before I lay down. :)

I have an all-weather wicker chaise that I bought from Plow and Hearth years ago and during the summer I'll place it in the privet arch. However, it's not the most comfortable for taking a snooze. It's only been since two years ago that I bought the PAH cushion for it because of the price.

Beagles, how has your daybed held up? Now that the weather is warm again, I've started wondering about sleep out on occasion :)

I really love it still! For the price, you simply cannot go wrong!

We don't use the canopy any more because that held up horribly (every time it rained, the top would be flooded with water and then the poles bent). But you don't need the canopy, you can just stick the built-in plugs in the holes where the posts would go. I got an umbrella and we use that when it gets too sunny.

We are on the day bed every day in the summer (me + 2 dogs). It has held up wonderfully even though my dog scratches at it sometimes (you know, dog nesting behavior where they spin in circles and scratch). It has gotten wet a few times and been fine, but we do move it in most of the time from the rain except on rare occasions when we forget. Cushion is a tidbit heavy and cumbersome to move, but I can easily do it by myself w/o any real trouble. Only problem is, I will lay down to work on my computer on it and then I end up asleep!

I'd recommend it, definitely. Here is one little fluff enjoying it just the other day:

Thanks, Beagles! It was this picture in the porches thread that made me think of it. I'm going to go ahead and order it :)

Let me know how you like it :)

We have one on our rooftop deck that my husband built for us using pressure treated lumber, outdoor paint, and outdoor foam cushion for which we had a fitted sunbrella cover made. We keep all our furniture covered with outdoor furniture covers when we aren't using them to keep them protected so they're clean and ready to use when we want to use the roof.

Errant_gw did you get your daybed? How do you like it?

Not yet! Having a heck of a time with the crappy freight delivery company :o I actually just got off the phone with them. They are acting like I live in the middle of nowhere, yet FedEx and UPS have no issues.

That's annoying! We picked ours up, but I am shocked Wal-Mart would have such a bad delivery company since you'd think they deliver a lot of stuff. Hopefully soon :)

The secret is to cover it with an itchy grey wool carriage blanket. Worked for grandma! I just visited her old house yesterday and the old sleeping porch. It was about half the size that it was in my memory.

I know some folks who put up a tent in their backyard and also you could use mosquito netting over the bed or put it in a gazebo. I did find a wolf spider in my bed while sleeping in a friend's tent. I spent the rest of the night on the porch on the couch. It was nice while it lasted. I have a bed on my porch but the yard is so noisy with road traffic it isn't as nice as I would like it to be.

I love that idea!! In my last apartment I bought a medical bed from overstock. They're comfortable and waterproof! I set it on top of my diy pallet couch and it was amazing!!

I never built mine. :(

To tell you the truth since the neighbors cut down the hedge row between our properties and the increase of traffic on our once-quiet country road there wouldn't be the privacy I'd like. Never say never tho I guess.