The room is technically a 3rd bedroom, but we are using it as dh’s office for working from home. He will eventually be back in an off-site office, but the room needs to stay primarily an office. We have a very nice dedicated guest bedroom with a king bed in it, so it would be rare we would use the office for guests, but I want it to be as comfortable as possible and functional as such.
The room is small - maybe 11 x 11?? Large windows on the wall across the from door into the room - dh’s desk is under those. To the right of the entry door is a closet with bifold doors, very little hanging space, but tons of shelves that are super for a room that is primarily an office. They are filled. Past the closet on that same wall is a wall-mounted TV with bookcases underneath. The wall across from those is where sleeper sofa is. It can’t be centered on the wall because it would crowd the desk and desk chair. It’s about a foot from the wall that has the entry door and about four feet from the wall where the windows are.
The corner between the edge of the desk and the edge of the sleeper sofa is empty. It would nicely hold a luggage rack when someone stayed in there. Challenges are the only light in the room is currently an overhead light and there is no little side table for a guest sleeping on the sleeper sofa to set anything on. I could put a floor lamp on the end of the sleeper sofa that is super close the wall, but that doesn’t solve the need for a side table.
Should I just leave the corner empty in anticipation of using a luggage rack? Should I look for a night stand with drawers? It couldn’t be very large and couldn’t hold very much, so I think it wouldn’t be very useful. The room is going to be really tight with the bed pulled out, but the empty corner looks kind of dumb right now.
I don’t think you need to fill every space. Is there room on the bookcases to put a little basket where guest could place jewelry, wallets, glasses, etc?
I like to have some place to put my reading glasses and a book and if I am staying somewhere I often charge my phone near the bad so I can use it as an alarm as well. If you have a luggage rack next to the bed, I’d probably use that. I am wondering if you could just have a 12" shelf or stool on the wall side of the bed. There are some cute examples here: https://homesthetics.net/21-super-small-nightstands-ready-to-fit-in-petite-bedrooms/
If you primarily want something functional for guests, then why not the luggage rack ? If it’s more about aesthetics, what about a tall plant that doesn’t need much babying? After all, you have a large window nearby…
I’d add a low bookcase. The top can hold a lamp and anything a guest wants to keep close at night. If it is not deep you could probably still fit a luggage rack when guests are there.
Please do put in a light and small table for any future guests. One of the things I hated most about staying in my husband’s old bedroom when we visited was no night table, no bedside light (but an annoying clip on light on the headboard), and no wastebasket.
The first thing that jumped into my mind was a small table with a built in lamp. Not only would it be practical for guests, but good for anyone using the sofa to read etc.
@momofsenior1 - I agree with not wanting to fill up the entire room. I definitely don’t want to do that. The luggage rack would only be pulled out when someone came to stay - I wouldn’t leave it out all the time. Actually there really isn’t a spot on those bookcases - the tv is close to the tops, and we have our printer, and internet gadgets on the tops of those as well.
@mathmom - wow! So many creative ideas in that article! Thank you for linking it!
@Marilyn - yes, this is how I feel as well. Everyone needs a bedside something or other and light by the bed. I had seen some table lamps like those you linked, but wasn’t keen on the aesthetics. However, I had not seen those etagere floor lamps! I think that would be perfect, and I like the look of those very much. So funny about the built in wine rack! Probably not the best if and when any grandchildren come along! Ha ha!
The hive mind here is always so helpful! Thank you!
I love those etagere floor lamps, @Marilyn ! Not just for use with guests, I can see someone wanting a lamp at the end of the sofa for reading in the evening instead of turning on the overhead light. Especially handy if someone else is watching TV in the living area and you want a quiet place to read.
I have to say, I am loving these built-in USB ports! I have disliked the living room floor lamp that is next to our sofa for years. It was a gift from the in-laws, but they are long gone. So tempting!
In looking at them, the first one, with the on-off switch on the table, wins me over. I wonder about having to “get up” in the bed to turn off the second one. Maybe it’s not that high?
We have a space between our den daybed (with trundle under it for when King needed). We have a filing cabinet there. It has a nice flat top surface for guests, and I have 2 drawers for storage. My drawers have travel info and medical files, but they could be used for guest items (or temporary storage).
I love LampsPlus. There’s a branch close by. We got our master bath lights from them after we moved in. Every time we went there, I wished we had tons of space needing new lighting.
Good catch! I hadn’t studied them that closely let. This is so common in hotels and so convenient. I actually like the appearance of the second one better, but that switch is definitely a consideration.
Our old nightstands (that are now in our guest bedroom) have a hinged section at the back that lift up with a small semi-circle cut out at the front of that piece. There is a power strip underneath with three plugs. I can plug in my lamp, charge my phone, and charge my fit bit, with all the cords running down through that little semi-circle. You can hardly see any cords on top of the nightstand.
I like the idea of those tables! My original thought was a wall mounted sconce and a nice shelf. We stayed at a cabin a few weeks ago and the bedroom was pretty small but each side of the bed had a wall mounted shelf with an outlet as well as a reading light that you could angle so you could read in bed. The light was mounted a bit high because I had to get out to turn it off but I liked the fact that it didn’t look cluttered.
I like the wall-mounted light and shelf idea because it’s a low-profile solution for a small space. I’m a big fan of keeping the floor clear, but the table lamp is movable, the wall mounts less so. Seems there’s always a trade off.
I do wonder what kind of light the etagere light gives off - like a table lamp or dust a moody glow???
Here’s another idea. Keep the luggage rack folded in the closet (or under the sleeper) for when you have guests. Mount a wall lamp if there is a plug where you would like the light. So the room doesn’t feel like every square inch of floor is taken up, fill the corner from the top down with a good artificial plant or a hanging piece of art.
Then the floor space is still available for the luggage rack when guests are there.