Designing the Ultimate Study and Guest Room
Location
North London
Type
New Build Flat
Area
20 sqm
Budget
£10k
With family visiting often from abroad, our clients needed their spare room to work twice as hard. It had to be a professional home office by day and a welcoming guest suite by night. The challenge? Fitting a desk, a double bed, and substantial storage into a compact 20sqm footprint without it feeling cramped.
Our Approach
Small spaces require millimetre-perfect planning. We started by presenting three distinct layout options, testing different ways to position the furniture against the large floor-to-ceiling window. They chose a configuration that positioned the desk to face the view (great for mental health) while creating a dedicated “nook” for the sofa bed. Crucially, we designed the layout so the desk and bed are interchangeable, giving the couple future flexibility. To keep the “office” clutter hidden when guests arrive, we designed a custom wardrobe. It works hard: holding paperwork, clothes and even a folding ironing board, all behind clean, minimal doors. Since this room is mostly used by the wife for work, we leaned into a personal palette. We colour-drenched the ceiling in a warm terracotta pink to create a cosy feel, pairing it with a delicate floral wallpaper that acts as a perfect video-call backdrop.
The Result
The room no longer feels like a compromise. The bespoke joinery hides the practical mess of daily life, while the zoning allows work and rest to coexist. It is a productive office in the morning and a boutique guest room in the evening, proving that with the right plan, you don’t need a huge footprint to have it all.
