Having your rooms serve different functions is something that you should strive for if you own a small house, apartment or condo. Getting the most out of each room and having them provide flexibility and functionality is a must when dealing with small spaces.

I have a home office that doubles as a guest room. Many times over it has been used by family and friends. And you know what, they always complimented me on the room and how they love the idea of having the room serve double duty. Making space in an apartment is more than just shopping for apartment furniture…it’s making due with what you have and optimizing space…I know, I know I have said that more than once, but very true.

Providing a place that is comfortable and accommodates your guests needs is important, but you also need to realize that they will not be spending as much time in there as you will.  The room’s main purpose should be a home office with the functionality of a guestroom. Instead of maybe having a king size bed, try placing a apartment sofa that folds out into a guest bed. You can also buy a smaller size sofa that pulls out into a guest bed. Having a sofa in your home office will also give you the opportunity to take a break from the computer and relax a little bit. I do live in apartment and have a home office or a more suitable name may be an “apartment bedroom office”. I do have a apartment sofa in my office that my wife will sometimes come in sit-down and chat with me. It’s a very comfortable setting and gives us time to catch up on things where I might be busy working.

Taking the time to plan out your storage options is also critical. Having furniture that serves dual-purpose for your guests and for yourself will help in storage capacity. In my experience, buying furniture with smaller drawers kept me more organized. I had a tendency to create junk drawers (we all have them) with larger drawers. It’s important to remember that keeping a low profile of your office equipment will create the setting of a normal guestroom. Having a full-size metal filing cabinet in the corner of the room is probably something that should be avoided.

Just to mix it up a bit,  I have incorporated a small sized dresser drawer that will hold my guests overnight belongings in the top two drawers, but the smaller drawer will hold all my on the stationary equipment. This dresser really does pull together the room and makes it feel like a guestroom. You can also use small size dressers for computer stands, coffee tables or even nightstands. Just be creative with your storage options and the rest will follow.

It should be said that if you use your home office just for simple bill paying or maybe doing some college courses online, a simple computer armoire will hold everything you need. A computer armoire is really nice because it will house your home office in a simple easy-to-use space. Having a computer armoire with a small footprint will no doubt free up space for your guests. The general rule of thought should be if you spend 70% of your time in this room it should be conducive and comfortable to what you want. On the other hand, if you entertain frequently or have guests over quite a bit it’s probably a good idea to make it as comfortable for your guests as possible. I only mention this because my home office is quite extensive, so I find myself decorating with my needs in mind and then my guess secondly.

All in all it’s important to remember that your guests will appreciate your efforts no matter what you do to the room…HEY, it beats a night at the Holiday Inn!