---
title: "Hemnes Daybed Cover for Long Reading: Crimson, Mint Piping"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/readings/crimson-hemnes-daybed-mint-piping-palms/"
section: "Readings"
author: "Hana Lindqvist, The Quiet Geometer of Seattle"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/hana/"
published: "2026-04-03"
updated: "2026-04-03"
keywords: "hemnes daybed cover, daybed cushion, ikea hemnes daybed cushion, daybed cover, bolster pillow, custom cushion covers"
---

# A crimson Hemnes daybed with mint piping, arranged for long evenings of reading

*Palms, a stump table, a lamp at the edge of the frame. Everything here is arranged so you can stay for hours.*

> **The quick answer:** A Hemnes daybed set becomes a place for long sitting when it has back cushions to lean on, bolsters at both arms and a fitted cover that stays smooth. Order the cover to the exact mattress size, such as 74 x 37 x 7 in (188 x 94 x 18 cm), and let the workshop add seam allowances. The fill is firm HR foam wrapped in Dacron.

![Crimson linen-look covers with mint piping on a white Hemnes daybed, bolsters at both arms, palms and a stump side table](https://cushionguide.com/media/ikea-hemnes-daybed-covers/crimson-hemnes-daybed-mint-piping-palms-1600.webp "Crimson covers edged in pale mint piping give a white Hemnes daybed the weight of a proper sofa. The palms and a stump table pick up the green of the piping.")

## Pinned by Hana: five pins on the crimson daybed cushions

Five pins, from the mint-piped bolster to the stump table within reach.

1. **Mint-piped bolster**: Pale mint sits opposite crimson on the color wheel, so it glints without shouting.
2. **Mattress front piping**: The mint cord outlines the mattress edge right above the curved Hemnes rail.
3. **Crimson back cushion**: Deep red backs make the white frame look richer and more like a sofa.
4. **Palm and rubber plant**: Green plants are the natural partner for red and pick up the mint piping.
5. **Tree-stump side table**: Raw wood beside the daybed warms both the white frame and the red fabric.

## Built for the long evening

Evening. A white table lamp at the edge of the frame. Warm light on deep red.

The covers are a crimson linen-look fabric on a white Hemnes daybed. Two back cushions stand against the rail. Two bolsters close the arms. Round bolsters like these are usually about 8 in (20 cm) across, and daybed backrests stand about 19¾ in (50 cm) tall. The mattress front runs straight above the curved Hemnes rail, outlined by a thin line of pale mint piping, and the bolster ends carry the same mint.

Red and green sit opposite each other on the color wheel. Here the green is split in two: a cord of mint on the fabric, and real leaves around it. A kentia palm behind. A rubber plant in a white pot. Pothos on the side table. So the scheme reads as chosen, not seasonal. The mint is pale enough to draw an outline without turning into a stripe.

Deep red backs make the white frame look like a sofa. For long sitting, that matters. A daybed that looks like a bed invites a nap. One that looks like a sofa invites a book.

The tree-stump side table sits at arm's length, books on top. The cream rug is under your feet. The lamp is close enough to read by. Nothing you need is more than a reach away.

Where do you sit when you plan to stay three hours?

The set belongs in the [Hemnes daybed cover atlas](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/ikea-hemnes-daybed-covers/), among [living room cushions](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/living-room-cushions/), and the fabric in [linen-look fabrics](https://cushionguide.com/fabrics/linen-look-fabrics/). For layout, see [daybed back cushions for a sofa look](https://cushionguide.com/guides/daybed-back-cushions-sofa-look/).

Oak floor.
Raw wood.
Warm under everything.

## Four ways to use a daybed with back cushions and bolsters

- ✓ Upright: back against the crimson cushions, feet on the rug, book in hand.
- ✓ Sideways: shoulder into a bolster, legs along the mattress.
- ✓ Working: laptop on the knees, cup on the stump table, lamp on.
- ✓ Lingering: both bolsters, one pillow, no plans.

## Half an inch, not added

A buyer saw a review photo of a daybed cover like this one. Tight. No crinkles. They wanted theirs to look the same.

Their mattress measured 74 x 37 x 7 in (188 x 94 x 18 cm). The question was whether to add half an inch (1.3 cm) to each number, to be safe.

The shop said no. Give the exact mattress size. Padding the numbers makes the cover slightly loose, and a loose cover is where crinkles come from. The seam allowances are added in the workshop, not by the buyer.

For long sitting this is more than looks. A snug cover stays in place while you shift, lean and get up again, all evening.

Measure the mattress. Write it down. Add nothing. The method is in [measuring for a Hemnes daybed cover](https://cushionguide.com/guides/ikea-hemnes-daybed-cover-measuring/).

