How to Create Extra Space for Guests
Homeowners who enjoy entertaining frequently sometimes host overnight guests. While many hosts and hostesses have spare bedrooms for overnight or long-term guests, many others do not. However, those among the latter group willing to get a little creative can find more places for overnight guests to rest their heads.
Sofa: Living room or den sofas can double as bedding for overnight guests. As a short-term solution, a night or two on the couch can be comfortable enough. Be sure to cover the sofa with freshly laundered sheets and provide those amenities one would expect in a guest space. Access to a television, a reading lamp, a fan for some white noise and a table on which to place a phone or alarm clock are helpful to have. Such items will make guests more comfortable. If your living room or family room has a door that can be closed, this will help create more privacy for guests.
Convertible bed: Marketed frequently under the brand name Murphy Bed, convertible beds can incorporate sleeping options into rooms with limited space. This furniture essentially is a bed that folds vertically or horizontally into a frame. When closed, the bed can look like a decorative storage closet or armoire. Some convertible beds come with bookcase accessories to expand storage space and also make the piece look like a more cohesive unit. Designers also have experimented with these beds, and some transform from a desk or even from a low-lying bookshelf or bench into a bed. ·
Sofa bed or chair: Sofa beds and chairs have a fold-out bed nestled beneath their cushions. Depending on the size of the couch, a twin, full or queen-sized bed may be housed within. Sofa beds vary regarding their comfort levels, so prospective hosts should investigate their options to ensure guests have the most comfortable sleeping situations possible. A bed in a couch can turn an office or living space into a guest sanctuary in a matter of minutes. Also, some sofa beds also have extra space built within for storing blankets and pillows. Many popular furniture retailers offer couch brands that can be equipped with a bed. Moreover, if space is exceptionally tight, consider a convertible chair that has a twin-sized bed tucked away.
Bunk beds: Bunk beds may seem like child's play, but they make great use of vertical space. Share a kid's room with your son or daughter and let the guest take your own bedroom. Otherwise, equip a home office with bunk beds and have two more sleeping spaces available.
Accommodating guests when you don't have a guest bedroom can take some creativity, but those willing to think outside the box can find options that don't compromise guests' comfort.
— Metro Creative