Love having an extra bedroom for guests, but feel like the space is wasted when guests aren’t there? There are plenty of ways to utilize an extra room while still being true to its core function as a guest bedroom. From hiding the bed to disguising extra storage, here are our ideas for making your guest bedroom a multi-purpose space.

Make Room for the Bed

Design accordingly, and the right mattress and frame could double as a daybed or a futon in a multi-functional space. This allows your guest bedroom to function as a lounge space, as well!

Combining your guest bedroom and a home office would allow you to work wherever suits you best without sacrificing utility. If you’d rather have the bed out of sight, a murphy bed can easily be tucked away and pulled back out, as needed.

Decorating Your Guest Bedroom

As more of the world continues to accommodate work-from-home environments, it’s nice to have extra work space. A built-in desk in a guest bedroom can optimize the floor space while also providing table space for guests and their belongings. Secretary desks are great for tucking paperwork out of sight when guests are around without having to declutter in the middle of a work project.

Decorating a guest bedroom with neutral colors allows for pleasant backgrounds for virtual calls while also offering a mutually appealing visual for guests.

Spare Rooms and Storage

If you struggle with storage space at home, utilizing a guest bedroom for storage is hard to pass up. Built-in closets are great for storage, as long as you leave a little space for your guests’ belongings. Some bed frames come with storage space underneath the mattress, which is a great option for storing out-of-season clothing or bedding. Chests or box benches are great decorative pieces for the foot of a bed that also allow more items to be tucked out of sight. The same applies to nightstands with drawers!

If your guest bedroom doubles as a nursery or exercise space, bookshelves with decorative bins work nicely for storing toys or fitness equipment, like small dumbbells and resistance bands. If your guest bedroom doubles as an office, get a filing cabinet on wheels. A cabinet that fits next to your desk but can be wheeled out of sight into a closet or another room makes it easy to transition a home office into a guest bedroom.

Guest Bedroom Lighting

When designing lighting options for your multi-purpose guest bedroom, it’s often best to include multiple lighting options. A combination of overhead lighting, natural light from windows, and varied lamps will make it easy to transition the room from one purpose to another. Varied lighting can also make it easier for guests to pack and unpack, but also adjust the lighting as they wind down for sleep. Look for lamps that don’t take up too much space and are easy to rearrange. That way, you can use the extra lighting for work calls if your guest bedroom is a home office or move the lamp to a nightstand while guests are present. Low on square footage? Wall lights free up floor and counter space while still keeping the room bright and welcoming.