a&a Renovation: Teen Lairs Grow Up Into Guest Rooms

Converting kids’ rooms into guest rooms honestly isn’t easy. There are a lot of memories, and if you have other guest rooms on hand, it might not be necessary to disturb mountains of trophies, stuffed animals, and kids’ books that were so precious and essential at one time.

Virus or not, family and close friends are likely still coming to stay. And, space is always at a premium: this featured renovation, or reno, had zero guest rooms (and needed an office), but three former boy rooms, still cluttered in middle school sports and reeking of an afterthought when someone had to sleep there. All these boys had moved out years ago, but were certainly still enjoying their parents’ allowance for keeping their high school stuff. Enter the heartless declutterer, or me.

How to Successfully Convert a Kid’s Room to a Guest Room

My philosophy, and most of my work, revolves around one principle: a space can be better on a budget with a vision, reusing good pieces you have, and making minor investments where it’s essential. I’m not making multi-thousand dollar renovations (yet), I’m making practical changes you can mirror on any budget.

Purge. If you’re the homeowner, it’s your room to change. If you’re the former occupant, it’s time to be respectful of your parents’/former landlords’ space and needs, and part with those t-shirts from your JV sports. Homeowners, give the former occupant a chance to go through their stuff and personally take on anything they wish to keep. Whether its a signed helmet or childhood trip souvenirs, they need to move it to their current address or forge a deal for garage space with you.
The entire room counts. Don’t avoid dealing with purging stuff by stuffing it into a closet. If you want to truly host, you should provide your guests with closet space.
Go for a hotel feel. There are certain essentials to create a good guest space.
- 1) Nice sheets and bedding. Sheets should always be white and crisp, bedding should coordinate with the space.
- 2) Good mattress, whether that is an actual bed or having a rolled up mattress topper available to place on top of a pull-out couch. No, the pull-out couch alone is not going to provide a restful night’s sleep, it’s like a stone slab.
- 3) Bed size should commensurate with the space. Just because there were formerly twin or full size beds in the room doesn’t mean you shouldn’t measure it out for a queen (which could house two people in a pinch, I might add). This bed frame is $100 and tried and true – I’ve bought three between two moves and one renovation project. It folds and moves easily, in case you’re renting and expecting more moves or are planning significant floor/wall work.
- 4) Blackout environment. If your guests are sleeping in the living room, make sure the curtains close without annoying blinding light in the morning. If they’re in a guest room, make sure the blinds work, and reinforce them with blackout cellular shades or curtains.
- 5) Pick out elevated, minimalist decor. Think modern vase with dried or nice fake eucalyptus. A few adult light reading books or magazines (think CN Traveler, Obama by Pete Souza, etc. I’d say hold on the murder stories but I loved that my aunt kept a bunch of Patricia Cornwell books in my guest bedside table in Finland). Add a candle and a few water bottles on a tray. Keep surfaces open for a guest to unpack. All of this means no rogue 6th grade softball trophy as decor. And please ditch the Lebron posters and art class projects. This is a grown-up space now.
Power up. Any guest rooms being converted from kids rooms right now existed in an age before personal tech devices exploded. There are likely not enough accessible outlets to serve a guest comfortably. And even if you use a living room for guest stays, don’t make them run into the kitchen to check their charging phone. I love this TESSAN USB + AC power extension cord, which I have mounted with 3M strips to multiple projects. Secure it to your guest’s bedside table, and they will love you for it. Provide 5-6ft iPhone charging cables already plugged in, and they’ll love you even more.
Add the essentials. Think about the items you have at your disposal in your bedroom that you wouldn’t want to go hunting for as a guest when you need them urgently. Think a box of tissues that matches with the decor, perhaps allergy medicine if you know they’re allergic to your pets, a waste bin so they’re not stumbling to the kitchen or bath to toss something, and an extra blanket in case your normal home temperature is freezing to them – all very thoughtful.
Bed + bath. No, your guest planning doesn’t stop at the bedroom, or your happy hour hosting in the living room + kitchen. It’s especially important that the bathroom they’ll be using 1) is and feels clean, 2) contains small luxuries like upgraded brand name shower items, a candle, and fresh eucalyptus, 3) has a place for them to house their toothbrush and other in-bathroom necessities, and 4) has nicely folded hand and bath towels that are clearly indicated as theirs and theirs only. In my rental’s bath, accessed through the main bedroom, going all-out on amenities, cleanliness, and a spa vibe is essential, since it’s awkward to get there, especially in the middle of the night.

Before & Afters

Okay, enough hostess preaching (but wasn’t it helpful?!). Let’s look at a few before-and-afters. Because we love them.

WATCH: Instagram Highlight of this Project

Alright, I wish I had a photo of the Lebron poster but you can see more of the “before” in the video linked above. These are also not large rooms, meaning the principles I outlined above matter even more in a successful guest room.

Before