ROOM FOR ALL

DECORATING ROOM for all

SOLUTION 1

No guest room? No problem. Designer Jacinthe Leroux ’ s ingenious floor plans will help you make your guests feel right at home in a space you already have.

The Home Office

“I really like the idea of a multifunctional room that’s an office during the day, but serves other needs after work hours, ” says designer Jacinthe Leroux. She likes wall beds that, although not a new solution, are enjoying a renaissance thanks to improved models that suit all budgets and styles. “Some even house super-practical storage for the duvet and pillows, ” she says, adding that if you go this route, leave the centre of the room unobstructed so you don’t have to move heavy furniture to access the bed. In Jacinthe’s design, she added wallpaper in the niche, so that when the bed is lowered there’s a surprise of colour and pattern that also visually acts like a headboard. Additional add-ons could include LED lighting or a mirror.

Living Room

When you don’t have a separate extra room, guests often end up sleeping in the living room. But if you frequently host visitors from out-oftown, it’s worth the expense to create custom solutions to make the space more comfy. Jacinthe designed a fantastic two-level living room that includes a concealed bed, which rolls out from under an elevated platform. “This type of layout is easier to build than it looks, ” says Jacinthe. “It’s the flooring that will be the biggest expense. The combo sofa/bed platform can be made with relatively inexpensive materials, such as plywood, and then you add a real mattress on top. ” Another plus of this solution is that the new two-level floor plan transforms the room into a multifunctional space for the homeowner on a daily basis, as the upper level makes an ideal office area or reading zone.

If you don’t have adequate ceiling height for a second level or you live in a rental, a top-quality sofa bed is your best friend. Test it in-store: Does it open and close easily? Is it comfortable to both sit on and lie down on? Add a cushy mattress topper and high-quality bedding, and guests will feel cared for and comfortable.