Laura Gaskill, Houzz Contributor
Have the whole clan coming to stay during the holidays? If you're wondering where on earth to put everyone, these ideas can help. From chic sleeper sofas and daybeds to trundles, bunks, hide-a-beds and air mattresses, see which of these solutions can work for you.
An attractive sleeper sofa. There are some really lovely sleeper sofas on the market today. If you have a choice, place one in the den or family room rather than an open living area -- your guests will appreciate being able to shut the door.
Privacy tip: Use a screen. If your guests must sleep in the living room, especially if your living room does not have a door that shuts, it's nice to offer a folding screen for privacy. Set up the bed for your guest in the evening and position the folding screen so he or she won't be disturbed if you walk by in the morning.
Slim sleeper sofa in the master bedroom. If you have a large master bedroom, adding a petite sleeper sofa instead of a chaise or an armchair can be a smart move. If you have a family with a child coming to visit, you can offer your bedroom to the guests and take the smaller guest bed yourself.
Bunks behind a barn door. If you host big groups of overnight guests often, this can be a smart solution. Built-in bunks are tucked into a living room wall and disguised with sliding barn-style doors here.
Comfy sectional. Just any old couch will not do, but a generously sized, firm sectional with chaise sections can work as a sleeping spot for a guest or two -- especially kids.
Air mattress on the floor. Placing an air mattress in a smaller room, like the den or office, is best. This way your guests will have privacy, and you can get the bed set up ahead of time.
Curtained bunks. You can't beat bunks for squeezing in the maximum number of beds into a small space. Add chic curtains for privacy. To fit even more overnighters, add trundles beneath the bottom bunks.
Queen bunks. If you have the room, queen-size bunk beds can make more appealing quarters for adult guests. And of course, kids don't mind sleeping in big beds, either.
A variation on the queen bunk is a queen- or full-size bed on the bottom, and a twin bed on top. While it takes up the same amount of floor space, this design opens up the room visually and can be a good option in a child's room.
Transform a closet (or nook) into a bunk room. Replace the closet doors with curtains and tuck a bunk bed inside. Depending on the size of your closet or nook, you may need to have a carpenter build a bed to fit precisely. Place a wall sconce on each level for reading light and ambience.
Twin Murphy beds. Instead of the usual vertically oriented Murphy beds, this custom number looks like a traditional bunk and folds horizontally into the wall when not in use. It's an ideal space-saving situation for a home office.
Daybed with trundle. This can look more bed-like or more sofa-like during the day, depending on how you dress it. If you would like to be able to offer a full-size bed to guests, look for a trundle that pops up to the same level as the daybed.
Sleeping loft. If you have a guest room with high ceilings, consider adding a loft above the main bed for an extra sleeping space. Leave the loft open, as shown here, or enclose it with a partial wall (or curtains) for more privacy.
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