Many people do not need a guest room all of the time, so they combine a guest room with a home office so the space is not wasted.
Here are a few designer tips and tricks for making a multipurpose home office and guest room.
photo courtesy of shizzi flickr.com/photos/izzi/5676397479Organized
Since a multipurpose room has two seperate functions in one space, everything must be very organized to have a guest room and home office that function well and look aesthetically pleasing together.
There can be no clutter and not too many fussy accessories in order for the room to be able to transition between the two functions.
All of your messy office items (stacks of paper, bills, sticky notes) should be put away when guests are using the room.
It should ideally feel like a hotel suite, and your guests should not feel like they are invading your personal space.
Invest in attractive storage containers or baskets to keep your messy stuff out of sight.
Smaller Furniture
You most likely will not be able to fit a king sized bed in a bedroom with a home office.
Use a twin bed with a trundle underneath for maximum space.
You can even use a murphy bed or sleeper sofa for even more space.
Narrow Desk
Since many people use laptop computers or flat screen monitors, a 24" or 30" deep desk is not necessary.
Try to use an 18" deep desk instead.
Look Up
Many people overlook the height of their room. You can store items higher up on the wall to maximize storage.
Use tall shelving units, wall hung shelving, or bookcases.
Security
If you have any sensitive information or breakable items (computer) in your home office, you might want to make sure they are locked up prior to having guests, especially if those guests are rowdy children.
Consider having at least one locking cabinet in your home office.
Murphy Bed
Consider using a Murphy bed, which is a bed that folds up into the wall when not in use.
You can buy a complete bed or a DIY Murphy bed kit.
Closet Office
Another option for a home office in a guest room is to have the office in the guest room closet.
Make sure to provide your guests with alternate places to hang their garments, such as in a wardrobe or armoire.
You might also like the article How to Decorate a Happy Home Office.
