When looking for a new home, there’s a tendency to want to cut corners.  Don’t need those granite countertops?  No problem.  Think you can share a single loo?  Go ahead.  Skimping on a guest bedroom, however, is a whole other issue.  If you’ve ever camped on the floor while your host slept soundly in their wood sleigh bed, you probably understand the necessity of having a separate sleeping area for visitors.  While this space may be seen as an annoyance to some home owners, the good news is that there are options available for all price ranges and sizes.

For the budget-conscious studio dweller…

Embrace the sleeper sofa.  A leather sofa bed will fit your flat swimmingly and can easily be pulled out for the odd overnight guest.  The upside is that you’ll have a comfy place to sit and watch the telly, and you won’t have to spare an extra millimetre of your precious space for visitors.  For an affordable model perfect for your single person abode, check out the Julian Bowen fold-out sofa bed at right.  It’ll look great in your flat, and the 120cm wide mattress is plenty big for a comfortable night’s sleep.

For the one or two bedroom space-saver…

Look down.  You may not have a whole room to devote to your guests, but chances are you have plenty of floor space.  If you’ve got a home office, pad it down with some comfortable carpeting and grab a couple of lightweight sleeping bags.  The bags can be stored in a closet, and when layered on top of an inflatable air mattress they also make for a comfortable bed.  Perfect for campers and mountain enthusiasts, North Face sleeping bags are snug and will keep you warm in all weather, but for a more home-friendly purchase, consider grabbing a cheap polyester bag from Tesco.

For the made (wo)man with room to spare…

Go all out and hook your guests up with a proper guest room.  For the best results, look to your favourite hotel rooms for inspiration.  What kind of bedding do they use?  What appliances and flourishes do you appreciate the most?  Treat your guests as you’d want to be treated, and before you know it you’ll have earned a reputation as the best host in the country.

What’s in your ideal guest room?

Did you know?

Can’t get over how well you slept on your last holiday? Many chain and boutique hotels allow you to purchase their bedding directly, and others will be more than happy to point you in the direction of their supplier.

-Jeff O.

Tweet