How to transform a home office into a guest room

When you don’t have a spare room, the home office often becomes the backup plan for overnight guests.

A dual-purpose office just makes sense. The office sits empty at night, usually has some privacy, and with a bit of thought, it can feel like a proper guest room rather than a desk with a mattress squeezed in beside it.

We’ll walk you through how to make your office work harder, so it’s still a productive workspace by day and a cosy, welcoming spot for guests when they need it.

1. Start with a bed made for multi-purpose spaces

The bed is the heart of any guest room, so it’s worth getting this right.

In a dual-purpose space, flexibility is key. You want something that feels comfortable and supportive at night, without dominating the room during the day.

Guest beds are a natural fit for home offices. Often smaller, compact and sometimes even temporary, they save you valuable floor space. Options like folding beds or day beds can be tucked away or styled as seating when not in use, so your office still looks and functions like a workspace between visits.

If you have a little more room, a sofa bed is a brilliant all-rounder. By day, it offers proper seating for reading, thinking or taking a break from your desk. By night, it transforms into a comfortable sleeping space.

Single beds are another practical choice, particularly in narrower rooms or alcoves. Positioned neatly against one wall, they leave plenty of space for a desk and storage. Add cushions and throws during the day, and they double as a relaxed seating area.

Not sure which style suits your space? Our guest bed buying guide can help you find the right fit.

2. Keep clutter out of sight with smart storage

When one room has two jobs, staying organised makes all the difference. The easier it is to switch between work mode and guest mode, the better.

Under-bed storage boxes are great for tucking away cables, paperwork and tech, all the stuff you don’t want on show when visitors arrive. A blanket box at the foot of the bed works hard too, storing spare bedding or pillows while doubling as a seat or surface. If space is tight, a wall-mounted fold-down desk is worth considering. It folds flat when not in use, freeing up floor space and helping the room feel more like a bedroom than an office.

3. Choose furniture that earns its place

When space is tight, picking furniture that works just as hard as you do keeps the room feeling flexible.

A bedside table gives guests somewhere to put their phone, book or glass of water, but choose one with drawers and it doubles as storage for office bits you want out of sight. A chest of drawers can do the same job on a bigger scale, keeping spare bedding tucked away while holding work supplies during the day.

If you’re short on floor space, a compact wardrobe with a hanging rail gives guests somewhere to unpack properly, which makes a surprising difference to how welcome a room feels.

4. Create clear zones for work and rest

Even in a compact office, zoning helps the space feel balanced.

A bookshelf placed between the desk and bed can act as a subtle divider, while a rug under the bed or sofa bed helps visually separate the sleeping area from your workspace. (The Tipperary Sofa Bed, pictured above, shows how a rug can be styled next to it.)

Where possible, place your desk near a window to make the most of natural light, and position the bed in a quieter, more enclosed part of the room. Curtains or folding screens are another simple way to hide work areas when guests are staying.

5. Choose a neutral colour scheme and versatile decorations

A calm, neutral palette helps a room shift easily between workspace and guest bedroom without needing a full refresh.

Soft tones like warm greys, whites and gentle creams create a soothing backdrop that works equally well for focused work and restful sleep. Add warmth with throws and cushions, which can be swapped out or layered up when guests arrive.

If the room currently leans heavily towards “office”, consider temporarily switching motivational posters or work prints for something more restful when visitors are staying.

6. Create a quick-change routine

The faster you can flip the room from office to guest bedroom, the less stressful hosting becomes.

A simple routine you can do in 15 minutes makes all the difference. Clear the desk of paperwork and close your laptop. Swap the day-to-day bedding for fresh sheets and add a couple of extra pillows. Put out clean towels, set up a bedside lamp, and move your office chair out of the room. If you use a screen or curtain to section off the workspace, pull it across.

Once you’ve done it a few times, it becomes second nature, and your guests arrive at a room that feels properly ready for them.

7. Add welcoming finishing touches

Once the practical bits are sorted, small details can make a guest room feel genuinely thoughtful.

Make sure there’s space for a suitcase and a drawer or two for unpacking, so guests aren’t living out of their bags. Lighting matters more than you’d think: if you’re stuck with harsh overhead lights, a dimmer switch or a couple of soft lamps can transform the mood.

Finish with a few extras that show you’ve thought ahead. A glass and jug of water, a spare phone charger, a small plant or a few fresh flowers. These small gestures help the room feel less like a borrowed office and more like somewhere your guests can properly unwind.

For more inspiration, our hosting etiquette guide is full of simple tips to make visitors feel truly cared for.

Transforming a home office into a guest room is about flexibility, comfort and making the most of the space you have. With the right bed, smart storage and a few thoughtful touches, one room can meet two very different needs, without compromise.

Whether you choose a guest bed, sofa bed, single bed or day bed, the result is a space that works hard for you every day, and feels welcoming whenever friends or family come to stay.