Even the smallest space can be lovely and immensely useful if you just utilize some clever home organization design tips. Perhaps you've got a true guest room for beloved friends and family or a combo guest room-home office. Or, perhaps your spare bedroom is just a catch-all for seasonal decor, that exercise equipment you never use, wedding gifts from a decade ago, and boxes you haven't opened since moving in.
Don't be discouraged, you CAN transform this unsightly clutter cluster from messy to marvelous with a few simple tricks.
- Do you really need a huge bed?
- Incorporate furniture that does double duty
- Store smart
- Add lots of light
- Minimalist decor
- Vertical space is your friend
While bedrooms are bigger in newer houses, it sometimes seems like there's never enough space, especially in guest rooms. Read on for more ideas on how to increase your usable space without sacrificing charm!
To Bed or Not to Bed
While a guest room obviously needs someplace for your guests to rest their weary heads, a king-size bed or even a queen might be a bit too much. Airbnb hosts are solving this issue by opting for twin beds, which let you sleep two comfortably & take up way less space than a traditional bed.
Murphy beds are also a genius way to have a comfortable place to sleep. They can be put away when not in use and drastically increase your usable space. These days, Murphy beds come in a huge variety of styles and can be completely customized to your needs.
Multipurpose Helps Maximize
As well as Murphy beds and sleeper sofas, you can take a tip from college students everywhere and build yourself a creative loft. Similar to a bunk bed, a loft bed uses vertical space and gives you additional living or working space underneath. Loft beds also have tons of storage underneath for holiday decorations and unopened gifts. A sleeper sofa, day bed, or futon is also a wise choice, as they can be used as couches when not needed as a bed.
If this room is also used as your home office and you occasionally have to meet with clients, a bed that converts to a seating area looks more professional than something frilly with stuffed animals and cute throw pillows. The home design experts at Decoist have some inspiring pictures and ideas of how a multi-use sleeping area can easily be created without ruining your office vibe.
Crafty Storage Solutions
Unfortunately, most homes just do not have enough storage space. But don't let that discourage you - you just have to get creative, conquer clutter, and show your belongings who's the boss.
Forbes Magazine has loads of tricks that could work for your small guest room:
- Cubbies, shelves, and drawer units can hold (and hide) a multitude of items, from books to awards to keepsakes.
- Built-in cabinetry that will help you utilize oddly-shaped spaces!
- Under-bed storage - Clearly labeled plastic bins are best!
And don't let that valuable closet space go to waste, either! Be sure to keep it organized and tidy. You don't want a guest overcome by an avalanche of Christmas lights, sporting equipment, and those college textbooks you can't bear to part with.
Light It Up
Light It Up
Making a room brighter always makes it look bigger. Paint the walls a cheerful shade, and invest in window treatments that let in gorgeous natural light. The decor gurus at Homes and Gardens are chock full of innovative lighting ideas that will make your guest room look bigger:
- Chandeliers are cheerful, luxe, and add a touch of class - as well as plenty of illumination and a gorgeous design element.
- Lamps that double as a work of art or interesting focal point are a superb way to light up a small room and add charm. If you're feeling crafty, you can even make one yourself to reflect your artistic skills and personality.
- Bright windows are always appreciated, and natural light is a crucial mood enhancer.
Go Minimal
A room that looks cluttered is always going to look smaller, no matter how much square footage you have available. Getting rid of excess furniture opens up floor space, gives your guests more room to move around, and always looks classically elegant.
Smart furniture choices like a Murphy bed, cabinets or cubbies that do double duty, or headboards and platform beds that incorporate storage will help you ditch furniture that you don't need.
While you're at it, this is a great time to get rid of ugly artwork, unnecessary tables, & that hideous rocking chair Grandma gave you that is probably haunted. No one wants to sit on that thing. It moves by itself!
Up High
Many folks ignore what is right over their heads and waste all that tasty storage space up near the ceiling. You can utilize the vertical space in your small guest room without taking up floor space or clogging up the flow of the room. Floor-to-ceiling racks are fabulous for this purpose - store heavier items towards the bottom, like smartly packed bins of holiday decorations or seasonal bedding.
The higher areas are perfect for books or artwork that you'd love to display at eye level. As you get higher, you'll have an ideal area to store lighter items that you don't frequently need but still want to store somewhere more climate-controlled than your garage.
Hooks are also a super way to store items high up and take advantage of all that wall space without cluttering up the floor. Your guests can hang up their items while in residence, and at other times, you can use them for whatever you need.
Conclusion
While your small guest room might seem like a hopeless jumble, it's actually easy to transform into a versatile space where you can host guests all year round. Just utilize the above pro tips to make sure you're maximizing the available square footage to the fullest!