Finding a use for a spare bedroom can be a little confusing - should you create a home office or turn it into a guest bedroom? With space constraints in modern homes and the rise of working from home, creating a multi-purpose guest room is the perfect answer to making sure you get the most out of your home.
As their name suggests, multi-purpose guest rooms feature a place for a guest to sleep comfortably for a night or two but can also be used in other ways. This could mean creating a space to craft, building the home gym of your dreams, or creating a professional space to work when at home!
Whatever you want to create, we have plenty of multi-purpose guest room ideas to help you make the most of your space.
What do you need your multi-purpose guest bedroom to do?
Before you make any decisions, you'll need to decide what you want to use your spare room for. Do you need spare room office ideas to give you somewhere comfortable to sit but also professional for working from home? If you want to add a home gym, what equipment do you want to add? Are you going to be hosting guests frequently, or could you get away with something temporary like a folding bed?
Deciding what you want from your guest room will simplify the next steps!
5 ways to create a multi-purpose guest room
1. Think about the layout and space
Before you do anything, outline what you want the guest room to look like. If there's enough room, you could divide the room into zones. For example, one area could be your work zone, and there would need to be enough room for a desk, chair, and any files or extra accessories you might need. This could also work the same way for a craft room or a gym - just make sure that you'll be able to fit everything in without causing the room to feel cramped.
Planning out the room's furniture and decorations in advance will make choosing the type of bed that will fit easier than ever! If you're curious about what beds will help you make the most of the space in your guest room, take a look at our space-saving beds guide.
2. Make use of storage
A multi-functional guest room is the perfect place to add more storage to your home, helping keep it tidy and allowing you to store more items! If you want to create a home gym, an ottoman bed offers plenty of space for weights and resistance bands. Alternatively, if there's enough room, you could store a walking treadmill underneath the frame of a bed!
If possible, you could also use the walls to add shelving for books, craft supplies, or work documents. Don't be afraid to get creative - your multi-functional guest room must suit your and your guests' needs.
3. Choose your furniture carefully
As a guest room, you'll need to make sure that there's a way for a visitor or two to sleep comfortably. You could opt for a classic guest bed in a single or small double if you have the space. If you need to make as much of the available space you have, then a bunk bed or triple sleeper can take advantage of the vertical space on offer. Trundles are also an option if you have the space to pull them out - the best thing about trundle beds is that they can be stored back underneath the bed frame!
Day beds can be used to sit or sleep and use actual mattresses, whereas sofa beds are designed to be used as a sofa before turning into a bed when needed. A folding bed is also a good choice if you don't want something permanent in your guest room - you simply need to fold it and store it away when not in use.
4. Remember the needs of your guests
The primary purpose of a guest room is to host visitors when they stay over, so their needs should be a priority. Make sure that your multi-functional guest room is welcoming and cosy, and maintain it when it's not in use. We'd recommend giving the room a complete clean every month or two, ensuring that they only sleep on freshly laundered, or at least a clean set, of bedding.
Ensuring your guests sleep on clean bedding will make you a good host and ensure that they get a hygienic and healthy sleep. Our guide has some helpful tips on keeping a guest bed fresh, so make sure to check it out!
5. Consider how you decorate the room
A multi-functional guest room must be suitable for multiple purposes, so neutral décor will help. Make sure that the wall colours aren't too vibrant, as your guest needs to feel relaxed and cosy enough to fall asleep, but it also has some personality. You'll want the room to feel welcoming but not to the extent that your guests feel like they're sleeping in your bedroom.
Keep any sensitive work documents locked away or out of the room when they stay over, and make sure to clean up your desk if you opt to use the guest room as a home office. Not only will this look cleaner, but it will also help your visitors feel more at home and less like they're interrupting your work! As part of this, we'd also recommend keeping your multi-functional guest room as tidy as possible – a cluttered environment can make your guests feel like they're unwelcome or like the room is dirty.
