Finding the right balance when decorating rooms that function as multiple setups is not always easy, especially combined work and living spaces.
Interior design experts offer their tips for creating a comfortable and beautiful room that serves the dual purpose of home office and guest room.
Multifunctional pieces
Convertible furniture is what Isfira Jensen, CEO and principal interior designer at Nufacet Interiors in New York City, advises her clients to choose for the space. She suggests a sofa bed “which can serve as a seating area for the office and be converted into a bed for guest use.” Debbe Daley, interior designer for Debbe Daley Designs in Portsmouth, N.H., says a Murphy bed “is the perfect solution to use in a multiuse space.” She notes that there are different types that can feature bookshelves on the sides for decorative items, closed storage on the bottom to stow office necessities or extra bedding, and even a desk shelf on the front that easily hides away when not in use.
Out of Sight
“Privacy and clutter are the two biggest concerns our clients have when making a dual-focused room,” says Diana Melichar, president of Melichar Architects in Lake Forest, Ill. “A good storage solution, where office items can quickly find an out-of-sight home is ideal. Some storage options include baskets that can hold letter-size paper and computer pads, and lockable file cabinets that double as nightstands.” Jensen is also a fan of using furniture with hidden storage. “This includes having ottomans with storage, bookshelves with a foldout desk, or beds with drawers underneath, which can provide space to store office supplies,” she says.
Go Vertical
Literally look up for options. “The use of wall space for storage, through the implementation of built-in units or floating shelves, frees up floor space quite effectively,” Jensen says. Melichar agrees: “Always consider wall storage. It keeps clutter off the floor.”
Quick Conversion
Heather Peterson, principal designer at Heather Peterson Design in Minneapolis, says “ease of conversion from one function to the other” is a concern of many clients. “We recommend laying out the room in such a way that the conversion has as few steps as possible,” she says. “For example, make sure there is clear space in front of a sofa that pulls out, or a coffee table or ottoman on wheels.”
Think Small Spaces
Peterson suggests a small desk or a console that doubles as a desk. “Unless you have a large monitor, a small work surface may be all you need,” she says, adding that a clear desk “visually recedes and makes the space feel larger.” Daley says “a cozy chair that can double as a twin-size bed is a piece that will work in the smallest of spaces.”
Pretty Touches
Furnishings and accessories can be used as multifunctional pieces to add charm so the space does not look too cold and office-like, says Daley. Melichar suggests decorative table lamps as “a nice feature for work surfaces (that can) double for nighttime reading when in bed.”
Source: Making great home office doesn’t have to sacrifice guest room: Double duty design ideas
