How to entertain guests in a small space

As guests come with baggage, there needs to be a handy spot where they can keep it all after arriving. In a small living space, multifunctional and movable furniture are the biggest heroes. Such as a room divider on wheels. It might have been used as kitchen storage in the past, but the mesh room divider is great for holding coats too. Place it out of the way or use it to separate different sections of the space. 

Encourage guests to sit down and stay longer by making the space around them comfortable. The best way to do this? Flexible seating and furniture. How about using stools as side tables? Just wheel over the ottomans and module seats - they have hidden storage too. Throw some cushions on the soft rug and pull down the foldable seating that's hanging on the wall. All that’s needed now is snacks and good conversation. Stay comfy without much planning!

Treating the guests to a meal? Go from the lounge to the dining area that can be extended with a pop-up table. Firstly, roll away the rug and push the furniture to one corner. Then, grab the table legs that are hanging on the wall and the tabletops that stay flush against it like a sort of marble-art. Place them by your dining table and add the chairs to complete the space. If you want a more festive look to the dining area, open your ‘instant party’ storage box to grab a few candles and straws.

It’s a lovely night, people lose track of time and guests end up staying over. A comfortable sleeping area is important for a proper night’s sleep. Just fold down the sofa bed. Take down the pillows that are bagged and kept on the space-saving storage wall. Add them and loads of cosy bed linen to the makeshift bed, and there it is! The coffee table makes for a great bedside table too. This way, the guests sleep happily and wake up refreshed with only breakfast on their minds. 

Need more space-saving ideas?

Our fun and practical DIY wall storage

Here’s the floor plan of this small space room that’s 13 square metres. The kitchen is by the entrance and visually separated by the room dividers. The dining area is nearby, too. The loft bed claims the back wall and corner space with the sofa bed underneath. The walls around the bed are put to use for lots of storage.

We love to see our customers get creative with our products. Go for it! But please note that altering or modifying IKEA products so they can no longer be re-sold or used for their original purpose, means the IKEA commercial guarantees and your right to return the products will be lost.

Made by

Interior designer: Therese Ericsson
Photographer: Martin Inger
Writer: Vi Cooper/Marissa Frayer