Hello! Kylee here to share our home office–guest room makeover. What began as a straightforward guest bedroom update evolved into a dual-purpose space after my husband’s new job required more frequent video meetings and sharing our main home office became impractical. I decided to convert the main floor guest bedroom into a hybrid home office and guest room. After a quick test during a family visit to see how a desk would fit, the plan came together and the room has been serving both functions ever since.
Above you can see the before and after: we repositioned the bed into a corner to make room for a desk. While corner placement isn’t ideal for making the bed or for two people sharing it, this setup suits our lifestyle because guests only stay a few times a year. The bed sits on wheels, so I can pull it out when needed for visitors, which makes the compromise simple and practical.
This makeover was largely a “use what I had” project. The only new purchase was the hanging light, which I originally intended to hang over the bed when the room was only a bedroom. Many pieces are hand-me-downs or items I already owned: the desk and chair are from a previous home office, the rug was passed down by my grandparents, and the brass bed is a family vintage. Bedding and bedside items came from past bedrooms, and other accents were chosen over time and brought together for this redesign.
I like rooms that evolve rather than those that are entirely planned out at once. Collected spaces—made up of different finds and hand-me-downs—often feel warmer and more personal than a room assembled from one coordinated set. This room is a good example: things that didn’t originally have a specific home worked well together when combined.
The curtains are lightweight linen panels that I found affordable and simple. Because they’re airy, doubling them on each side can help if your windows are large. I picked up a few decorative pieces on thrifted trips—like the small wall pocket—which add character and a touch of whimsy. Little vintage touches and unexpected finds help create the collected feel I was aiming for.
The room sits adjacent to our main floor bathroom, with my husband’s office on the other side of that bathroom. So while we’re still nearby, we no longer share the same workspace—an arrangement that has improved our routines and reduced interruptions.
I’ve long loved brass beds; ours is a full-size vintage Simmons that belonged to my great-great-grandmother. Vintage options are available online, but there are lovely new versions as well. The quilt is a reversible pattern I’ve kept since childhood, and I layered it with neutral sheets and pillows to balance the room’s richer wall color.
Above the bed is botanical art cut from a calendar my mom gifted me. Using calendar art as framed pieces is a simple way to display affordable, seasonal artwork that still feels meaningful. A larger botanical print from a garden center complements the smaller pieces and reinforces the room’s calm, natural vibe.
One of the most transformative changes was the paint. I wanted a subdued gray-green—neither too dark nor too light—and settled on Louisburg Green by Benjamin Moore. The shade acts like a chameleon, shifting slightly with the light during the day, and gives the room depth without feeling heavy. It pairs well with brass accents, natural textiles, and botanical art.
QUICK PAINT COLOR TIP:
Always test paint colors in your own home before committing. Lighting, surrounding finishes, and time of day can change how a color reads. Peel-and-stick paint samples are a convenient way to preview colors on your walls—place them in different spots to see how the hue behaves in your space throughout the day.
The plug-in wall sconces I purchased earlier as bedside options ended up finding a home on the desk wall. They’re affordable, adjustable, and include a dimmer, which makes them versatile for both task lighting and softer ambient light. I also darkened the shades slightly using a natural stain technique to better coordinate them with the hanging light fixture—an easy DIY that can help unify mismatched pieces.
The desk fits snugly but comfortably, making this room a productive and pleasant place to work. Converting a guest room into a flexible home office is a practical way to maximize square footage and make daily life more efficient. I now use this room every day, and it still serves guests well when they visit.
