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Gretchen Made A Switch! Here’s How She Designed This Small Space For Guests, Just In Time For Holiday Hosting
Hey there, reader! Does this wallpaper look familiar? Any chance you remember this MOTO photo (below) from my last makeover reveal? The one where I plastered the tinier of my two bedrooms in DIY fabric wallpaper, forced a queen bed in there, and called it mine? Or maybe you’re up-to-date and instead recall a more recent post, where I flashed you my scary second bedroom, aptly named “The Doom Room”, and contemplated swapping the two?
The TLDR version goes something like this– I loved my initial bedroom design and still intended to keep the furniture (and fabric wallpaper) forever, but I made a mistake in choosing the smaller room for my personal bedroom, leaving the bigger room to be my “office”. Instead, this larger space just turned into a dumping ground for estate sale finds, crafty crap, and miscellaneous junk I wanted to close behind a door and forget about. I was sick of my excess stuff, desperately wanted more space in my own bedroom, and hoped that by switching the two rooms, I could finally free up the smaller one for guests. So I went for it, moving my bed and dresser to the larger room (which I’m loving btw), to free up the wallpapered room for a new project–a (hardly) blank canvas.
During the switch, a kismet opportunity to work with AllModern fell directly from the sky and into my lap. They were specifically looking to do a story about hosting visitors for the holidays. Like what?! This was my chance! A timely partnership paired with an insatiable desire to declutter and design a thoughtful guest space? It kicked my spare room dreams into high gear, and I can’t wait to show you how it all turned out.
When I first wrote the room swap post, contemplating how each area might look and function, I thought I wanted this second bedroom to double as an office space. Before the partnership, I had even picked out an AllModern desk (a piece I was eyeballing for its clever, double-sided, dual-purpose design). But the truth is, I like doing my daily computer work from my dining table and mostly use my vintage desk chair as extra living room seating, so relocating my “office” to this smaller room just didn’t make sense. What it did require was storage (and sadly, this cool desk was too big anyway).
Above all, I was craving a second sleeping zone that felt comfortable and spacious. A tucked-away oasis for any friend, parent, or first-date-mistake to have a place to crash for the night. A room that felt…roomy, despite its humble footprint. A private hang-out spot that could transform for guests but would still inspire me creatively anytime I needed to dig in the closet for art supplies. This old “wallfabric” isn’t coming down anytime soon, but with a hefty dose of some AllModern magic, I think we gave this familiar space a brand new feel…
Please, feast your eyes upon my new and improved GUEST BEDROOM! A funky lounge space by day, an artful bedroom by night, and with just enough storage to tuck my junk treasures out of sight. Let’s dig in, shall we?
One element I wanted right from the jump was a big hit of red. I knew this would help guide the design in a fresh direction. I envisioned a simple but interesting color-drenched rug, and it wasn’t hard to find a winner–I felt great about this one instantly! I love how its subtle, indented pattern references a similar repeat on the wallpaper, and I think the deep red color solidly anchors the space, don’t you?
Initially, I had imagined a green sofa bed in here. It had to be a sofa bed to save on space and maximize room function. But it’d need to be the perfect Goldilocks Green to work with the green on the walls, and I just didn’t want to chance it. I figured something more neutral, a beige, gray, or cream would be better overall. I was in-between sleeper sofas. Initially, I liked the 84″ Cleo Sleeper Sofa for its compact shape and long list of customizable colors. But ultimately I chose this one, the Savelle 88” Upholstered Sleeper Sofa (in Mink Chenille) because it shipped a little faster, had stellar reviews, and still looked just as good. Also, I was hopeful that a fold-down sofa bed over a pull-out mattress would better maximize space, even if the sofa itself was a little longer.
I am SO glad I went with this option. The oatmeal color looks so good in here and helps dial back the wild wall factor, allowing the rug to stand out a bit more. Plus, a neutral like this will work in just about any space I move to in the future–something I consider heavily with a piece like this. I want it to last!
But I also want it to be easy. So far, swapping between functions has been a breeze! From sofa to bed, you start by removing the two back cushions, drag the bench seat forward (it’s on wheels and works like a trundle bed), then flip down the solid back cushion to reveal a brand new, full-sized sleeping surface–just add bedding! Flip it and reverse it Missy Elliot style, and you’ll have a couch again in no time.
