3 Necessities for a Guest Room / Home Office + Some Icing on the Cake
Working from home can be convenient and wonderful, but finding a place for a designated office is sometimes a challenge. Of course, it needs to be quiet enough so that when you’re in a phone or video conversation, the listeners don’t hear your dog barking, your kids laughing, the dryer buzzing, or anything else that goes on in a typical day.
Photo by alleksana: pexels.com
If you’re lucky enough to have a designated office room in your home, you probably are so grateful! For the rest of us, we need to carve out a space, and often it’s the guest bedroom that is selected for the work zone. I love multi-functional spaces - unless you have guests constantly coming and going, that 100-200 square ft. bedroom in your house doesn’t really get used much.
How do you Create a Successful Work From Home Office and Guest Bedroom?
First - Choose the Bed
Wait, I thought you said “Choose a Bed.” Yes, this sofa-looking furniture piece converts to a bed. Keep reading!
That’s exactly what was going on when a recent client hired me to create a multi-use space for her office/guest bedroom. In other cases, a futon can be as stylish and functional as a sofa during the work day. You probably wouldn’t dream that this faux leather sofa can flatten out and become a bed. Futons have come a long way since the college dorm varieties!
Are you familiar with a Murphy Bed? It can be a great answer! It folds up into the wall, often looking like part of a built-in bookcase. When your guests arrive, simply pull it out/down from its storage wall and you have an instant bed. Just remember to keep the floor space cleared for it.
Second - Style an Interesting Backdrop for Online Meetings
Do you love travel, gardening, vintage artwork, surfing, or what? You can personalize the area opposite your computer in a way that reflects your personality and also looks professional and interesting as your video backdrop. Or, are you a huge reader? Style those books by color, and add some plants or lifestyle photos to break up the shelf space. Putting a little effort into the decorating impresses your occasional overnight guests as well. I’ve seen way too many guest rooms that look like a place where the “reject” furniture has gone to live, with nothing on the walls. Don’t let that be your background!
Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash
Third - Create the Work Surface
Do you want a traditional desk with drawers? Can it float in the middle of the room, or does it need cozy up against the wall? Plan the room layout in advance so that you’re not rearranging furniture when your guests are arriving is key for a multi-use space. This particular client wanted a few open shelves to display some of her books and photos, but you may need cabinets that have doors on them to hide the ugly things inside such as files, shredders, notebooks, etc. This room features a desk that raises and lowers at the push of a button. If you work from home a lot, this is a fantastic feature, and the desk doesn’t have to be expensive.
Icing on the Cake - Add some conveniences for your guests to be comfortable.
A nightstand or two is such a convenience for overnight guests. Look for C-shaped or small round tables that can function as a side or coffee table to the futon when in “office mode,” but can transition to bedside tables where guests can charge a phone, lay down a book, bottle of water, car keys, and so on. Definitely place a table lamp or floor lamp in a corner near the bed so that your guests don’t have to rely on overhead lighting. If you have room in the office, an accent chair is always a useful furniture piece - a place to sit comfortably with your laptop, or for your guests to sit down and relax.
Curtains that are layered or black-out are another easy option for the room. Make sure to hang them close to the ceiling and about 12 inches wider than the window so that you’re not blocking the natural light when they’re open. Other easy items for your guests: bottled water, fruit, nuts, and a way to share your Wi-Fi Password, possibly through a photo frame. Just think about what you would like when you travel.
What kind of home office would work for you? Would you consider a multi-room space like this? I’d love to hear your feedback. Grab the Freebie at the top of the page, and join my monthly Look Book.
Until next time!
