How to Combine a Modern
Guest Room & Home Office
A dedicated office or guest room can quickly use up your home's spare-room real
estate. Here are some ways to combine those ideas into one chic, functional space.
Surf or turf. Rock or roll. Fun or games. We'd never make you choose just one; why should your home be any different? Before you face the dilemma over whether to turn your spare room into a guest suite or a sweet home office, we're here to tell you that you can have it all.
Here are five surefire ways to combine a home office and guest room gracefully.
Say Yes to Wall-Mounted Desks.
A desk is the most critical piece of furniture in a home office, but it can also consume the most space. When your room is limited, a wall-mounted desk can be the perfect solution. It takes up considerably less space than the average office desk, but can look great and be equally functional. Look for desk options that include beneficial features like storage space to prevent your worktop from getting cluttered, height-adjustable functionality to accommodate adults and kids, and smart cable management to avoid a tangled mess of computer and power cables.
Sleepers are Keepers.
Like a desk to an office, the bed is the most important piece of furniture in a bedroom—and the biggest space-killer. If only you could tuck it away when you're not hosting guests and use it for extra seating in the meantime…but of course, you can! A sleeper sofa (also known as a convertible) serves as cushy seating by day and, by night, it transforms into a comfortable bed. Many models come with storage solutions to help keep the room clutter-free. Plus, since convertible sofas are typically manufactured to serve dual functions, they're built extra-sturdy.
Making a Case for the Minimalist Bookcase.
You don't need a bulky full-sized bookcase for your books, picture frames and other personal effects. The latest in bookcase designs offer slim, minimalist and lightweight options that take very little floor space or even tuck behind a door. There are options that stack books vertically or horizontally or at eye-catching angles, and some even incorporate baskets. Many modern bookshelves also offer a variety of customizable features, so you can configure them to your needs.
PRO TIP
If your floor plan allows, a bookcase can be used as a room divider, separating your workspace from your guest area.
Draw Attention to a Focal Point.
Your combined office and guest room can be organized any way you like, but we recommend creating a focal point around which your furniture is organized. Emphasize the most interesting or beautiful feature of the room and downplay any less-than-attractive features. If your room has a big window, arrange your furnishings around it to call attention to the view. Or if you have an exposed brick wall, position your furniture pieces so they don't block it, but rather accentuate it.
Maximize Space by Getting Organized.
With limited space, getting organized is key to successfully creating and maintaining your multi-functional space. For starters, maximize the closet space with shelves and containers to store office and bedroom supplies, and make space available for your guests to store their luggage and clothes. Get items off the floor by using vertical space whenever possible. And de-clutter often. When you use the space as an office, it's easy for papers, books, receipts and other items to start collecting in piles. Make it a point to go through them and discard what you don't need at the end of every work session.
With these tips, your spare room will do double-duty to make the most of every square foot. In other words, you can have your guest room and work in it, too.
