5 Ways to Add Guest Beds to Row Homes & Duplexes

Adding a guest room or sleeping area that is both private and comfortable does not have to be challenging for your row home.  It’s a matter of finding furniture that is functional and works with your space no matter how large, narrow, or small it is.  

If you have a shotgun home in the French Quarter with an average 12 foot width, choose a sleeping option that expands vertically, where Chicago brownstones have extra width, but also odd shapes depending on the year they were built.  Hidden beds and multi-functional furniture could also be the key to maximizing these spaces if you want something unique.

Below you’ll find ways to add a guest bedroom or sleeping space that gives your guest privacy including narrow DC rowhouses with roughly 13 – 20 foot width or Philly at 14 – 18 feet, and wider duplexes like San Francisco’s 25 feet requirement for a two family home.

Fun fact: Signature features of row houses like bay windows were banned in DC until 1871, and Brownstone houses started in NYC, not in Chicago, even though the city is most known for them and Greystone houses.

Living Rooms

For more densely populated urban areas, width doesn’t have to be a challenge.  And neither does turning a larger living room into a comfortable guest bedroom where you can easily walk through without having to maneuver around the bed when it’s expanded.

Instead of expanding a bed across a room like a traditional sleeper sofa, think about lifting vertical instead.  A bunk bed couch takes up minimal floor space so people can get through the living room at night without bumping into the bed or stubbing their toes.  As a bonus, the couch portion lets you and your guests enjoy tv or catching up comfortably making this an ideal solution.

If you normally have multiple guests, some have three sleeping spaces like our Compatto style.  Others like our Dormire V2, which you may have seen on social media, lift the seating area upwards and provide a comfortable bed below.

Home Offices

Perfect for multi-purpose use, a home office is already private and provides your guests with a place to relax alone.  Offices normally need shelves for books, awards, and decor items that make your workspace yours.  This is where a multi-functional shelving and bed unit work in unison.

Rotating murphy beds with shelves on one side are the perfect solution.  Options like our Compatto LSG feature professional shelves for books and other items on one side, then rotate to reveal a twin murphy bed for overnight guests.  With this option you can turn a home office into a guest bedroom without having to sacrifice a professional feel or floor space.

Basements

Whether your basement is used for a game room, kids to play, or multi-purpose, it can easily be converted to a guest bedroom by using a hidden or folding wall bed.  The added benefit with basement guest bedrooms is that your guests can have privacy and quiet, and if there’s a separate entry, they can come and go as they please.

Hidden wall beds fold down from the wall so you can keep the floor space open allowing kids to play, room for card tables when hosting a game night, and your basement stays multi-purpose.  When its time for your guest to turn in for the night, they just need to lower the bed from the wall and they’re all set.  Folding beds also double as a large shelf which comes in handy when assembling furniture, folding clothing, or organizing holiday decor.

If you want multi-function so your guest can work, some options like our Compatto horizontal twin bed have a desk that folds out from the flat side giving them a space to do work, have a snack, or set items down while they get ready for the day.

Bay Windows and Reading Nooks

There’s two common types of bay windows depending on the city you live in, wide and narrow.  Two ways to turn a wide bay window into a sleeping area include:

• Adding a sleeper loveseat with lamps behind it.  You can also add a custom shelf to place decor items for a cozy feel that fills the space but leaves it open to walk through.
• Building a wide shelf across and adding a thicker memory foam pad that can sleep a guest comfortably.  The pad can be stored in a closet when not in use.  Or raise the floor and have a built-in storage space below. 
  • Add curtains that close on the inside and shutters for the windows to create a privacy area so your guests don’t feel like they’re on display.

There’s options for narrow nooks too:

• Build a platform with a cushion that gives plenty of room to curl up and read a book.  Have the section that connects the platform to the ground flip up with a hinge and a couple of legs for support, then place a memory foam mattress along it for a custom fold out bed.
• The easiest way if you’re not a DIYer is to find a chair that expands out and lays flat, or a comfortable recliner that doubles as a bed for guests.  

Dining Rooms

This may sound strange, but a dining room makes a perfect guest bedroom when you use multi-functional furniture.  Instead of a granite or marble table that is heavy and hard to move, go for an expandable dining set that lets you seat 2 to 12 people and matches your decor style.

You can find square, round, rectangular and multiple sizes.  The benefit here is you can have dinner with a group, and collapse the table for a sleeping space easily.  That’s where the bed comes in.

Rotating murphy beds keep the bed hidden and on the reverse side and have stylish shelving that hold decor items, books, serving trays you normally display in dining rooms, family photos, and a TV if you like to watch while eating.  You get the storage shelves and a hidden bed that becomes a talking piece that’ll surprise and delight your guests for a double win.  As an added bonus, your guests will enjoy being able to quietly and easily grab a glass of water or midnight snack from the kitchen.  

Adding an area for guests to sleep in your home does not depend on size, layout, or how many rooms you have.  It is based on how creative you are with your space and the furniture you use.  We hope the ideas above help you with yours, and you can always contact us for a custom design featuring our line of transforming furniture.