Ivory Sheet Set | Waffle Duvet Cover | Duvet Insert | Striped Yellow Shams | Pillow Inserts | Waffle Throw Blanket | Yellow Throw Blanket
The cushions are on the firmer side, but aren’t at all like a cheap futon. They feel more like a dense mattress, still with plenty of bounce. Two cozied-up friends or one Emily Henderson should have no trouble lying here comfortably! See? Actually, I’ve already had multiple guests stay over in this room (no, not my boss), and they all gave rave reviews on comfort. I mean, I did ask each of them how well they slept, and it is possible they lied to me… but I had the accidental pleasure of falling asleep on it myself recently, and can attest, it was a very solid slumber!
Gumdrop Throw Pillows | Wool Pillow | Yellow Throw Blanket | Side Table | Paper Trees
You may recognize some of the styling elements (like the throw pillows, side table, chrome lamp, upholstered chair, or paper trees) from our recent Christmas at The Carly decoration transformation. And well, that’s because I stole them for myself after the shoot. Actually, Em asked me to do a chunk of the shopping for that first holiday photoshoot, and instinctively, I pulled pieces from AllModern that I thought might also work in my space, hoping to cut down on the amount we’d need to style out both. I picked colors and textures I liked and could utilize here as well, so it’d make sense for me to just keep most of it in the end. Just some light, premeditated “stealing”. Like, I’m sorry, but I really wanted some of those jewel-toned paper trees for myself. This is meant to be a holiday guest story after all!
While I can cram most of my junky stuff away in the closet, I also wanted to include a few pretty storage pieces to round out the space. I found this super cute wall shelf to display a few of my favorite things, which finally gave purpose to this impossibly small wall next to my closet. It was super simple to put together and just as easy to hang.
Then I came across this beautiful thing. A storage piece in a wood tone I just loved, with beautiful lines… and a secret! To me, it echoed similar vibes to the double-sided desk I liked from before. At first glance, you think you know just what it is: A dresser with nine drawers. Now go ahead and move that little slider to the left for ultimate satisfaction. They’re actually cabinet doors! Boy, do I love a sneaky piece of furniture.
It’s a perfectly petite size, too, but with plenty of room inside. In my mind, having doors instead of drawers also allows for easier access to the stuff within, but maybe that’s just me? For now, this cabinet stores the guest bedding, but I’m sure eventually I’ll find a way to shove a hammer or a few vintage finds in there, too.
Mirror | Chrome Lamp | Vase | Pink Catchall
Above the sideboard is this funky, amorphous mirror. I love it. It’s a curvaceous walnut that pulls a little more red (exactly as I had hoped when I first saw it online). It totally complements the rug and accent pillows and pairs nicely (but not too closely) with the storage piece below. That lamp was also a Carly swipe. Its shape and material are just so sleek and reminiscent of the last lamp I had in here (which sadly broke).
The little metal side table in the corner was a last-minute addition (eventually, a tall, spiky plant or narrow bookshelf might live here instead), but I love what these balanced pops of chrome add to the space. The platter sitting on the cabinet works great as a catchall, and the pink matches the flowers on the wall, but when visitors come to stay, I’ll likely clear the surface so they can use it to spread out and unpack. However, one MUST leave out a design-forward vase of flowers to properly greet your guests upon arrival!
We filled out the opposite wall with a few of my favorite artworks. The large painting is a piece my mom’s college classmate painted for her that I, yes, STOLE and refuse to give back. The bamboo-framed dancer print is one I scored years ago at a local Latvian rummage sale for just $10. And the newest addition is a piece Em commissioned for all of us by one of our favorite local artists, Purl. At our last team retreat, she surprised us each with a custom art piece for our birthdays. Mine is titled “Shopkeepers”. It was the final piece needed for this little gallery wall, which I think hangs so nicely over both the bed and the sofa. I didn’t even have to move the old swing arm sconce from my last makeover!
Well, folks, I think that about sums it up! In just a few weeks, I was able to carve out my little dream space for all future guests with the help of AllModern. The strong punches of color and wild wallpaper might be a bit much for some of you out there, and that’s okay! But I’m truly over the moon with how it turned out. It’s fun and functional, but the best part is there’s now SO much room for activities. Way more than before, even with the sofa in “bed mode”. I no longer feel like I’m tripping over crammed furniture or homeless piles of my “stuff”. Everything and everyone has a place now. So what are you waiting for? COME OVER!!! I’ll text you the address.
Sincerely, Gretch
*Design by Gretchen Raguse
*Photos by Kaitlin Green
Gretchen, good job! That room came out incredible! The AllModern pieces work so well in there and your careful choices of bedding, art and accessories are just perfect.