The Best Beds for Your Guest Room

Amish Made Bed Frames

A thoughtful guest bedroom is a welcoming way to invite someone to stay at your home. If you have the space, having this room ready to go will benefit you in many ways. (And your visitor will be excited to see more than an air mattress!) A great guest room can accomodate last minute guests, and will even save you time before your guests arrive. It’s also an attractive, value-adding feature in a home.

The most important part of every guest room is the bed. You want to make sure you choose the best long term solution for your home and the needs of your guests. For example, you don’t want a bed that’s too big for your guest room, and neither do you want a twin bed if you’re likely to have more than one person staying. Your guest room can have its own look and feel, but it shouldn’t drastically change from the style in the rest of your home. 

Think about how often you’ll have guests stay, how long their visits will be, and what the room’s options are when you don’t have guests. Can it also function as an office or be used for excess storage, perhaps? In this article we’ll offer a few bedding options to choose from.

Storage Beds

Storage beds have built in drawers and/or shelves in the base, footboard, or headboard of the bed itself. 

• Pros: Storage beds help keep rooms organized, which is especially helpful if you have long term guests who don’t want to live out of a suitcase. Or you can use these to store seasonal clothing and extra bedding. There are many options to choose from—with as few or many drawers as you’d like.
• Cons: This bed would be a long term solution for a  guest room, and can’t be easily moved or hidden away if you need the room for another purpose.
• It’s for your guest room if: You have frequent guests who stay for extended periods of time, or if you have a small space and require all the clever storage options you can get.

Murphy Beds

Murphy beds, otherwise known as pull-down, fold-down or wall beds, are a space saving bed option that store vertically when you don’t need them. 

• Pros: They are great in small spaces where you can’t spare the space a designated guest room requires. The floor space in the room can be cleared up for other activities any time.
• Cons: They require a large amount of otherwise unusable wall space, and depending on your height and mobility level, you may need some assistance pulling these down or putting them back up.
• It’s for your guest room if: You have the wall space to spare, your guests are occasional and you require a dual-purpose room.

Trundle Beds

Trundle beds are two beds in one! Similar to a bunk bed, but the bottom bed can be tucked away under the other when not in use. 

• Pros: It’s a space-saving solution for accommodating multiple guests. They can also be a safer and more accessible alternative to bunk bed ladders.
• Cons: The second bed takes up all the space under the bed, so this won’t be for you if you’re looking to utilize storage under the bed. The second bed is also on the ground-level, so may not be suitable for older guests.
• It’s for your guest room if: You want to save space but have multiple guests at once, especially families who won’t mind sharing close quarters.

Daybeds

When not functioning as a bed, daybeds look like an everyday sofa. They typically have a high back and arms like you’d expect a couch to have, but can transition into a bed when needed. Consider them a grown up version of a futon.

• Pros: Daybeds are a great space saver if you don’t want your guests to feel as though they’re sitting on a bed during the day. And it’s much less work than turning a traditional sofa bed into a sleeper.
• Cons: You may need a hamper or closet to store the excess pillows overnight so they don’t end up on the floor. And while some sofas can sit in the middle of an open space, daybeds are specifically designed to fit against a wall.
• It’s for your guest room if: You need the room to transition easily from day to night.

Bunk Beds

Bunk beds are the classic childhood dream. They consist of two beds—typically one above the other—joined together to form one larger unit. 

• Pros: Whether both twin beds, or one twin and one queen, bunk beds conserve floor space. Plus, they’re fun for kids, nieces, nephews, grandkids, etc.
• Cons: The beds themselves are sturdy enough for people of any age, but the ladder is another story. Climbing to the top bunk may not be suitable for very young children or anyone who struggles with mobility.
• It’s for your guest room if: multiple guests will need to stay in one room, especially children and families.

No matter which guest bed you choose, your visitors will appreciate that you took time to give them a good night’s sleep. And at Countryside you can customize any of these solutions to fit your needs further. Our high-quality hardwood beds are handmade to order and available in a wide variety of styles, sizes, wood, and finishing options. 

Bailiegh Basham is Lead Sales & Marketing Strategist at Countryside Amish Furniture. She's been a team member since 2014. Bailiegh is deeply passionate about furniture design and home decor.