A lot of us have an extra bedroom, or a “guest room”, that sits unused most of the time. It may only be used a couple of nights each year when a visiting relative comes into town and the rest of the time, it likely sits empty or becomes a bit of a dumping ground for laundry and other items that just don’t have a permanent home.

With careful planning, guest rooms can be great multifunctional spaces. Have you considered the following for your home?

1) The Office and Guest Room:

Are you tired of working at the dining room table and looking for a space for casual work at home? Try incorporating a desk into your guest room decor. Make sure that you also incorporate storage into the space so that you can be organized and put everything away when your grandmother is coming to town and needs the room.

2) The Play and Guest Room:

Let’s face it, children have a lot of toys! If you set your guest room up as a playroom for everyday use, you can minimize the number of toys you keep in your living spaces. Make the space fun by incorporating primary colours in the decor. You could also consider getting a futon instead of a traditional bed for this space to free up more space for play and to ensure that the bed doesn’t become a trampoline at play time.

3) The Craft and Guest Room:

If you love to craft, you know that there is often a lot of “stuff” that comes with this hobby. Bring in a table or desk and practical storage for all your supplies. If you like to work on larger projects, consider getting a large piece of wood to cover the bed and create additional work space for you.

4) The Gym and Guest Room:

Want to get more active but don’t have time to go to a gym? Consider setting up your own in your guest room. Whether you go small with some free weights or incorporate something bigger like a treadmill, make sure that the space is inviting so that you will be encouraged to go in there. Adding a television is a nice touch in any home gym as well.

A guest room can offer a lot of opportunities and what it’s used for really depends on the interests and needs of the homeowner. Be creative and you might find that this can be a great space for you and your family.

 

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