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Split Personality Make the most of a multi-purpose guest bedroom  Image courtesy Crate and Barrel The weeklong visit from your relatives is over, leaving your guest bedroom empty, perhaps for months. But rather than close the door behind you until your old college roomie visits in the fall, why not open your guest room to new possibilities? "There is a growing trend for living in a smaller footprint. Many people who have been accustomed to thousands of square feet with a room for every whim are suddenly finding themselves in homes or condominiums less than half the size they're used to. Designing rooms for multi-tasking alleviates constraints on space," says Keith Miller, a certified interior designer in Seattle. "Those who are fortunate to stay in their homes are starting to see the empty rooms filled once more with parents and returning grown children. Designing rooms with more than one purpose becomes paramount." Consider Your Lifestyle "Home office and guest room are not the most compatible bedfellows, especially if you work from home and host visitors regularly," Miller says. "Your peace is disturbed when you're wringing your hands while the guests are sleeping in your office with the important due-today submittal stashed in the desk behind their closed door." If you are comfortable combining a guest room and office, Lori Gilder, an award-winning interior designer in Beverly Hills, Calif., suggests a day bed with a trundle below, surrounded by shelves and storage. Consider a desk top just deep enough for your laptop computer with some floating shelves above. Keep Everything In Proportion "Watch for the proportion and layout of your room and scale the pieces accordingly," Gilder says. "Keep everything sleek and stylized and don't over clutter. Make sure to have some open floor space for traffic flow." Combine Comfort With Flexibility "The guest bed should be as comfortable as a 5-star hotel suite - well-rested guests make for a more pleasant visit - but it consumes a lot of space for the average household, which hosts overnight guests maybe two or three times a year, " says Miller. "Seek solutions that make the bed compactable without compromising comfort." "A big space saver is the desk/bed," Gilder says. "It morphs from a desk into a bed while keeping all your computer and office equipment in its place when the bed is lowered into position. Another one to consider is the Murphy bed, which has evolved beautifully over the years. With a little twist and turn it accommodates storage, shelving, a desk surface and bed." Think Creatively One of the most creative dual uses Miller has designed is the all-in-one-room. "With everything put away, the space entices a quiet moment in a comfortable chair with a good book," Miller says. "Case goods and cabinetry are brilliantly designed to conceal the bed, the craft area, the exercise equipment and office or kid's homework space." And don't forget lighting. "Overlapping pools of light such as general lighting, task lighting and accent lighting will ultimately provide the best result for all tasks performed in that space," Gilder says. |
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