Tip of the Day #30
October 3, 2007 by Julie Bonner
Filed under Home & Living
Do you have one bedroom that doubles as an office and guest room? Usually the biggest problems in these rooms are the bed. How do you put a bed in there and leave enough room for the computer and desk?
Here are a few bed solutions:
- Futon – these are not my favorite but the design keeps getting better and more comfortable.
- Wall bed – we have one of these in my boys’ room. It has been a space saving tool like no other and my 8 year old thinks it’s cool he sleeps on a wall bed.
- Air mattress – these are also getting better. The newest ones from AeroBed are pretty darn comfortable.
- Sofa bed – it’s a couch during the day and a bed at night! What more could you ask for? We have added extra mattress padding and egg crates before to make a sofa bed more comfortable for our visitors.
Those are just a few ideas to make your guests feel comfortable and make use of the room’s space, all at the same time.
We are blessed in that, because we have a victorian home, we have a real, honest to goodness office. The problem I have with IT is that everyone comes through and dumps their stuff in it since it is the room that links the downstairs hall with the den. :/
Is a wall bed a trundle bed? Or is it a bed inset into the wall?
When I lived in a studio apartment I had NO room, but somehow managed to have a bedroom, living room, office, dining room, walk-in closet, and bathroom and kitchen
All for $500 a month on a 6th story overlooking the Seattle water.
Looking back at that place now, the two things that made that TINY place actually function and somehow not seem cluttered or “stuffed” were 1) I built UP – shelves and pretty storage up most of the walls, and 2) the trundle bed. It folded up against the wall behind the couch (when it was down, the foot of the bed met the love seat/couch of the “living room”). I kept it folded up all day so that I could have room to roll back in my office chair and so I had a place to do yoga in the morning
These are good tips. I’m a big fan of multi-use spaces that don’t look overused. I like hidden spaces and office/sewing room/workout room areas. Mine is tidy and organized so it looks like it’s supposed to be all these things, ahha!
Thanks for this blog
@Marye – Your house sounds so amazing. I would love a dedicated office. My house is so small we don’t even have enough rooms for the kiddos. Well, the two boys have to share which isn’t too bad.
Next summer we are going to start house shopping. I WANT a house with an office!
@Shanti – I mean a bed that is actually in the wall. They are so cool! I had seen them advertised and knew they existed but never knew anyone that had one. My son is lucky though because he doesn’t have to make up his bed every morning, instead he has to fold it up into the wall.
It sounds like you did an awesome job with your studio apartment. I love trying to organize small spaces. It’s my favorite. Thanks for all the tips you shared!