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Could you make a toddler bed cushion the size of a twin mattress?

**The workshop's answer:** For that, the shop pointed the buyer to its separate kids' foam bed, sold as its own product, instead of a custom bench cushion.

**A common question:** I want my fitted daybed cover tight. Should I size my mattress numbers up a little?

**The workshop's answer:** No. Give the exact mattress measurements, for example 74 x 37 x 7 in (188 x 94 x 18 cm). Added inches make the cover slightly loose, which is where crinkles come from. The shop adds the sewing allowances itself, so the cover comes out snug and smooth.

**A common question:** What's inside the daybed set cushions and pillows?

**The workshop's answer:** Firm high-resilience (HR) foam wrapped in polyester wadding, also called Dacron. It supports well, holds its shape and gives a softer surface to sit against.

## On the cutting table: the reading daybed

|   |   |
|---|---|
| Piece | IKEA Hemnes daybed set: mattress cover, two back cushions, two bolsters |
| Fabric | Crimson linen-look fabric |
| Piping | Contrast pale mint on the mattress front and bolster ends |
| Fill | Firm HR foam wrapped in Dacron polyester wadding |
| Sizing | Exact mattress size, for example 74 x 37 x 7 in (188 x 94 x 18 cm) |
| Allowances | Added in the workshop, not by the buyer |
| Within reach | Stump side table, books, table lamp |
| Best for | Reading, working and lingering in a living room |

> For a smooth, crinkle-free daybed cover, give the exact mattress size, such as 74 x 37 x 7 in. Adding half an inch makes the cover loose, and loose covers crinkle.
>
> — Hana

> **Tailor's margin:** On a crimson daybed, take the piping color from the houseplants. Pale mint outlines deep red without turning into a stripe.

## Questions buyers ask next

### Can a Hemnes daybed work as an all-evening reading seat?

Yes, with the right set. Back cushions give a place to lean upright, bolsters at both arms let you lie along it, and firm HR foam wrapped in Dacron holds its shape through a long evening.

### What piping color works on a red daybed cover?

A pale green such as mint. Green sits opposite red on the color wheel, so a thin mint cord outlines crimson clearly, and houseplants nearby repeat it so the pairing looks chosen.

### What should sit within reach of a daybed used for reading?

A side table at arm's length for books and a cup, a lamp close enough to read by, and a rug underfoot. Here a tree-stump table and a white table lamp do the job.

### Why put bolsters at both ends of a daybed?

They close the arms so the daybed reads as a sofa, and each gives a place to lean sideways when you stretch out with a book. Piped ends, here in mint, keep their round shape crisp.

## Related at the atelier

- [Hemnes Daybed Cover in Ivory Linen-Look with Crimson Piping](https://cushionguide.com/readings/ivory-hemnes-daybed-crimson-piping-jute-rug/): To order Hemnes daybed covers right the first time, measure your own mattresses rather than trusting a listing, because Hemnes versions differ between countries.
- [Hemnes Daybed Cover in Navy Corduroy: Height and Depth](https://cushionguide.com/readings/navy-corduroy-hemnes-daybed-blush-boucle-pouf/): A Hemnes daybed cover should be sized to the mattresses you actually have, stacked.
- [Hemnes Daybed Cover in Slate Blue Velvet: How It Stays Put](https://cushionguide.com/readings/slate-blue-velvet-hemnes-daybed-mustard-piping-boho/): A Hemnes daybed cover stays in place because it is a fitted, zippered cover cut to the real mattress, not because of ties or a grip base.
- [What size should the back pillows be for a 79 in (200 cm) daybed like the Hemnes?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/daybed-back-pillow-size/): A 79 in (200 cm) daybed takes two back pillows of about 39 x 16 in (100 x 40 cm) each.
- [Can you add piping to tufted cushions?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/piping-on-tufted-cushions/): Piping works on some tufted cushions but not on tufted daybed backrests and armrests, so those pieces switch to a plain, non-tufted style if you want piping everywhere, and the shop sends an example…
- [Do you have a dark mustard or marigold yellow?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/mustard-yellow-cushion-fabric-codes/): Velvet 111 is the deeper, darker mustard; soft fabric 920 is a warm golden yellow in the mustard family that reads brighter beside it.
- [How to measure an IKEA Hemnes daybed: two stacked mattresses, one cover](https://cushionguide.com/guides/ikea-hemnes-daybed-cover-measuring/)
- [How to make a daybed look like a sofa with back cushions and bolsters](https://cushionguide.com/guides/daybed-back-cushions-sofa-look/)

*— Hana*

---

Written by Hana Lindqvist (https://cushionguide.com/masters/hana/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/readings/crimson-hemnes-daybed-mint-piping-palms/