Ah, the guest room. Or should we say home gym? Home office? That room that is always a secondary thought? Sometimes, it’s all three. How do you design for that? Read HOM Furniture’s tips for creating a creative retreat space for your guests and for you.

Just because you may not use it every day doesn’t mean the guest bedroom warrants any less attention. Stick to some basics and you’ll be able to make your guest room into a relaxing retreat and pull a double duty at the same time.

To that end, there are two questions you must ask yourself to begin:

• Who is going to sleep here the most? Single friends? Coupled friends? Children-ed friends? Children themselves?
• Will your guest room serve a dual purpose? Home office? Home gym? Creative workspace?

If you can’t answer those questions, then you’re probably not designing a guest room. Would you like to read about another topic on our blog?

Bedside Manner

Easy first step? The bed. Your guests are going to need a place to sleep and relax. If you mostly know single people, try a daybed that doubles as storage. If couples are staying, go with a full or queen, of course. But whatever you do, make sure the mattress is comfortable.

Next, pick out at least one bedside accent table with a warm-light lamp for nighttime reading. If you’re pressed for storage or don’t have enough room for a dresser, get a nightstand with drawers. Don’t forget a mirror! Full-length is best, but anything will do.

Functional Furniture

If you are mostly going to use the room primarily as an office, skip the bed. Get a futon, sleeper sofa or murphy bed instead. Pick out a desk that has enough storage to stash your supplies and make your guests feel welcome. And if the guest space is going to double as a gym, get collapsible equipment or free weights that you can store away. Utilize cabinets, shelves and under-bed storage containers for crafts.

Get more tips on How to Create the Perfect Guest Room Retreat. Read our Buying Guide.