Guest Bedroom Storage Mistakes — 10 Common Flaws and How to Fix Them, According to Designers

The guest room often becomes a bit of a catch-all zone that works as an office, home gym, and general utility room, rolled into one. While you're free to use this room however you want when guests aren't staying, you should always make sure it can easily convert into a calm and tranquil home away from home for your visitors, and the right storage ideas are key to achieving that.

If your clothes airer, gym equipment, and laundry piles are the first things that greet your guests, you'll certainly make the wrong impression. That aside, they'll also need space for their belongings, so it feels cozy and accommodating.

Storage solutions are one way to guarantee this feeling of comfort. Adequate storage can make or break the feeling of serenity in a bedroom, and by finessing the storage in your guest room, you can make your visitor feel relaxed and at home. Here, we speak to designers to get an idea of the most common storage mistakes they notice time and time again in guest bedrooms, with simple tips on how to remedy them.

10 common storage mistakes in guest bedrooms

1. Failure to include multi-functional furniture

A great way of making sure your storage ideas slot seamlessly into your guest room is by choosing furniture that doubles up. A closet and cabinet that can also work as a home office desk, for example, is a neat way to accommodate all functions of the room throughout the year, whether you have guests around or not.

Similarly, the likes of storage sofas offer hidden storage ideas for your guests to keep belongings out of sight to minimize visual clutter — and they work well for extra bedding, too. "For instance, an ottoman with a top can store extra pillows or throws," explains interior designer, Holly A Kopman. "That way you can switch up the room for each season."

2. Not providing space for luggage

One of the storage ideas that hotels always offer, but we often overlook, is space for luggage. When you've traveled to visit family or friends, you want to deposit your bags as soon as possible, and a designated place to stow away your suitcase can really help to make the room feel like home.

Philipp Nagel, Director of bespoke wardrobe makers, Neatsmith, always advises homeowners to design their guest bedrooms with this hotel mindset. "Like a hotel, a guest room should feel welcoming, with storage needs tailored to short-term visitors," he says. "We recommend incorporating storage space for a suitcase, and suggest prioritizing one single and one double hanging area, three shelves, and two drawers to accommodate guests' clothes."

In the space pictured above, Ansley Majit, interior designer and founder of LARK+PALM designed fabric-wrapped, custom trunks to go at the end of each bed. "They act as a place to lay open a suitcase for a short-term guest, and to provide storage for added linens and blankets," Ansley explains. "The room is small so it was important to include places to tuck things away and off the floor as much as possible."

3. Not taking advantage of every inch of space

Unique layouts and architectural features require smart storage, but this is often overlooked when planning storage solutions in a bedroom. If your guest room features alcoves or awkward nooks, be sure to factor these into your storage ideas so you can make the most of every inch.

That's exactly what Ansley did on the other side of her guest bedroom, and it's one of the best ways to create more storage in your home. "We wanted to make sure the rounded corner in this room didn’t become a missed opportunity, so we designed a custom wrap around the desk and shelves for an additional place for guests to place personal things, or tuck them away in the drawers," she says. "It's a great example of taking a funky corner that could have been a detriment to space planning and turning it into something that really makes the room feel bigger.”

4. Overlooking the importance of storage lighting

No guest wants to crawl around in the dark when getting dressed in the morning. While regular lighting is a given, storage lighting ideas can really elevate your guest's stay and make it easier for them to find their clothes and belongings without having to ransack the closet, especially where small guest bedrooms are concerned.

A simple backlit LED in the wardrobe or running below shelving can marry style and practicality. "Our Reflex glass door wardrobes are ideal for achieving this," says Philipp at Neatsmith. "The Reflex wardrobes become transparent when backlit by internal LED lighting but remain reflective and semi-opaque when the inside of the wardrobe is unlit, creating a luxurious, hotel-inspired space."

We love these under-cabinet lights from Amazon.

5. Not embracing built-in storage

Open your eyes to the shape of the room and unlock the potential for built-in storage ideas for small spaces. Going built-in is always a great option — it allows you to design something that fits perfectly and is tailored to the footprint of the space. The overall look feels sleek and considered and avoids the problem of mismatched furniture with different paints and finishes that only make a space feel cluttered and untidy.

Look at the grooves and alcoves in your bedroom and consider where the outline of the room might allow for a built-in wardrobe or chest of drawers with shelving. This helps create a space that feels more calming, welcoming your guests and offering them a unit to store their clothes and belongings.

6. Opting for open storage

The guest room is typically the smaller of the bedrooms, so you want to keep the space feeling as uncluttered and tidy as possible. Visual noise can really create a space that feels busy and cluttered and this is not conducive to a relaxing stay for your guests.

Help to imbue a calming vibe with closed storage that creates minimal distractions. Avoid open bedroom shelving to minimize the build-up of everyday clutter on your shelves and add storage doors to shut the mess away.

7. Neglecting your bedside table

Don't forget those decorative moments and make the most of them for your guest room storage. Every inch is important in the guest room, especially a small bedroom, so go for a nightstand that doubles up on function. The best nightstands provide this, as well as a space for a bedside vignette (think a candle, a few books, and a gorgeous table lamp).

Make sure your bedside table has drawers that can provide extra room for those guest room staples like towels or any nighttime essentials you might like to provide your visitors to help them feel at home.

8. Not making the most of the bed

Under-bed storage is such a clever way to make the most of the footprint of the room. "It's important to use under-bed storage if space is tight," recommends Lars. But I don't just mean stuffing the unsightly clutter under the bed — with airflow throughout the room, this only creates pockets and gaps where dust gathers.

Instead, go for a smart storage bed solution. You can purchase beds with drawers and assign each drawer its own purpose — one for shoes, one for electric cables, and unsightly bits and bobs. Another option is storage headboards, like this one from Wayfair, which can double up as nightstand storage. This means you can be careful and organized with your clutter, and with the addition of a fitted sheet over the top, these drawers are neatly tucked out of sight, and out of mind.

9. Forgetting to look up

When you have a small bedroom with a reduced footprint, think outside the box and look up for inspiration. "People undertaking renovation projects should consider implementing intelligent storage solutions, with a particular emphasis on floor-to-ceiling custom built-ins," says Lars Myren of LM Design Studio.

"Look outside the box for more unconventional arrangements. Sometimes the unexpected solution suits the space," adds Elisabeth Rogoff, principal at Champalimaud Design. I like this design from The Stylesmiths. The height isn't a problem, even if you're not the tallest person, because this ladder means you can easily get access to the cabinet space above (and it adds a certain rustic charm to the room).

10. Forgetting to measure

Last, but by no means least, before you consider your storage options, make sure you measure the space. "Always measure a room before buying furniture for it," says Elisabeth. "Scale every item out and sketch in plan — there is no other way to ensure a proper fit."

When it comes to selecting bedroom furniture, getting the sizes and proportions right can make a significant difference to the overall look and feel of the room. "It is essential to choose furniture that is proportionate to the size of the space. You may want a king-size bed, but if you’re tight on square meterage, then you’ll need to compromise to ensure you keep the right balance of proportions," adds Liz. At least a foot and a half at the end of the bed to move comfortably and change the sheets with ease is a good rule of thumb to follow.