What shall I do with my little room?

[poundshoptealights]

I have just moved into a new flat, living by myself. It has a little room that was advertised as a second bedroom, but isn't really big enough. I had intended to make it into a single guest room but it would be a tight squeeze and not that nice I don't think. I may just get a sofa bed in the (large) living room for guests instead.

I am torn. In the meantime, what else could I do with my little room? It measures 3.01 x 2.16m but is an awkward space due to where the door and radiator are. It is long and narrow, with a very high ceiling.

It would make a lovely dressing room but I don't know if I can be that self-indulgent!

Re. guests - I don't have them often. When I do, it would likely be 1-2 friends or my niece and/or nephew (3 and 8).

Can you provide a floor plan that shows the layout Inc door and radiator? You'll get better ideas that way

Dressing room. Our box room has been one for years, means our bedroom is wardrobe free and just so less cluttered.

I just looked and the floor plan is actually quite off. I will try to describe.

Room is oblong, with the door on the narrow end and radiator on the wall opposite the door (under the window). Width behind the door is enough for a single bed, but only just, the door will not open fully with a bed there.

That's it

What do you like doing in a quiet time?

Chaise long, radio, meditation reading space no screen distraction high shelves for books. Just somewhere to think basically.

Mini Pilates studio. Bowling alley. Pull back car racing track.

Or why not a dressing room? You can fill the end walls with those wiggly mirrors from IKEA.

The 3 and 8 yo are going to love you...

Do you like it? It doesn't feel like a waste of space? I do have a lot of clothes and shoes...!

@frozendaisy that sounds lovely but I have a home office and living room for reading. I live by myself so plenty of quiet space (hence thinking about guests I can invite!).

If you can't be self indulgent in your own home when you live alone then you'll never have the chance to do it again. If you want a dressing room then turn it into a dressing room.

Alternatives:

• office
• reading space
• craft room

@Phineyj the bowling alley might be the winner.

I live alone and my spare room is messy a combination of
One wall of wardrobes
One wall of open shelving which stores bedding, towels, spare beauty/hair/cleaning products and stuff like toilet rolls, tea towels etc
A peloton plus yoga mat, weights
An airer

@Kyse yours is bigger than mine if it fits all that!

I just checked and it's 3.64 x 3.6 but an awkward shape
I basically used all the walls and then put the peloton in the middle. Do occasionally whack body parts when I'm doing yoga!

I love ours! It has ikea pax wardrobes and has all our clothes, shoes, is where I do my hair and make up etc. Also has laundry bins and so our bedroom and guest bedroom clutter free.

@morelippy ooh laundry bins is a good idea. They take up so much space...

If I was a house guest I would always, always prefer to have my own room, however tiny, than sleep in the living room. Even if it was a single mattress in a cupboard.

Draw out a rough floor plan. Given the size I can't see why a single bed wouldn't fit

Fair point, so would I... also, I just walked in there for the first time after dark and imagined tucking my little nephew into bed. Made me feel all soppy. Guest room might win after all

Get the IKEA Hemnes daybed. Single or a smallish double, looks nice. Can use it to relax on. Could add some rails opposite for all your clothes so it's a bit of both

That’s a good sized room, not a box room. My sister and I shared a room that size until I left home at 18!

I would have a day bed
Have a look at this video for some good ideas on small space room layout.

If it had high ceilings, why not get a platform bed?

@trickyex thank you, there are some good ideas in that.

You might be able to change the door so it opens out or slides to solve the opening into the bed frame issue.

You can buy smaller sized beds - both in terms of shorter and narrower - so you could think about that as an option.

You can also buy fouton beds which fold up into a chair so that it only blocks the door when you’ve got someone staying.

Would one of those work maybe?

If you don't often have guests and are mainly considering very young children then I actually think using it as a guest room is a bit of a waste, the kids won't care and will probably think the sofa bed is a novelty, and it does sound like it will see that much use.

As an adult to be honest I would probably just stay in a hotel if I were visiting friends who didn't have a spare room but if I weren't would much rather a decent sofa bed in the lounge than a single in a very small room.

I can't see what's indulgent about using your own bought and paid for space to store your clothes/shoes as an aside OP- just strikes me as very normal and a good use of the space that gives you more room elsewhere by providing extra storage. I'd go for that!