SMALL SPACES, BIG IDEAS
INTERIOR DESIGNERS ARE COMING UP WITH COOL WAYS TO MAKE ROOM FOR OVERNIGHT GUESTS
FEATURE Hugh Metcalf
1 RETHINK THE NIGHTSTAND
In this basement room, shelving made from chunky brass plays various roles – it’s a bedside table but also an L-shaped vanity/laptop space for guests to lay out their accessories and beauty products on. ‘We’ve created a really beautiful new space for them, enhanced with pops of colour and luxurious textures.’
Anna Burles, founder of Run for the Hills
2 LOOK UP FOR SOLUTIONS
To accommodate a guest sleeping space into a one-bedroom loft, Yard Architects relocated the main bedroom and created a sleeping pod on a platform above. It’s an informal arrangement for guests, but one that works for this style of home. ‘Because of the very tight ceiling height we used steel joists to make the floor as thin as possible and left these exposed without a plasterboard ceiling underneath. The space between the joists adds a bit more sense of height, which is important for a low-ceilinged room.’
Simon Graham, director at Yard Architects
3 DON’T SKIMP ON THE STYLING
Even if your guest bed is a temporary fixture, dressing it properly will help elevate your guest’s experience, even if that means just having a set of pillows set aside and a blanket to throw across the end. ‘If you’re planning to use a Murphy bed as a guest bed, approach styling it the same way that youwouldanybedinyourhome.Prioritisecomfort, style,andunexpectedlycosyandluxuriousdetails.’
Kathy Kuo, interior designer
4 PRIORITISE THE HEADBOARD
For a guest bedroom that feels welcoming, don’t neglectaheadboard.Thiswillhelpyourguestroom feelmorepermanent,andlesslikeyourvisitorshave been squashed into an unloved box room. ‘An upholsteredheadboardinastatementshapewillact as an anchor for the overall design scheme. Choose ashapeanddesignyoulove,andwhetheryouoptfor velvets in bold colours or a beautiful patterned fabric,usethisasthebasefortherestofyourscheme.’
Emma Deterding, founder and creative director of Kelling Designs
5 EMBRACE DUAL-PURPOSE DESIGN
By opting for a built-in bed, you can specify a design that makes the most of the space, incorporating extra storage or functions that make your room more flexible. ‘Initially, my client had a separate desk facing the window at the end of the room, and the bed was in the corner along the long wall. By switching their locations, I was able to provide my client with a huge amount of storage and the bed feels more like a daybed, rather than abed that someone uses a few times a year.’
Kate Ballou, founder of H
