You don’t need a huge house to welcome overnight guests into your home. In most cases, your heart and warmth – along with a few key living room furnishings – can make up for the lack of space and a formal guestroom. Consider these ideas to create a multipurpose living room that can easily double as guest quarters.

A Place to Lay Their Heads

The most comfortable and visually pleasing option you have is to buy living room furniture that can double as a bed. Your two main choices are a sleeper sofa or daybed.

Sleeper sofas look like a regular sofa and then fold out to a full or queen size bed. In recent years, sleeper sofas have become easier to set up and offer more comfortable mattresses – some even unfold at the push of a button. You may also be able to purchase a separate foldable mattress that better fits your personal specifications.

With a daybed, on the other hand, you use the actual twin mattress as your sofa cushion when you use the piece for sitting. Daybeds are twin size, which might be better for small rooms. You can also purchase trundle unit that folds under the daybed to create a larger sleeping space for guests.

A Place to Lay Their Stuff

Don’t forget that your guests will also need a place to store their luggage and belongings. If you plan to entertain a lot, you can consider using nightstands with drawers for your end tables. Then guests will always have a secure spot for their belongings.

If that is not practical, look for other spots to make space where your guests can tuck items out of the way. Luggage can always go in a hall closet, and if your entertainment center has concealed shelves, clearing them might offer the perfect spot to store other personal items.

A Happy Coexistence

Having guests staying in a public space, like your living room, can definitely be a test. Be considerate of your guests’ schedules – you don’t want to keep them up yawning so you can watch late-night TV, for example. If your guests’ sleep times are far off from yours and you want the flexibility, you can also switch with the guests for a night or two. Let them take your room while you enjoy the guestroom/living room combo you’ve created!

Browse sleeper sofas at Furniture.com.

Category: Living Room Furniture, Bedroom Furniture, Design Tips