A lot has changed since the divan first made an appearance back in the 18th Century. At that time in Europe the divan was a type of sofa, really no more than a mattress pushed up against a wall and adorned with cushions. They were originally found in the council chambers of the Orient and then became an item of decadence in the trendy boudoirs across Europe. What a far cry from today, when the single divan bed is really the most functional and least attractive and unadorned of beds. Nevertheless there is nothing wrong with functionality and as long as you don’t buy a cheap single divan bed you will find yourself with a very comfortable and long lasting purchase.

Typically this traditional bed comprises simply of a mattress sat on a sprung bed base, that’s it nothing else, no headboard and no frame. The first decision to make is what kind of divan bed base you will choose. A single divan bed with storage is probably your best option but depending on the size of the drawers you may end up sacrificing a little comfort. As mentioned, usually the mattress sits on a sprung box frame, therefore if the base is dedicated to storage space you may end up with a platform base instead. This shouldn’t make much difference if you have a high quality mattress, but is worth considering.

Divan Bed Sizes

We’re focusing here on a small single divan bed but it is worth pointing out that this type of bed is now available in a bewildering number of sizes. Here is a guide to the different sizes of divan beds available so check the amount of space in your bedroom when choosing and you should bear these sizes in mind when picking your bedding.

Small single divan bed/twin divan – 75cm wide by 190 cm  long
Standard single divan beds -  90cm wide by 190cm long
Small double divan bed – 120cm wide by 190cm long
Standard double divan bed – 135cm wide by 190cm long
King-size divan – 150cm wide by 200cm long
Super king-size divan bed – 180cm wide by 200cm long

Top Brands

This site is primarily aimed at the UK and US markets and therefore does not cover bed manufacturers outside of these countries. Equally there are dozens and dozens of bed manufacturers in these two countries so for the purposes of this article we will mention some of the most well known and respected brands. To get a complete overview of the different products available please visit Amazon UK or Amazon USA

Single Divan beds UK  – In no particular order here is a list of popular bed brands in the UK,
Sweet Dreams
Dreamworks
Silentnight
Slumberland
Sealy
Sleepeezee

Single day beds in the US – As mentioned day beds are the US equivalent of a divan and here are some of the popular brands, again in no particular order.

Hillsdale Furniture
DS-Fashion Bed Group
Fasion Bed Group
Powell Furniture
Stanley Furniture
Vision Decor Furniture

Prices

In the UK a single divan bed with drawers will cost you between £100 and £200. At this price you will probably be sacrificing some quality when it comes to the mattress. £200 to £500 will definitely guarantee you a good quality bed that you will be happy with, but you can spend over £1000 if you are buying a large single bed with a top of the range mattress. Just check whether you’re buying a single divan bed base on its own.

In the US it’s difficult to make generalisations about prices. These beds tend to have decorative frames making them more like a sofa bed and some products come with the mattress while other don’t. Search within your budget and then confirm shipping costs and any separate purchases necessary.