How to Convert Your Small Living Room Into a Guest Bedroom for Less Than $250

Struggling to fit guests into your small home? You’re not alone.
With UK homes averaging just 95 m², many of us are constantly looking for creative ways to make the most of our space.

I will show you step by step, some great ideas to turn your small room or small living room into a really cozy bedroom for you or your guests.

When my husband and I first moved into our small one-bedroom apartment in London, my goal was to create as many pockets of storage as possible as well as a temporary bedroom incase we had an overnight guest.

I love hosting and I wasn’t going to let our small space get in the way of that.

Also, the last thing I wanted was to put my guests on a blow-up air bed. I have slept on a few in my lifetime and they are not the best to sleep on.

So before we even bought any of our furniture, I researched ways to make sure any guests we received didn’t feel like they were in our living room (even if they were).

When my mother-in-law came visiting, I was able to quickly turn our living room into a temporary bedroom for her and she was so comfortable she even agreed to stay an extra night!

I have a few simple tips up my sleeves that I would love to share with you.

These solutions will work not just for a one-bedroom apartment like ours but for a studio apartment as well.

Here’s my step-by-step guide to transforming your small apartment living room into a guest room that will get loads of compliments!

How To Make An Extra Bedroom In Your House

Step #1: Start With A Convertible Sofa

Don’t stop reading if you already have a sofa, I share more tips below that will apply to you.

However, if you are in the process of shopping for your small home, the first step is to buy a good quality sofa bed.

It will give you the flexibility to have a temporary bedroom.

Every time I design my space I am constantly thinking, about storage.

I always make sure all my furniture serves a dual purpose.

The sofa bed I got is from Made.com and it’s a great place to shop for chic and comfortable options (oh and it has held up for three years at the time of writing this).

A sofa bed not only offers you a bed, but additional hidden storage to keep your living area tidy because you get to store so much under it.

Nothing helps maximise your floor space quite like a sofa bed and I use mine to store everything from extra sheets to toiletries for guests.

It also creates extra space when we are having a movie night and need more space to Netflix and chill… I mean watching TV in the literal sense, not what you are thinking.

If you already have a large sofa, you don’t have to run off and buy a sofa bed.

Use what you have or get an inflatable bed as a last resort.

Step #2: Lay Proper Bedding

The fact that this is a sofa bed does not mean you should neglect the quality of bedding you use.

This is how you give your living room a bedroom feel.

Make the bed like you would a proper bed, trust me it makes all the difference.

A well-made bed is always a good idea.

To create a nice cozy hotel-like bed, I suggest using crisp white bedding.

I know, I know, the video above shows my bedding is bright orange.

I have now swapped them for white hotel sheets. Crisp white bedding will make the sofa bed feel more elevated.

If you are not sure where to start, remember to use the following:

• A mattress pad – This is a must to protect your sofa
• A fitted sheet – This goes over the mattress pad and fits snug
• A flat sheet– This is optional but it definitely adds some extra comfort
• A blanket or duvet – Adjust the tog or thickness depending on the time of the year
• Four pillows – For extra comfort
• Throw blanket – In case your guests need something lighter than a blanket
• Two decorative pillows – To tie it all together

Even though this is a sofa bed, adding layers gives it that extra level of coziness.

Step #3: Consider Layout

I am not saying to redecorate your entire living room, I am saying make changes to the floor plan.

This will require moving some furniture pieces around in creative ways.

After your guest wakes up, your living room will still need to function like a living room.

Here’s how you can make this happen.

Move your side table over so it’s parallel to the sofa bed. This will act as a great side table for your guest to pop their phone or a glass of water.

If you have large windows and much natural light peeks through them, consider placing the head of the ‘bed’ away from it as facing a large window might cause restless sleep.

Step #4: Add decor

Adding a few decorative elements is a great way to make your living room look more like an intentional bedroom for your overnight guests.

A few fresh flowers from the supermarket cut and arranged in a vase on the side table is an excellent idea.

Remember the side table we put parallel to the sofa bed for the guest’s phone?

Yes, use that to display fresh flowers.

Nothing screams intentionality like fresh flowers. They are one of the cheap but creative ways to make your living room truly feel like a spare room.

Step #5: Create a box of essentials

Okay, so we have a well-made bed, a side table, and what hopefully looks like a proper place for your guest.

Now let’s kick this up a notch by creating a welcome basket.

Personally, I consider it really essential to have a basket of essentials on hand just in case your guest left some things at home or is just too shy to ask.

My welcome packet includes things like towels, toiletries, and even snacks.

Here is a list of things you need to have on hand to make them feel comfortable and less like they are in your sitting room.

Welcome Box Essentials

This is a complete list for both male and female guests but add or remove from the list to fit your guests’ needs.

• Shower Cap
• Spray deodorant
• Body Wash
• Moisturiser
• Soap Bar
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mouthwash
• Towels
• Mini Scissors
• Lip balm
• Box of snacks
• Tissue
• Bottled Water
• A new set of panties
• Sanitary towels/tampons
• Pantyliners
• Lipbalm
• Bathing sponge
• Handheld Mirror

Step #6: Create Privacy

This is something we didn’t have because there was simply not enough storage space for it, but if you can, a good option is to get a privacy screen.

Our overnight guests have always used the bathroom to change out of their clothes but if we had a privacy screen, it would honestly make them feel a lot more comfortable.

A privacy screen will give the illusion of separate rooms and they come in different shapes, sizes, and designs that have a really modern look.

I found this folding room divider on Amazon which has decent reviews but I honestly cannot speak for its quality as I have never bought from that exact store before.

Here are some room divider ideas that might work for a tiny space.

If budget is an issue, here’s a really great video that shows you how to make one yourself.

A Realistic Budget for Creating a Temporary Guest Room

If you are not making any structural changes and you use the tips I mentioned above, you only need between £220- £250 to create a comfortable bedroom.

Here’s a rough budget I put together as a guide.

The total cost for you will largely depend on your taste and how much you are willing to spend.

These are the steps and the essentials you need to turn a living room into an extra room for overnight guests.

I hope these tips help you to put together the most relaxing room or even use the tips to create an oasis in your spare bedroom.

Happy hosting!