How to Maximize Space in a Small Guest Room

Dave Kushner • November 9, 2021

Have you ever been guilty of using your guest room for extra storage? You’re not the only one who has. With friends, family, and guests coming to visit throughout the year, but especially during the holidays, you want to have your guest room oasis ready for use.

A few simple home organization ideas can help you maximize space in a small guest room quickly and easily. All you need to remember is:

Think like a designer.
Remove what’s not needed.
Use your imagination.
Storage space is key.

Organize your spare room into a cozy guest room for visitors in no time at all by following the steps outlined below.

Think Like a Designer

If you've ever watched home improvement shows on television, then you know how designers can take any room and turn it into something beautiful, useful, and stylish. When it comes to your small guest room, you want to use some of the techniques that designers emphasize, such as:

Downsize the bed – You don’t need a California king bed in a small room, so consider going down to a queen or full-size bed instead to give you more space, according to Housebeautiful.com.
Utilize space around the bed – Pushing the bed against a wall takes away usable space for lamps and nightstands.
Mirror, mirror – Did you know that hanging mirrors of any size creates the feeling of more space? Plus, you can show your style or match the room’s theme with cool mirrors.
Vertical space – Your walls are a great place to hang decorative hooks for guests’ bags, framed photos, art, cabinets for added storage, and more.
Relaxing scents – Use light-smelling scents like lavender or sage in a decorative potpourri jar or diffuser to give the space an inviting aroma.

Remove What’s Not Needed

When it comes to creating a lovely guest room for visitors, you want to remove any items that aren’t needed. This goes beyond clutter and includes items such as bulky dressers, chairs, and extra furniture.

You may also find clothes or shoes inside the guest room closet you forgot about or no longer wear. If you've been using this room as a catchall space, then you might find random items, such as gift wrap, blankets, pillows, and more hidden away.

Setting up your guest room is a great time to practice home organization, too. Ask yourself:

Are any of the large, bulky items in the space sentimental?
Are there any items that can be donated to a charity?
Can some of these items be stored inside bins or baskets?
What items can be tucked away inside cabinets?

For any items you want to donate, take them to your local charity center immediately. This will free up space and help you get organized.

Use Your Imagination

Your guest room is your visitors’ home away from home. Making it comfortable, useful, and organized will leave a lasting impression on your guests. Use your imagination to decide how you want to decorate your space.

You could go with a theme, such as beach, forest, or mountains. It’s easy to find beautiful artwork, bedding, and curtains to match any theme. Some homeowners enjoy choosing an overall look, such as cozy cottage, chic and elegant, classic, or modern.

Do you love books or have a really cool collection to showcase? According to HGTV, you can use books or media to style your guest room. Your friends and family will enjoy exploring your collection and picking out a gripping mystery novel. If you are an artist, your guest room is the perfect home gallery space. You can hang your art on the walls or utilize open cabinets to showcase sculptures.

Get creative with wall colors as well! Choose beautiful hues that match your theme or style. Instead of using floor lamps, think about a hanging lamp or small table lamp. It will brighten up the room without taking up additional space.

Storage Space is Key

Just because the guest room is meant for visitors doesn’t mean you can't use it to store a few items as well. Leave the closet clean and open for your guests to use. Floor space inside the closet can be used for your visitors’ luggage, large bags, and shoes. You could even go the extra mile and add a shoe fence for their footwear. Keep a few nice hangers for pants and shirts available on the closet rod.

Open design cabinets in the closet are an excellent way for guests to keep their clothing neatly folded and stored, too. Instead of having your visitors put their dirty clothes back in suitcases, you could provide a laundry hamper for them to use. If necessary, they could easily do a load of laundry before leaving.

Under the bed is a great location for items you need to store. Gift wrapping can be stored in bins with lids under the bed. You might also consider purchasing a bed with built-in drawers for clothing, toys, or other items.

When it comes to home organization in general, vertical space is your best friend. You can store almost anything on a wall and make it look stylish. For example, use decorative hooks to store necklaces, scarves, ties, and bags.

Conclusion

While it might have been hard to have guests over before, your new spare room will change all that. Even if you lack square footage in your guest room, you can still turn it into a functional & stylish addition that your friends & family will enjoy. Let the hosting begin!