A home office requires certain elements, such as a desk and shelving, to meet the purpose of the room. A guest room requires a bed and dresser to accommodate your guest's needs. If you use your home office on a daily basis, but only have the occasional guest, make the room serve both purposes. By positioning the furnishings to define areas and employing neutral color schemes, your guests will enjoy their stay and you needn't give up your workspace. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Convert two thirds of the closet into shelving. Use the shelving to organize office supplies.
2. Hang a rod across the remaining third of the closet to be used for hanging clothes. Place a small shoe rack on the closet floor for your guests to use.
3. Paint the walls a neutral color, selecting from shades of brown, gray or green.
4. Add carpeting or hard surface flooring to the room in a coordinating color.
5. Position your desk close to the closet and facing the door. Place a filing cabinet near the desk and use the top of it for your printer, fax machine or other necessary computer peripheral. The desk and filing cabinet should be similar in materials and style.
6. Hang a message board on the wall across from your desk or in proximity to your desk. With your desk, filing cabinet and storage shelves within proximity to each other, you've created an office zone.
7. Position a couch with a hide-away bed on the wall opposite your workspace. Place an end table to one side of the couch. When the bed is pulled out, the end table serves as a night stand.
8. Place a small dresser near the couch, positioned so the guest has access to the drawers even when the bed is pulled out. The proximity of these elements creates a guest zone.
9. Add personal touches to the guest zone by hanging artwork over the couch/bed and placing a small chest containing linens and blankets in the zone.
10. Add a bookcase and small upholstered chair to the room, positioning these between the two zones. This creates a relaxation zone.
11. Hang a flat screen television equipped with a swivel arm on the wall opposite the chair and bookcase. The swivel arm allows for those sitting on the couch to view the television as well.
12. Use neutral colors throughout the room, adding punches of color with throw pillows, area rugs and artwork.
Tags: your desk, filing cabinet, desk filing, desk filing cabinet, guest zone
