A spare room rarely has just one job. It is a guest room for a few nights a year, and the rest of the time it becomes a home office, a hobby room or a store for things with nowhere else to go. A single bed is the natural fit because it takes little floor space, but the room only works well when the bed, storage and layout are planned together. These ideas help you set up a spare room that guests enjoy and that you can use all year.

Start with the bed, because it decides the room

A standard UK single bed is 3ft (90cm) wide and 190cm long, so it takes up about 1.7 square metres. Our single beds also come in Small Single (2ft 6, 75cm) on many products, for the tightest spaces. Pushing the bed against a wall frees one side of the room and leaves a clear path on the other. Put the head of the bed on the wall that is farthest from the door, so a guest is not disturbed by someone walking past.

Choose a base that stores things

In a small room, the biggest gain comes from the space under the bed. Two options work well:

  • An ottoman bed. The whole platform lifts on gas-assisted hinges to reveal a large space for spare bedding, towels and a suitcase. We explain what to keep in one in our guide to storing things in an ottoman bed. Look at our ottoman storage beds.
  • A divan with drawers. Optional drawers on many divan beds give you everyday access to linen without lifting the bed, which suits a room that is used often.

Either option lets you keep the guest linen in the guest room, so you are not searching the house when someone arrives.

Make the bed flexible with Zip & Link

If the room might host children, friends or a couple at different times, a Zip & Link base is worth a look. It is made as two bases that you can use as two single beds or connect into one larger bed. We offer the Zip & Link platform top divan base and the storage version, the Zip and Link ottoman divan bed base. Two singles also work well for friends or siblings who want separate beds.

Add a headboard for comfort, not just looks

A guest will often read, scroll on a phone or have a cup of tea in bed, so a padded headboard is a real comfort. It also protects the wall and finishes the look so the bed feels like a proper bed, not a spare mattress on a frame. Our upholstered headboards come in winged, buttoned, panelled and modern designs, and suit standard UK divan and ottoman bases. A plain panelled or smooth design looks neat in a small room. Try the flat minimalist modern headboard for a clean look.

Layout ideas for a small room

  • Keep the floor clear. Use the bed as the main furniture and add only one other piece, such as a narrow chest or a desk.
  • Use the foot of the bed. A narrow ottoman storage box fits at the foot of a single bed, adding a seat and storage for extra blankets.
  • Use the wall, not the floor. Shelves above the bed or hooks on the back of the door hold coats and bags without taking space.
  • Keep colours calm. A single fabric colour on the bed and headboard makes a small room feel larger.

Bedding and layers for guests

Guests like to adjust to the temperature, so layers work better than a single heavy duvet. A mid-weight duvet with a spare blanket on the ottoman box lets guests decide. Keep a spare pillow in a different firmness, and a mattress protector under the sheet to protect the mattress. Choose a mattress that suits most people, such as a medium-firm pocket sprung option, so the bed is comfortable for a range of sleepers.

The small touches that make a guest welcome

  • A bedside table or shelf with a reading light and a charging cable
  • A spare towel and a small bottle of water on the bed
  • A mirror or hook for coats, so the bag has somewhere to go
  • Blackout curtains or a blind if the room faces a street light

Plan the delivery

Spare rooms are often up the stairs and at the end of a narrow landing. Measure the route before you order. If the stairs turn tightly, choose a split or quarter split base, such as the split platform top divan base. Many of our beds are supplied in sections to make carrying easier. See our full guide on measuring for a new bed.

Three guest-room set-ups to copy

The occasional guest room

The room is used a few times a year. Choose an ottoman single bed in a neutral textured fabric, keep guest linen inside the base, and add a simple headboard. The rest of the time it works as a hobby room or store, and the bed looks neat and tidy.

The home-office guest room

You work here during the day and host guests occasionally. Put the desk by the window and the bed along the opposite wall, with the headboard against a solid wall. Use under-bed storage for the linen and keep the floor clear for a chair. A smooth, flat headboard stays out of the way.

The flexible twin room

When children or friends visit, you need two beds. A Zip & Link base can be set up as two single beds and joined for couples. See our divan base types guide to compare options.

Lighting and atmosphere

Lighting changes how welcoming a spare room feels. Combine:

  • A bedside lamp in warm white, with a switch within reach of the bed
  • A ceiling or overhead light on a dimmer, if possible
  • A small night light for guests who need to find the bathroom

A warm tone makes a small room feel calmer. Cool white lights suit work, but they are harsher at night.

Bedding that suits most people

You cannot know a guest’s preferences, so choose neutral, adjustable bedding. A mid-weight duvet (about 10.5 tog) suits most seasons, with an extra blanket available. A choice of two pillows, one firmer and one softer, is welcome. Keep a mattress protector on the bed, and wash the bedding between visits.

Making it feel like a room, not a store

  • Clear surfaces and put items in boxes, so the room does not look like storage
  • Use a rug under the foot of the bed for a soft landing
  • Hang a mirror and a picture to personalise the space
  • Keep one or two plants or fresh flowers for a lived-in feel

Choosing the mattress

For a guest room, choose a medium-firm pocket sprung mattress, which suits most sleepers. See our mattress guide to compare comfort levels, and browse the single-size mattresses.

Common questions

What size is a single bed?

A standard UK single is 3ft (90cm) wide and 190cm long. A Small Single is 2ft 6 (75cm) wide.

Can a single bed have storage?

Yes. A single ottoman bed lifts to reveal a large storage space, and a single divan can have drawers.

How do I make a spare room work as an office too?

Choose a bed with storage so that bedding is out of sight, keep the layout simple and use the headboard wall for the bed so the desk can sit by a window.

All of our single beds are handmade in the UK, with free delivery to mainland UK in 5 working days and a 3-year warranty.