The in-laws and their brood coming to stay for the holidays? Don't panic about where to stow everyone for the night. The following article offers three tips for sleeping more guests in your home, so you can focus on more important preparations—like stocking the home bar, perhaps?
Screened off corners. So you put a cot in the office—now what? The answer is a privacy screen. A privacy screen can corner off sleeping spaces to help up the cozy ante, as well as keep your existing space functional. With that handy screen set up, you won't wake your guests as you tiptoe through the living room to plant presents or nibble Santa's cookie stash.
Skinny sleeper sofa. When most of us hear the term “sleeper sofa,” we think of grandma's bulky guest bedding of yore. However, there are many twin size sleeper sofa options that could fit nicely in the living room, den, or even in the corner of the guest bedroom. No year-round guests? No worries! These make great reading nooks in the off season.
Bunk it out. Want to make the most of that guest bedroom? Try bunk beds. Wait wait, don't cringe! There are many attractive bunk bed options available that won't remind you of summer camp. And who says bunk beds need to be for kids? Many companies make queen size bunk options. No guest room? No problem. Try placing bunk beds in a less-trafficked room, like the office or den. Want to hide the bunks from day-to-day activities? Add an intimate curtain or—if your budget allows—a sliding barn door, which will add discretion and make guests feel like they've got their own sleeping fort.
Consider alternate couches. The futon isn't the only couch with slumber party capabilities. Consider swapping one of your couches for a day bed equipped with a trundle bed, or look for a large sectional big enough to sleep one or more.
Zoe Eisenberg is RISMedia's Associate Editor. She likes to sleep her holiday guests in sheet forts.
