Skip to main content
Nelson Daybed
Iconic Designs

Nelson Daybed

About the Design

Like many modernists, George Nelson (1908–86) relished design that solved a problem. And there’s probably no more common design problem than not having enough space. A daybed, the Connecticut-born writer, architect and furniture maker reasoned, is “ideal for the bedroom that has to double as a sitting room.” Nelson’s versatile design — particularly with its slim profile and unassuming legs — fits neatly into a compact space, both in its small square footage and its quiet presence.

Nelson conceived an early version of the daybed for use in his own home in 1941. By 1948, he had perfected the design and presented it to Herman Miller, where Nelson had been director of design since 1947. The furniture maker has called his work as a designer “to do much more with much less,” and the final design for his daybed is the culmination of one of Nelson’s trademark efforts to simplify to the greatest degree.

A single, honed wood platform is supported by four graceful legs, either in wood or a more industrial-looking brushed-steel hairpin. Atop this basic frame rests a boxy foam cushion; side bolsters, which are removable for the quick transition from sofa to bed, are optional.

Nelson famously referred to his moments of creative inspiration as “zaps” — though the term appears to imply immediate, fully formed ideas, the daybed proves that sometimes a moment of genius is really the distillation of a long period of perfecting that idea.

The Nelson daybed is still manufactured by Herman Miller today.

George Nelson Nelson Daybed

to
3
3
3
2
1
1
George Nelson for Herman Miller Sofa in Light Brown Patterned Upholstery
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nelson for Herman Miller, sofa, model ‘5671’, fabric, metal, designed in 1955 and produced in 1956-78. This wonderful midcentury sofa is designed by the renowned American ...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Metal

George Nelson for Herman Miller Living Room Set
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nelson for Herman Miller living room set, United States, 1960s. This fine living room set consisting of two sofas and a side table is...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Steel

George Nelson, Modular Sofa and Table Seating System, 1966 for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Munster, NRW
George Nelson for Herman Miller, 1960s, United States. Very fine Modular §seater sofa by George Nelson (1908-1986) for Herman Miller. This sofa has a metal frame with square chro...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Related Items
George Nelson for Herman Miller Blue Velour and Chrome Daybed
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in New York, NY
American mid-century daybed with a royal blue velour upholstered rectangular bed with two matching bolster pillows resting on a chrome frame with a central...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chaise Longues

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Cini Boeri for Arflex Modular 'Strips' Sofa
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Cini Boeri for Arflex, modular 'strips' sofa, fabric, chrome Italy, 1968 Stunning 'Strips' sofa designed by Italian designer Cini Boeri for Arfl...
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas

Materials

Chrome

  • Cini Boeri for Arflex Modular 'Strips' Sofa
  • Cini Boeri for Arflex Modular 'Strips' Sofa
  • Cini Boeri for Arflex Modular 'Strips' Sofa
  • Cini Boeri for Arflex Modular 'Strips' Sofa
H 24.41 in W 49.22 in D 37.41 in
George Nelson Stool for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Vitra
Located in Berlin, DE
George Nelson stool for Herman Miller Early Vitra label.
Category

Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Aluminum

Customizable Tacchini Quadro Modular Seating System Designed by Pietro Arosio
By Pietro Arosio, Tacchini
Located in New York, NY
Quadro is a modular system which enables several configurations of sofas, armchairs and ottomans in a variety of combinations and dimensions addressing the needs of any space or envi...
Category

2010s Italian Sofas

Materials

Fabric

George Nelson Vanity Stool Model 4672 for Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Hanover, MA
George Nelson vanity bench stool model N° 4672 for Herman Miller, designed 1946. Aluminum rods, foam, original fabric covering. Original Herman Miller label present. Produced by Herman Miller from 1946 to 1956. One owner. Cushion dimensions ~3 inches high by 19 inches wide by 15 inches deep.
Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Aluminum

George Nelson Stool for Herman Miller, USA, 1960s
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Berlin, DE
George Nelson Stool for Herman Miller, USA - 1960s in all original condition with the rare brown base George Nelson (1908-1986) was an American industrial designer and architect who...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Metal

SINATRA Modular Sofa
Located in Frazão, Porto
The SINATRA modular seating system is the result of a search for elegance, comfort and versatility combined with each other. The contemporary style design of the Sinatra sofa is char...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Sofas

