Guest bedrooms can propose quite a conundrum. While you want it to be nice in case someone stays over, you don’t want to have to keep up with cleaning it that often and you also need some of that space for your own personal storage. In the sixth edition of our Head-to-Toe Home Reno series, we will give you some simple solutions for this puzzling problem.

Built-Ins: When you need storage space that can also double as room décor, it is hard to find anything better than some classic built-in shelves. These built-ins can hold cloth storage cubes full of keepsakes, pictures or books as well as small décor items like houseplants and vases. You can find tons of different colors and sizes of storage cubes on Amazon. As for the built-ins themselves, check out Pinterest to get an idea of the different layouts so you can choose the one that is right for you.

Platform Bed: Underbed storage is very useful, but isn’t always practical when you have a low-to-the-ground bedframe. Platform beds can be built with drawers underneath to remedy this issue. The drawers provide easy storage for extra bedding, blankets or winter clothes/coats. You can build your own platform bed with these instructions or find ready-made beds at Amazon or IKEA.

Murphy Bed: If you want your spare room to double as a home office or playroom, you need to be able to pack away the bed to allow for usable space. Murphy beds are a little on the expensive side, but provide an easy transition from guest bedroom to home office. They can be particularly useful in a smaller spare room where space is limited, so this investment should be considered carefully. Many online stores like Amazon, Overstock and Wayfair sell Murphy beds, but we also recommend checking out your local furniture stores to minimize shipping and transportation costs on an already higher-budget item.

Accent Wall: A great way to make your guest room look nice without worrying about an abundance of decorations is to create an accent wall. Use wallpaper or paint a pattern on a wall and make it the main focus of the room. Doing this can cut down on the perceived need of small décor and trinkets that require weekly dusting and cleaning. Pinterest has some great ideas for accent walls that utilize paint, wainscoting, wallpaper, wood and more!

Hardwood Floors: It might seem instinctual to put carpet in a bedroom, but consider hardwood floors in the spare room instead. Doing this allows you to utilize the space for more than just a bedroom while also making cleaning a breeze. All you have to do is run a Swiffer around the room instead of hauling the vacuum up the stairs. It can also help cut down on the dust and dandruff buildup in the carpet, preserving the life of your flooring. Check out Lowes and Home Depot for various colors, plank widths and types.

Come back next week and we’ll explore renovation and storage ideas for your kitchen. See you then!