Make the Most of Your Guest Bedroom with a Remodel

If you have a spare room or guest room in your house, you have the opportunity to add not only value but functionality and enjoyment to your space. Without thought or planning, a guest room can easily turn into a space where old furniture and random boxes live. But with some thought and time, you can transform any small space into a space that meets your unique needs. Read on for some tips as you navigate a guest bedroom remodel.

Types of Rooms

If you have a guest room, the possibilities are endless. Ultimately, think about what kind of room you see yourself spending the most time in, and remember that most rooms can be designed to be multifunctional for various purposes. Here are some tips for the most common types of rooms you can create using a guest room.

Guest Bedroom

When you have a spare room, it is natural to think of turning it into a guest room so that guests have a comfortable place to sleep when they visit — which is great! But you can design a guest room in a way that makes it functional 365 days a year, so you can be a thoughtful host and meet potential visitors’ needs while still being able to use the room on the days when you are not hosting a guest.

Since the bed likely won’t be used on a regular basis, you can opt for a bed that allows for more space in the room. You probably don’t need to have a king-sized bed — a queen size bed or even a twin bed can do the trick. Consider a bed that converts into other furniture when not in use, like a sofa bed. Alternatively, you could opt for a Murphy bed, which can fold up into a storage unit on the wall when not in use. There are also storage beds, which are great for storing things like blankets and linens in an inconspicuous way.

Just because your spare room has a bed and can serve as a guest bedroom does not mean that you can’t have other furniture in there. Consider taking advantage of a corner or windowsill in the space to create a reading nook, for example.

Home Office

If you work from home and have a spare room, the obvious choice is to convert it into a home office. Even if you work outside of the home, having a home office can be great for studying, reading, and spending focused time. Opt for a desk that is functional but doesn’t take too much space—and consider a standing desk so you can switch it up. You could also opt for a wall-mounted or floating desk to save floor space and to have the option of folding it up when you are not using it.

If multiple people need to use the office space, you can easily create some separation using room dividers—but you don’t have to stick with a bulky, heavy room divider. Consider a fabric or bamboo curtain that can easily be pulled back, or use storage units like filing cabinets or shelves to create a sense of separation.

Gym

Creating a home gym is great because you can customize it to have only the exercise equipment that you actually use. You may only want some free weights and a mat. Or you may want several cardio machines. Or maybe you want a treadmill in front of a big TV and a weight rack. You get to choose—but try to avoid having too much equipment so that you have plenty of space to move around.

If you do opt for minimal equipment and prefer to use things like dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands, you can easily use storage to make the space multifunctional. When you are ready to work out, you can bring out the equipment, and when you’re done, you can store it away and have more space for other activities.

Putting full wall mirrors in your home gym serves a dual purpose—it allows you to check your form as you work out, and it greatly opens up the space so that even a small guest bedroom can transform into what feels like a spacious workout room.

Entertainment Room

A spare room can be a great space for entertainment and media—from a home theater, to a gaming room, to a music center. If you choose to go this route, invest in super comfortable furniture, as you will likely be spending a lot of time using it! You could purchase a giant television, or you could opt for a projector that can project shows, movies, and games on the entire wall while taking up minimal space when not in use.

Like the other types of rooms, you will want to take advantage of vertical storage and multifunctional furniture to make the most of the space. Consider a coffee table or side tables that double as storage for things like games, blankets, cords, etc.

Finally, consider investing in a mini-fridge or adding a bar setup to make entertaining a blast.

Financing a Guest Bedroom Remodel

So you’re ready to transform your guest room into a space that you will love – maybe you’ve been collecting guest bedroom ideas, saving inspiration photos, and watching YouTube videos for advice. But have you put much thought into how you are going to budget and pay for this bedroom makeover? If not, don’t fret—there are two financing options that can be very useful for these types of renovations:

• A home equity loan, where you borrow against the current equity you have in your home. With this type of loan, you are given a lump sum and pay it off in monthly payments over a fixed term. Your home is used as collateral for this secured loan.
• A home equity line of credit (HELOC), which uses your house as collateral a revolving line of credit. With a HELOC, you only borrow the amount that you need and pay it back in installments. It’s similar to the way you would use a credit card, but with typically much lower rates.

If you want to take the next step in financing a guest bedroom remodel, get in touch. We can help you get started by determining what financing option is best for your needs.