You may be in small studio, a mid sized loft or even a small cottage- whether you're in an open floor plan or just a smaller home, overnight guests are a challenge. When friends and family come to visit me in my studio I let them have my bed and then I make a bed out of my big couch. The eat in kitchen nook makes a great place for guest luggage and belongings.
Some the easiest steps for preparing for a guest would be cleaning up and putting away the clutter. If they plan to stay for more than one night, try re-arranging side tables and seating to allow for more space. If you don't have a big enough couch you can always try to make space for an Aerobed. It's also nice to think ahead as far as meals and cooking, this can save time with big messes in the kitchen. If you're able to, go out to dinner and it will be one less area you need to worry about. Is your guest room partially your office space? Again, if you give your guest your bed, you can sleep in the guest room and then when you're ready to work the next morning you won't have to worry about waking them.
Leaving out towels in the bathroom will also make it easier for your guests to get ready in the morning, and could save you a few extra z's in the morning.
Hopefully you are able to transition your small home into a guest friendly environment using a bit of pre-planning, rearranging and organization.
Images: 1. Adam and Daniel's loft, 2. Rodellee's studio, 3. Danielle's cottage, 4. Giovan and Chloe's loft, 5. Cate's Modern Vintage Kit House
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our previous tiny kitchen gave us plenty of "sleepable" floor space for when we set our highest record of having 7 guests (9 people total) sleeping in our 350 sf apartment.
now we live in a typical un-updated, 1-unit-per-floor brownstone where the kitchen and living room are roughly the same size and the bathroom and bedroom are roughly the same size, leaving little room for "sleepable" floor space.
i think someone needs to come up with bunk air mattresses or something!! bunk cots that are super collapsable maybe? haha
http://twopeasteenypod.blogspot.com/2011/11/house-tour.html
I have never had a guest actually want to sleep in my bedroom no matter how much I insisted nor have I ever wanted to sleep in a hosts bedroom. Its just plain awkward and too imposing.
I've never slept in a host's bedroom but I have given mine up to guests. It's a little awkward but really no more strange than sleeping in a hotel where people you don't know were sleeping the night before. You just have to try not to think about it. :)
There are times when people have to be honest and admit that there simply isn't room to have an overnight guest. The worst is someone offering their place overnight, and then finding yourself sleeping... on the kitchen floor.
This is a weird article. There aren't really any good ideas, and the photos don't really seem to have anything to do with the subject.
I usually say, "You can stay, but there's really only floor space for you to crash on...but you're more than welcome!"
@LinkyInVa: I agree, this is a comically pointless article.
But, as advice, I would say get an air mattress and quit worrying about it. My husband and I hung onto a futon b/c we thought we needed it for guests. But futons are ugly. We spent forever looking for an attractive yet affordable sofa bed, then just got a Karlstad w/ custom tapered legs and put an air mattress in under-bed storage and the results have been excellent. We have had several overnight guests (even a homeless foreigner for a month) and no one has complained. Clever dual-use furniture that is over priced is over rated!
Sleeping on the kitchen floor.......GROSS.
In our small condo we always gave up our bedroom to guests and we slept out in the living room. That way we could get up in the morning, get our breakfast/lunches ready etc without disturbing guests. To get our bedroom ready, I'd change out the bedding and pillows (and I always use mattress covers and special pillow insert covers), get rid of clutter, make it feel less personal so that guests felt like they were at a hotel! Also, I make sure all my pillows/comforters/blankets etc I buy are always machine washable. Why do people think it's strange?
I always insist that my guests take my comfy bedroom using the excuse that the animals (dog and cat) usually like to sleep with me and that it would be more convenient for me to sleep in the living room with the animals so that the pets can have ready access to their food/litter box elsewhere in the apt.
The first photo makes me want to stage a Hoarders style intervention.
No way would I sleep on someone's kitchen floor. Ick.
"The first photo makes me want to stage a Hoarders style intervention."
Um...yes, because anything short of pure minimalism is a psychological disorder. Or, you know...not.
HAHAH, I didn't imply that the guests should sleep in the kitchen... or didn't mean to. I meant to say that the kitchen (while living in a studio) may be the best option for storing luggage...while you give your guest the bed or the couch. :)
This whole issue just strikes me as being one huge inconvenience for the homeowner. Sorry people but if you have no option other than to stay with someone who lives in a small studio, then you need to either stay home or save some money for a hotel.
I currently have a one room studio that is about 270 sq feet and I've had 4 guests (one couple) stay over for three different weekends since I moved in September. My boyfriend, cat and I both call this space home so it's already a little crowded!
I have another guest staying this weekend so I'm prepping now. There is no eat-in kitchen or really even any closet space
1) I did a thorough cleaning yesterday so everything feels less cluttered and I'm preparing a corner for a large suitcase to call its home while my guest is here. This will probably involve lots of stacking.
2) I bought a two-seater fold-out couch (Softee-Jennifer Convertibles) because I know that guests are going to want to come mooch off me since I live in NYC
3) I never give up my bed to guests unless they are parents of myself or my boyfriend. You don't want to splurge for a hotel? You pay the price!
4) I store warm blankets, clean sheets and two guests pillows in a storage ottoman. Works as extra seating too!
5) We literally only have two of each utensil so I guess eating out will be the way to go. It happens to be my birthday weekend so that works too.
I always make sure to fold the couch back in every morning, clean up clothes/dishes, every day and let everyone take their time in the bathroom since changing has to happen in there too.
RocketScientist, if that first photo strikes you as hoarding, then you might want to consider seeing someone about your OCD. Having a few books, plants, and knick-knacks isn't a psychological disorder.
We have a four room apartment- obviously much more spacious than a studio, but yeah, we've had seven people there. Two in the main room, housemate in her room, two in the study and one in the lounge! Cosy!
Once in a different place, similar layout, we had three in the study/dining, two in the lounge, three in the guest room and two in the main bedroom, so ten people.
If you like the people, you can squash for a day or two!!! Main thing is the pull the matresses from the living areas into the bedrooms during the day to make those rooms usable!
I recently had two close girlfriends spend the night and gave up bed to them, and took the couch (which I find comfortable). I have an aerobed that I hate dragging out.
I agree, I was looking for some ideas that perhaps I hadnt thought of. Pointless article.
LOL - at first glance I read "Tips for hosting overweight guests"
Everything depends on the specific guests. Some are directed to the Red Roof Inn!
I remember staying with some of my in-laws once. They put us on a sofa bed in the living room. We drove there, six hours, late at night after work and to avoid traffic. I got up pretty early to go to the bathroom, and when I returned (exhausted and ready to sleep another hour or two) they had folded away the bed! It's nice to actually accommodate guests if you invite them! Somehow!