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Flexible guest rooms can mimic a posh hotel

There are many ways to create a flexible guest room. You can often grab inspiration from hotel rooms because they operate from the perspective of providing not only the obviously required bed but also a working desk, comfy seating and a TV.

Maybe some of the hotel surfaces are too harsh for home use, but you can adapt the basic ideas easily and turn them into the exact level of comfort you desire in your house and guest room.

In hotels you will find headboards attached to walls. Not only is this a space-saving concept but it can also be very economical. Know that you can contact a local upholstery shop and commission an upholstered headboard that can be attached either to the metal bed frame or the wall for stability. Pay attention to the type of fabric because the oils from hair will ruin many textiles. Look for textured-vinyl or woven-leather wallcoverings that can be cleaned. Choose a textured fabric made from a blend of fibers that will tolerate being cleaned occasionally. The headboard can also be made of wood.

If you have no room for the 3 to 4 inches of depth that a headboard occupies, consider peel-off decorative decals. Companies such as RoomMates Decor and Wall Pops are easy to access, or check on the ever-popular Overstock website for a wide range of affordable peel-and-stick decorative designs. You might select one for less than $45 that says, “What we love most about our home is who we share it with,” or a full colored tree made of flowers that are 22 inches by 30 inches for just under $70.

This platform bed offers a sleek arrangement with under-the-mattress storage drawers, a useful desk and overhead storage. The secret to this layout is an extremely comfortable mattress. Any time you use a platform-style bed you risk the possibility of a sleeping surface that is far too firm. Seek out a memory-foam single mattress, and investigate one of the following companies: Amerisleep, Loom & Leaf, Layla Mattress, Bear Mattress or Zinus.

Another way to create a day-to-day shared space with the occasionally used guest room is to purchase a trundle bed. You can create a king-size bed for guests by using a pop-up-style mattress that only occupies the footprint of a twin-size bed. Do not expect that the twin will be particularly comfortable as a sofa, but it can be used for napping. The main advantage of using some edition of a trundle is that you can save floor space and use the room for a wider variety of purposes, from home office to hobby room.

Consider maximizing the storage capacity of a guest closet when you wish to use your guest room for other purposes. I worked with a woman who made exquisite custom note cards and shared the guest room with her hobby. She carefully created dozens of tiny storage drawers for her embellishments, stationary and card stock. It was all done in white, and although there were many cupboards, drawers and bins, it was attractive and clean-looking. You could do the same if your hobby were tying fishing flies or quilting or stamp collecting! The secret is hiding or concealing the storage.

Finally, remember to include an art piece that is transformational. It should be neither too feminine nor too masculine. You will want something that stirs imagination; travel themes, animals and images of nature are always a safe bet.

• Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of “Small Space Living.” Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.

© 2018, Creators Syndicate

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