How to Create a Multi Purpose Guest Room
Looking for clever ways to make the most of every room in your house? You’re in the right spot. Many of us don’t have the luxury of spare rooms waiting to be filled, which is why the idea of a multipurpose guest room that can double as a nursery, home office, or even a cozy den has never been more appealing. Whether you’re juggling a new addition to the family, carving out a quiet space for work, or simply want to ensure your guests have a comfy spot to stay, finding the balance between functionality and comfort is key.
I’m here to share my journey in creating a multi purpose guest room that also serves as a media room, office, and guest bedroom – a space that’s not only practical but welcoming and stylish. As a fellow homeowner who loves to host friends and family while keeping my living space tidy and organized, I understand the challenges and joys of designing a room with multiple purposes in mind.
I’m no interior designer, but I have figured out ways to make the most out of even a small space!
Read on to see how we created the perfect multipurpose space that served our needs, plus check out my tips on ways to help guests feel comfortable in your home.
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Organizing the multipurpose guest room space
You may remember earlier this year when I created my blissful office and guest room combo. That was my first experience with creating a multi-purpose room, and it turned out beautifully!
And then… it became an office/bedroom combo when a family member moved into our home. Suddenly we were without a guest room with no extra space to spare!
What we did have was an entire room in our basement that didn’t quite have a purpose. It held a TV and video games, and my husband had set up his small desk and office area in one corner. So much space seemed wasted.
I decided it would be the perfect spot for our guest room/media room combo!
I used this folding screen as a divider to break the room up a bit. Room dividers separate the room into two spaces: one for the guest room and media area, and a space for my husband’s temporary office.
Even though he will likely move his office space into another room soon, the screen still offers a bit of privacy and coziness to an otherwise large room. Plus it’s perfect for hiding a bit of clutter if I ever need to tidy up super fast!
Having a defined space for different functions helps to keep the room from feeling cluttered and overwhelming.
Space-saving furniture for the guest room
Fancy hotels may have space for king sized beds and sitting areas, but our basement does not. Fortunately I was able to combine a cozy bed and sitting area into one!
I decided a futon would be the perfect solution for both a place to sit while watching movies or playing games as well as somewhere for guests to sleep. My only concern was having something that would be high quality and comfortable enough for my guests.
After hearing great reviews about The Futon Shop, I decided they would be the best choice. They sent me a futon frame and organic futon mattress to try out and I immediately fell in love! Like, I literally just flopped on the bed and stayed there for a while. No joke.
The biggest reasons I chose a futon from The Futon Shop were:
- organic, non-toxic products
- hand-crafted in the USA
- their furniture is affordable for everyone!
Having styles and colors that fit in with my decor and furniture that is more comfortable than I imagined was a bonus! The teal cover and gray throw pillows add a nice relaxing color to our drab basement.
The mattress is hand-stitched with sustainable and eco-friendly materials, and is anti-microbial and dust mite resistant. With four kids and a dog, that was a big deal for me. I also love that it has a 15-20 year life expectancy, which is way longer than most other things last with these tiny tornadoes!
I already opt for mostly organic and non-toxic products for my family, so of course I want the same for my guests. And since my family will be using the futon for movie nights and play time, I want the safest furniture possible!
If you are a mom like me who shops for quality furniture that is eco-friendly, sustainable, made in the USA, and non-toxic, I highly recommend you check out The Futon Shop for yourself. I wish I had discovered their products years ago! You can get an extra 5% off futon covers by using the code AMANDACOVER5 on your order.
Other furniture and storage solutions that work in multipurpose spaces:
- A murphy bed that folds up while also providing storage space under or to the sides of the bed
- A sofa bed/sleeper sofa or day bed that doubles as seating and sleeping space
- Storage ottomans to hide extra blankets, pillows, or sheets
- A small table that works as a bedside table for your guests
One piece of furniture we don’t currently have in this multi-purpose guest room is a mirror. I’d love to have a full-length mirror in here to reflect the light and help to make this small room appear larger. We do have one in our home gym, which is the room next to this one, so I didn’t worry about it too much.
Decor ideas for your dual-purpose space
Because we already have multiple things going on in one room (guest room, media room, and temporary office), we don’t want to overcrowd the space with clutter.
Simple, minimal furniture helps to keep the multipurpose room feeling open, while providing places for storage.
We opted for a low-level console table with doors that hide away all of the movies and video game accessories. The TV takes up the entire top surface, which limits the amount of clutter (ahem, toys) that can accumulate there.
To the side, I placed one small bookshelf and filled it with a few of our favorite books. If our guests are in need of a little late-night reading, they have plenty of great books to choose from!
With this multipurpose guest room being in our basement, unfortunately there are no windows or natural light. We swapped out the overhead yellowish bulbs for daylight bulbs to help brighten up the room, and added a lamp in the corner.
To add the illusion of additional brightness, I propped one large white canvas against the wall on the bookshelf, and placed a white recliner in the corner. The white folding screen also helps to offset the dark floors and reflect some light.
The faux potted plant also helps to add “life” to the room and make a once dreary space seem much more inviting!
Related: Creative Bed Alternatives for Smaller Spaces
10 tips to help guests feel more comfortable in your home
Helping our out of town guests feel comfortable while they visit is always my main goal. I want them to enjoy their time in our home so they have a pleasant vacation and look forward to returning again.
These are my top tips for helping to make house guests more comfortable:
- Make sure they have a comfy place to sleep (a chemical-free natural cotton mattress is a great start!)
- Clean up. No really. Provide clean linens, vacuum the floor, put away clutter, and check for dust.
- Set out extra toiletries (and extra toilet paper too). We always forget something!
- Provide clean towels and cloths.
- Freshen the air with a candle, oils, or open a window.
- Make the Wi-Fi password easy to find.
- Set out reading material – books or a local travel magazine.
- Plan entertainment. That could be a local attraction, a board game or movie night, or a fun dinner. If they have kids, try to have kid-friendly toys available too!
- Add an extra special touch – a basket of snacks by the bed or a vase of fresh flowers lets them know you care.
- Relax and enjoy your time together! Your guests are much more likely to be comfortable if you are comfortable too.
These extra touches aren’t a must, of course, but they are a great way to let overnight guests know you care. And, ahem, if your in-laws or someone special is visiting, it really helps to make a good impression!
Your Multipurpose Guest Room Awaits!
And there you have it—your roadmap to transforming that extra room into a multifunctional space that doesn’t just sit pretty but works hard too. From clever organization tricks that keep the room tidy and functional for its various roles, to selecting space-saving furniture that effortlessly adapts to your and your guests’ needs, we’ve covered some solid ground.
And let’s not forget about those decor ideas that help tie everything together, making the space inviting no matter its use at the moment.
Creating a multifunctional guest room that doubles as something else—be it a home office, a nursery, or even a cozy media room—doesn’t have to be a puzzle. With the right approach, it can be a fun project that ends with a space that’s as versatile as it is welcoming.
Have you already tried mixing and matching these ideas in your own home? Or maybe you’ve got a few clever tricks up your sleeve that we didn’t cover? Either way, I’d love to hear about it. Drop a comment below and share your multipurpose room victories or your dream room combo ideas. Let’s inspire each other to make the most out of our homes, one room at a time!
MEET AMANDA
Amanda is a mom of 4 living a mostly crunchy lifestyle outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband, 2 dogs, and a cat. As a former special education teacher who also has her personal training certification — Amanda really enjoys teaching others how to do things!
When she’s not working, Amanda enjoys DIY projects, exercising, photography, hiking, and long walks through Target.