Materials

Brass, Iron

  • SINATRA Modular Sofa
  • SINATRA Modular Sofa
  • SINATRA Modular Sofa
  • SINATRA Modular Sofa
H 33.08 in W 125.99 in D 41.34 in
George Nelson for Herman Miller Slatted Bench Maple Blonde
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Beautiful midcentury George Nelson Herman Miller slatted bench. This bench is 60" Long Slatted coffee table or bench. Blonde bench top with Black Lacquer ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Benches

Materials

Maple, Lacquer

George Nelson for Herman Miller Modular Set of Sofas and Side Table
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nelson for Herman Miller, sofa model ‘5671’, side table, fabric, metal, designed in 1955 and produced in 1956-78. This wonderful set is designed by the renowned American fur...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sectional Sofas

Materials

Metal

George Nelson for Herman Miller Sofa in Off-White Upholstery
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Waalwijk, NL
George Nelson for Herman Miller, sofa, chrome-plated metal, fabric, United States, 1960s This fine sofa is designed by the renowned American furniture designer George Nelson. This s...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Soriana” Living Room Set for Cassina, Bouclé Wool, 1969
By Afra & Tobia Scarpa, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Soriana” living room set for Cassina, three-seater sofa and two lounge chairs, bouclé wool and chromed steel, Italy, 1969, set of three. Although technically d...
Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets

Materials

Chrome

Modular Sofa designed by George NELSON for HERMAN MILLER, 1960s
By George Nelson
Located in Berlin, Berlin
Two-seat Sofa designed by George Nelson. U.S.A., Herman Miller, 1960s. Modular Sofa by George Nelson with a strong metal structure including chrome-plated feet. Two vintage red Moha...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas

Materials

Metal

Previously Available Items
George Nelson Daybed Herman Miller
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Saint Paul, MN
George Nelson daybed in light grey wool and ash with hairpin legs. Contemporary production.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Daybeds

Materials

Metal

  • George Nelson Daybed Herman Miller
  • George Nelson Daybed Herman Miller
  • George Nelson Daybed Herman Miller
  • George Nelson Daybed Herman Miller
H 27 in W 74.25 in D 33.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Early George Nelson Herman Miller Walnut Daybed Chaise, 1950s
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a rare and beautiful, walnut wood daybed or chaise, by George Nelson for Herman Miller, circa 1950s. In excellent vintage condition. Can be used as is, orig...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Daybeds

Materials

Walnut

Vintage George Nelson for Herman Miller Daybed Cot Sofa Chaise Lounge
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern George Nelson for Herman Miller daybed in very good original condition, circa 1950s.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Daybeds

Materials

Maple

George Nelson for Herman Miller Daybed Sofa
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This early George Nelson for Herman Miller daybed with mustard yellow upholstery features a seldom-seen side table arm. Please note that the length of the daybed measures 93.5 inches...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Daybeds

Materials

Upholstery

More George Nelson Designs
Thin Edge Group
Thin Edge Group
Average Price
$9,564
Number Available
26
Thin Edge Group
Materials
Wood, Metal, Rosewood, Aluminum
Styles
Mid Century Modern
Shop All
Coconut Lounge Chair
Coconut Lounge Chair
Average Price
$3,997
Number Available
10
Coconut Lounge Chair
Materials
Fiberglass, Metal, Plastic, Animal Skin, Leather, Steel
Styles
Mid Century Modern
George Nelson (1908–86) attributed many of his design breakthroughs to creative “zaps.” He described such moments as “when the solitary individual finds he is connected with a reality he never dreamed of.” The Coconut lounge chair can certainly be traced back to one such “zap.”The inspiration for the piece — which evolved from an idea presented by George Mulhauser, a designer who worked at Nelson’s Manhattan studio, George Nelson Associates, Inc., and is now credited with the concept — was as...
Shop All
Basic Cabinet Series
Basic Cabinet Series
Average Price
$3,580
Number Available
9
Basic Cabinet Series
Materials
Wood, Walnut, Metal
Styles
Mid Century Modern
Shop All
Platform Bench
Platform Bench
Average Price
$2,943
Number Available
5
Platform Bench
Materials
Wood, Maple
Styles
Mid Century Modern
With its clean lines, sculptural shape and use of organic materials, George Nelson’s Platform bench reflected the American designer’s background in architecture and embodied modernist design. The bench, critical to the Basic Cabinet series he created for Michigan manufacturer Herman Miller — his first collection for the maker — demonstrates Nelson’s enthusiasm for honest, pared-down design. Nelson (1908–86) grew up in Connecticut and studied architecture at Yale University. While on a post-g...
Shop All