We’re In Our Nap Bench Era

Dec 23, 2023

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The Nap Dress has been a fan favorite for several seasons in a row now, and it shows no sign of lying down on the job any time soon. Now we're seeing the rise and shine of another must-have for relaxed living, this time in the world of home furnishings, not fashion. Meet the Nap Bench.

And no, this is not your mama's daybed, that versatile piece of furniture that turns the home office into a guest room as needed. While we love a good daybed, most aren't equipped for the outdoors, and summer is when we nap outside. And because they serve as true beds for kids or guests (or those snoozing on an enclosed porch), daybeds take up a fair bit of space! The nap bench is a scaled-back version of a daybed, one that's ready to take this slumber party outside, although it looks just as lovely indoors. In fact, a nap bench is the center piece of the room above, which Zoe Feldman designed for the House Beautiful Whole Home 2022.

With a slimmer profile, nap benches are far easier to pull out onto a patio or back into the house as needed. Instead of having a heavy-duty frame with a back and sides, they have a minimalist platform atop which sits a cushion. This might not sound glamorous, but nap benches can be more of a fancy cot than a bed. But we really do mean fancy! Imagine a piece of garden furniture a Bridgerton brother would fall asleep on after a vigorous gallop through the fields.

"Textile companies have come so far. Indoor/outdoor fabrics have evolved into things of beauty," says designer Robin Gannon. "We have these luxurious materials—think leathers and velvets—that we've traditionally associated with indoor seating that are now very appropriate and can be used outside."

In other words, nap benches are not just for napping. "Nap benches are a terrific way to help define the seating area of a space, especially outdoors," she says. "We're all about creating that outdoor room, whether it's on a patio or a concrete pad."

Designer Isabel Ladd agrees. "It's a perfect spot to read, relax with a breeze, watch a light rain pass, or snuggle with snacks and kids, or unwind with wine and an intimate friend," says Ladd, who has incorporated nap benches into several projects of late.

While a nap bench is a glorious thing on its own, you shouldn't be afraid to add other furniture to zhuzh up the whole nap bench experience! "I also added a garden stool within reach, for a convenient perch for a book, phone, snacks, and a drink," says Ladd of a recent patio project featuring a nap bench.

Just don't forget the ultimate reason you'll want to place a nap bench in a space. "I stuffed both a lightweight blanket and fluffy pillow in a nearby lidded basket, so napping accessories were easily at your fingertips," says Ladd.

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