The Struggle of Hosting Guests in Small Homes

I sometimes wonder if the guest room is like the formal dining room – destined to go the way of the dodo. With people living smaller by choice and necessity, an entire room dedicated to overnight guests is a luxury you don’t see as often as you once did. These days, extra rooms tend to be home offices, if they exist at all.

But people will want to go visiting, won’t they? As someone who has made my home away from my native country, I’m used to having people come and stay. But as that home happens to be in a large, expensive city, I don’t know a single Londoner with a guest room. Actually, I know how tricky it can be to host people in the way you’d like.

Here’s the thing – even if you don’t have a dedicated guest room, you can still welcome visitors with a minimum of disruption and a maximum of comfort. The key is to get creative with your living spaces. And that’s where the corner sofa bed comes in.

The Rise of the Corner Sofa Bed

Pull-out sofas and daybeds are the obvious choice for hosting guests, but they’re not to everyone’s taste or budget. I love the corner sofa-turned-bed in my living room in a furnished rental for its hosting abilities, but would I buy it myself if I were furnishing my dream flat? Probably not.

Luckily, there are other options. A good air mattress is comfortable and doesn’t take up too much room – you can just store it inside a suitcase when not in use. Or, depending on the guest and the length of stay (I’m thinking in-laws and two nights max), you could have the guests in your room and take the sofa yourself. If you’ve got kids, consider putting guests in their room while having the kids bunk with you or sleep on the sofa – little people take up less room, after all.

But the corner sofa bed is a game-changer. It gives you the best of both worlds – a comfortable sofa for everyday use and a surprisingly spacious bed for when guests come to stay. And they come in all sorts of styles to suit any small space, from sleek and modern to cozy and traditional.

Finding the Perfect Corner Sofa Bed

When I was on the hunt for the ideal sofa bed, I faced a common issue – a whole lot of ugly. I’m talking about the puffy-armed, chunky-cushioned monstrosities that look like they’ve been around since the 90s. It felt like no one had invented a new sofa bed since 1992, and I really didn’t want that typical two-seater that folds out with all the springs and steel.

Luckily, my friend had purchased the IKEA Friheten sofa bed for his living room, and I was really impressed with how it looked. So it became a frontrunner, unless something better caught my attention. And you know what? Nothing did, because I ended up purchasing the Friheten myself.

Now, I’ll admit, the Friheten is on the firmer side when it comes to the seat cushions. It doesn’t have a ton of padding – I’d say it’s a 7 out of 10 on the comfort scale. So I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as your everyday sofa without testing it out in-store first to see if the firmness is something you’re comfortable with.

But for use as a spare room sofa that can be converted to a bed when needed? It’s been amazing. I find it’s just the right level of firmness for occasional lounging and hosting overnight guests. Many readers have reported the same, but some do use it in their main living room. I think it comes down to how much you want to spend on a sofa for everyday use.

As one Apartment Therapy reader noted, “The Friheten sofa bed is definitely on the firm side in terms of the seat cushions. It doesn’t feature a lot of padding – a 7 out of 10 on a fitness scale, I’d say. I wouldn’t recommend it as your every day sofa without testing out the firmness in-store first to see if it’s something you’re comfortable with. I personally would suggest you use it more as a spare room sofa you can convert to a bed when needed. That’s what I did in my own guest room, and it’s been amazing.”

So if you’re looking for a corner sofa bed that’s comfortable enough for occasional use and can seamlessly transition into a guest bed, the Friheten might just be the perfect fit. And the best part? It won’t break the bank.

Maximizing the Corner Sofa Bed’s Potential

Of course, the corner sofa bed isn’t just about having a place for your guests to sleep. It’s also about making the most of your limited living space. And that’s where the design and functionality of these versatile pieces really shine.

Take the IKEA Friheten, for example. Not only does it transform into a surprisingly spacious bed, but it also has hidden storage within the chaise lounge. So you can tuck away extra blankets, pillows, or even seasonal decor when it’s not in use.

As one TLC Interiors writer noted, “The Friheten is definitely on the firm side in terms of the seat cushions. It doesn’t feature a lot of padding – a 7 out of 10 on a fitness scale, I’d say. I wouldn’t recommend it as your every day sofa without testing out the firmness in-store first to see if it’s something you’re comfortable with. I personally would suggest you use it more as a spare room sofa you can convert to a bed when needed. That’s what I did in my own guest room, and it’s been amazing.”

And the beauty of the corner configuration is that it maximizes the seating area without taking up too much floor space. Whether you’re curling up with a good book or hosting a cozy movie night, the corner sofa bed provides the perfect perch.

But the real magic happens when you need to accommodate overnight guests. The transition from sofa to bed is surprisingly seamless, with the chaise lounge extending to create a generously sized sleeping surface. And with the added storage, you can have everything your guests need – from extra linens to a place to stash their belongings – right at hand.

Creating a Welcoming Guest Experience

Of course, transforming your living room into a guest suite isn’t just about the furniture. It’s also about creating a welcoming atmosphere and making your visitors feel at home.

One of the key things to consider is privacy. If your guests will be staying for a while, try to afford everyone in the household a bit of solitude. A folding screen can lend a little privacy to an open-plan living area turned bedroom, which is ideal in the mornings or evenings if everyone has different routines.

And don’t forget about the little touches that make a big difference. Fresh flowers, a power bar for charging devices, and your Wi-Fi password written on an easily accessible card can go a long way in making your guests feel truly welcomed.

As one Apartment Therapy reader shared, “My best friends always have fresh flowers in their apartment when I come to visit, which never fails to make me feel welcome. On the more practical side, a power bar for charging phones and iPads is always appreciated, as is your Wi-Fi password written on an easily-accessible card.”

But perhaps the most important thing is to make sure your guests are comfortable. That means considering factors like light, temperature, and noise. Are the curtains keeping out enough light for a good night’s sleep? Is there a draft coming under the front door that makes it cold at night? Is there street noise that might disrupt their slumber?

These may seem like small details, but they can make all the difference in ensuring your guests feel truly at home. And with a well-designed corner sofa bed as the centerpiece, you’ll have the perfect foundation for creating a cozy, welcoming space that your visitors will love.

Embracing the Small Space Lifestyle

At the end of the day, the rise of the corner sofa bed is a reflection of a larger trend – the shift towards smaller, more efficient living spaces. And while it may mean sacrificing the traditional guest room, it also opens up a world of creative possibilities.

As the team at Sofa Spectacular in the UK knows, small-space living doesn’t have to mean compromising on comfort or style. With the right furniture and design solutions, you can create a home that’s both functional and beautiful – one that seamlessly blends everyday living with overnight hosting.

So if you’re struggling to find a place for your guests, don’t despair. Embrace the corner sofa bed and let it be the secret weapon in your small-space arsenal. With a little creativity and a whole lot of coziness, you can turn your living room into a welcoming oasis that your visitors will never want to leave.

And who knows? Maybe the guest room is destined to go the way of the dodo, but the corner sofa bed is here to stay. So why not make it the star of your small-space show?