Budget-friendly spare bedroom ideas

6 min read

Last Modified 15 August 2024 First Added 25 July 2023

Whinnie Williams sat at a table with flowers, looking straight to camera

"Working on a tight budget means you need to get creative. Experiment with colour blocking, which can instantly elevate the space and highlight the features of the room. Style with colourful textured cushions, second-hand trinkets and affordable art prints to create a welcoming guest bedroom."

When it comes to decorating a spare room, it’s natural to want to keep costs down whilst creating an inviting space for guests, work or play. Let’s get creating…

Ah, the humble guest bedroom. Whether it’s used as a hub for hosting, home office or happy play times, spare room designs don’t have to be spendy and can still be lots of fun. The important thing is to create a space that suits your lifestyle and reflects the things that are most important to you, whether that’s having guests to stay or spreading out to enjoy your favourite hobby.

In this article, we’ll share inspiring spare bedroom ideas with tips for tight budgets, small spaces and much more.

How to use your spare room

Create a gorgeous guest suite 

For those who regularly host, creating a guest bedroom is a great use of extra space. Instantly transform a blank canvas into a cosy place to rest and recharge with the addition of a bed, and we’ve got plenty of options to choose from to keep costs down.

If you’re working with a small spare room, choosing a bed with raised legs is a great way to create the illusion of space, drawing the eye upwards. Alternatively, if you’re seeking somewhere to keep spare bedding, blankets, cushions and more, our range of storage beds offer ample space to prevent unsightly clutter.

To complete the ultimate cosy guest experience, it’s time to choose a spare bedroom mattress – and don’t worry, you don’t have to break the bank! Budget-friendly traditional springs are a great mattress choice for any bedroom, creating a springy supportive base for guests to sink into.

Alternatively, our hybrid mattresses are low-cost way of putting comfort first, combining innovative memory foam, latex or gel with bouncy pocket springs. No matter what fillings you choose, a medium comfort grade is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, offering all round support for a range of sleep needs.

Our top picks:

Cosy guest mattresses

Create an office for happy home working

With an estimated 44% of Britons now regularly working from home, creating an office space in your spare room can be a worthwhile investment. The fabulous thing about a home office is that it can be completely personal to you and the way you like to work. For some, it’ll be all about having the ultimate tech set up, but for others, let your imagination run wild with cosy spaces that spark your creativity.

Speaking of… why not carve out a corner of your home office to relax and unwind with a comfy sofa bed? Stretch out between calls or take a moment of reflection at the end of a long day. The best part is, when guests come to call, it’s easy to transform your home office into an instant crash pad.

Read more: The working bedroom

Spare bedrooms ideas to suit your lifestyle

If you don’t regularly host or work from home, the world is your oyster when it comes to the spare room!

Let’s explore our favourite ideas for making the most of extra space. Why not try…

  • A cosy snug with a soft and squishy armchair to curl up in. Create a mini library with overflowing bookshelves and ambient lighting for an instantly calming atmosphere.
  • A glamorous dressing room with everything you need to start your day. Think spacious wardrobes decked out with all your favourite accessories.
  • A high-tech gaming room for the ultimate hideout. Whether your style is dark and moody or fantastic technicolour, create a space to kick back with your console.
  • A bright and sunny playroom for little ones to let loose! Try patterned wallpaper, handcrafted paper decorations and plenty of storage to keep clutter at bay. A day bed is a great addition for sleepovers or quiet play.
White wooden day bed with storage drawer, in a classic panelled design
Northwood Wooden Day Bed

product

Northwood Wooden Day Bed

Decorating ideas for your spare room

When it comes to a spare bedroom, you have the opportunity to try new and emerging styles.

An extra bedroom comes with extra creativity – it’s your place to let loose and try any style that takes your fancy. As it’s a room you’re likely to use less often than your master suite, you can be experimental with colours and styles without worrying about becoming weary of them.

Why not go all out with atmospheric dark hues, or a stand-out statement wall? Though it can be tempting to play it safe, a bold and beautiful bed can do the heavy lifting for you when it comes to decorating a spare room. Texture also plays an important role here, from rich velvet to faux leather and characterful wood.

eppy-sofa-green-wallpaper
Eppy 2-Seater Clic-Clac Sofa Bed

product

Eppy 2-Seater Clic-Clac Sofa Bed

Five simple ways to keep costs down:

1. Save on size: If space and pennies are at a premium, why not consider a small double bed? Also known as a queen size frame, these 4-foot beds give guests plenty of room for a great night’s sleep without taking up precious floorspace.

Many of our small double beds still come with storage to keep clutter at a minimum, or why not try a budget-friendly divan base with built-in drawers?

2. Second hand treasures: We don’t need to tell you that you can pick up a bargain when you shop second hand, but have you considered second hand paint?

Try your local recycling centre to take your pick of perfectly good paint that’s ready to transform your spare room. Alternatively, why not pick up some testers at your local DIY shop to create funky wall art?

3. Beautiful bedding: One easy way to avoid replacing a spare bed is to bring an old frame to life with brand new bedding.

Plump pillows and a fresh bouncy duvet will instantly transform any tired frame, and we think your guests will thank you for it too…

4. Skip the bedsides: For lesser-used spare bedrooms, you can be tactical about what furniture you need to save space and spending.

One simple swap is to add floating shelves in the place of bedside tables. This gives guests plenty of space to store the essentials and helps to navigate any tricky floorplans too.

5. Greenery goes a long way: Real or faux, plants can bring a room to life with a burst of colour – plus they’ve got sleep-boosting qualities too.

Plants are naturally calming to give guests a great night’s rest, and create the sense of a carefully curated and well-loved space with minimal effort.

 

So there you have it! All the inspiration you need to create the spare room of your dreams. If you’re looking for more interior ideas by colour or style, browse our full range of articles to feed your imagination. You can shop any of the beautiful bed frames featured in this post below.

Shop the look:

Featured products