In recent years a bedroom office has become a must-need in many British homes with research from Zoopla revealing two in five households who adapted their spaces to suit changing needs during the pandemic.

With many of us continuing to work from home, it’s little surprise that a further two-fifths say they would prioritise a house with a home office if they were looking to buy.

If you don’t have the luxury of having room for a separate office space it’s often a case of having to make do with a multi-purpose spare room and home-working area.  

However, there can be challenges to designing a dual-function work/sleep space.

“With remote working full-time or part-time becoming the norm, and a rise in people leaving their 9-5s to start jobs and side hustles, many of us are using our spare bedroom as a dual-purpose space,” explains Jodi Peterman, CEO and owner at Elizabeth Erin Designs.

“Serving as both a guest room and a work-from-home office, this dual functionality area can make it tricky to design a room that seamlessly caters to both needs, balancing comfort and practicality without compromising on style.”

While balancing the needs of a home office with the comfort of a spare bedroom might seem tricky, with the right approach Milena Vallier, lead designer at My Bespoke Room says it is possible to create a versatile and inviting space.

From multi-purpose furniture to a mood-enhancing colour scheme here are our expert-backed tips to help you make the most of your dual-purpose room.

Establish the primary function

With the design of any room, it is important to first consider how you will predominately use the space.

“Will you use the room as an office only occasionally and want the emphasis to be on hosting? Or do you often work from home and only occasionally have guests staying over?” Milena says.

“By assessing this as the first step will determine the layout and the type of furniture you will need to prioritise.”

If you’re creating a guest bedroom with a home office

If the priority is for a guest bedroom, Milena suggests avoiding a standard office desk and a large monitor and instead using a built-in or pull-out desk.

“Units built into the wall or alcoves save floor space for a cosy bed and can also become a nice dressing table for your guests,” she explains.  

“You can also opt for cabinets with a pull-out desk, or bureau which keeps monitors and cables concealed when not in use and their footprint is more limited.”

Milena says you can find some nice contemporary versions of these cabinets as well as the more traditional ones to suit any style.

If you’re creating an office with a guest bedroom

If a productive home office is a priority, doubling up as an occasional guest room, then using a full desk with a sofa bed may be your best option.

“Sofa beds and daybeds are ideal for home offices, functioning as a sitting area during the day for visitors, or if you want somewhere softer to work, but able to quickly be pulled out when guests stay over,” Milena suggests.

If you are limited in space, a single sofa bed or bed chair could be just what you need.

“Another way to create a comfy sleeping area in your home office is with a Murphy bed or wall bed,” Milena continues.

“When closed it leaves available floor space for the office area and at the same time it gives the opportunity to have some built-in storage and display shelving.”

Milena says you can have this made bespoke or choose from one of the off-the-shelves alternatives if the space is right.

Think about dual-purpose seating

The typical office chair can look quite bulky and out of place in a guest bedroom.

Instead, Milena suggests choosing a comfortable upholstered carver dining chair which could function very well as a desk chair and also serve as a nice spot for guests to perch.

“There are some really lovely options available with swivel mechanisms which make them perfect when used as office chairs,” she adds.

Opt for multi-functional furniture

Irrespective of the primary function of the space, all of the furniture will have to work twice as hard in a dual space room and therefore it is a good idea to choose multi-functional pieces.

“One of my favourite items for these situations is a dresser or tall cabinet which would address the storage requirement for guest’s items and at the same time for filing and stationery,” Milena suggests.

Don’t forget about lighting

Lighting is another important consideration as these two functional areas require different types of lighting.

“A bedroom needs more relaxing, softer lighting and the office requires more task lighting,” explains Milena.

To ensure the lighting serves both functions, she suggests using table and floor lamps in strategic places, which will provide focused lighting but can also set the mood for a restful night’s sleep.

Choose the right window dressing

This is a point that often is left as an afterthought but the two functions require very different window dressing. Nobody wants to spend Zoom calls squinting and dealing with screen glare, and equally, guests will need to block the light for a good night’s rest.

“Home offices will need flexible window dressing solutions to let in as much natural light as possible but prevent glare at certain times of the day,” explains Milena. “Bedrooms will mainly require blackout solutions.”

In order to combine the two in an aesthetically pleasing way she suggests opting for a layered approach with a sheer fabric roller blind or Venetian blind in the window recess and a set of black-out curtains or Roman blinds fitted outside the recess.

“The roller blind or Venetian blind will also offer privacy during the day if needed,” she adds.

If you want to keep things simpler and more streamlined, you could also consider a double roller blind.

“This is made of a blackout roller blind up front plus a sheer fabric one at the back and all combined in one piece,” Milena adds.

Choose a restful colour scheme

When designing a hybrid room like a guest bedroom and home office, Milena suggests choosing a versatile shade that will sit comfortably whatever the function.

“I love using warm neutrals which provide a restful atmosphere and an unobtrusive backdrop for working,” she says.

If you choose to opt for a neutral base, Jodi suggests adding pops of colour to keep the room versatile and vibrant.

“Soft greys, whites, and beiges create a calm environment, while accents in greens, or yellows add energy and personality to the space,” she adds.

Blue is another hue to consider. Research suggests that the colour blue has a positive impact on cognitive performance. At the same time, however, blue is also associated with calmness and tranquillity, which means it could serve a dual-purpose room well.

Think about room dividers

If you want visual separation between the two functions of your home office/guest space you could consider a room divider approach.

“This could be a simple screen, an open bookcase (functioning as extra storage too) or simply hang a curtain,” Milena suggests.

Don’t overlook the finishing touches

Both the home office and spare bedrooms will need welcoming, homely touches like framed photographs, artwork and ornaments.

“Also incorporate soft furnishings and a rug for cosiness and texture,” Milena suggests.

“Don’t forget house plants which not only provide a nice splash of colour but they can also reduce stress and increase productivity,” she continues. “I love adding them in key spots to detract the attention from typically office-related items like printers.”

Jodi recommends adding personal touches that blend both purposes, such as stylish desk accessories, cosy throw pillows, and inviting bedding.

“Use a cohesive colour palette to tie everything together, making the room feel harmonious and welcoming for both work and relaxation,” she adds.