Whether you are designing a beach house guest room that can handle any type of visitor or a spare bedroom that’s always ready when the grandkids come for the weekend, there are plenty of reasons why you might find yourself trying to figure out how to stylishly squeeze two beds into one small room.
Check out these bedrooms in a range of styles and layouts that will make people of all ages feel at home, and remind you of the childhood joys of sharing a sleepover.
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01
of 21Add Hidden Storage
Credit: Design by Ghislaine Vinas / Photo by Garrett Rowland
Separate twin beds in a small room with a wide dresser or nightstand with hidden storage. Interior designer Ghislaine Viñas chose a shared nightstand with double drawers that offers closed storage for each side of the bed. Mismatched lamps add an eclectic touch.
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02
of 21Wall-Mount the Headboard
Credit: Design by Atelier Davis / Photo by Heidi Harris
Save space in a smaller shared bedroom by using a single wall-mounted headboard rather than individual bed frames. Interior designer Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis paired a blue-and-white floral upholstered headboard with contrasting warm corals and mustard tones for a vibrant mix in this inviting guest room.
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03
of 21Try a Kitty-Corner Layout
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Arrange twin beds in a kitty-corner layout to make a small shared bedroom feel more spacious. This minimalist, black-and-white guest room from Fantastic Frank doubles as an off-duty reading nook to create a multipurpose space.
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04
of 21Opt for a Shared Lamp
Credit: Design by BHDM Design / Photo by Reid Rolls
Use one oversized table lamp rather than individual lamps to provide light for both beds on a shared nightstand. BHDM Design placed a tall lamp on the narrow shared bedside cabinet in this neutral bedroom to draw the eye upward and make the small footprint feel more spacious.
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05
of 21Push the Beds Together
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Create a hotel-style feel by pushing twin beds together. Studio Peake worked around the contours of this London bedroom by placing the bedside table and lamp in a slightly receded niche that feels cozy without being cramped.
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06
of 21Hang a Pair of Sconces
Credit: Design by Studio Robert McKinley / Photo by Nicole Franzen
Save space in a small shared bedroom with wall-mounted sconces. Studio Robert McKinley hung a pair of industrial-style black sconces over a pair of matching vintage bed frames in this Montauk guest room that provide task lighting for reading before bed.
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07
of 21Add Storage Ottomans
Credit: Design by Kara Mann
Storage ottomans are a small space hidden weapon that can work anywhere from the living room to a shared bedroom. Interior designer Kara Mann decorated this New York farmhouse bedroom with antique bed frames, crisp white bed linens, floral curtains, and upholstered ottomans at the foot of each bed that provide storage. They can be easily moved to provide seating in front of the wood-burning fireplace.
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08
of 21Tuck Beds Under the Eaves
Credit: Design by Britt Design Studio
Maximize space in a cozy attic bedroom by tucking a pair of twin beds beneath the eaves. Britt Design Studio placed matching headboards upholstered with green-and-white striped fabric on either side of the window, with a shared nightstand that includes open and closed storage.
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09
of 21Structure With a Half Wall
Credit: Design by Jean Liu Design / Photo by Casey Dunn
Anchor the bed wall in a shared room with a decorative half wall. Jean Liu Design chose a neutral plaid wallpaper accent for this vibrant and textural space, but you could add a half wall accent using paint or wood paneling such as beadboard, shiplap, or board and batten depending on your taste and style.
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10
of 21Unify With an Area Rug
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Create a unified feel by placing side-by-side twin beds on a large area rug. Erin Williamson Design floated matching twin bed frames dressed in identical linens on a colorful Moroccan-style area rug to define the sleeping area of this Texas lake house bedroom.
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11
of 21Install Wall Canopies
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Give a smaller shared bedroom a sense of grandeur with a pair of tall wall-mounted canopies. Matthew Carter Interiors structured this small room with upholstered printed fabric canopies that begin near the ceiling and frame the small, high windows as well as the beds.
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12
of 21Upsize the Beds
Credit: Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
Maximize space and options in a small guest room by choosing the largest size beds that the room can accommodate. Marie Flanigan Interiors chose a pair of slipcovered white bed frames that fill the space to create a cozy all-white space with a shabby chic feel.
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13
of 21Use an Extra-Wide Table
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Place twin beds with matching headboards on either side of a large window. Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona filled the space between them with a wooden console as wide as the shared window to maximize space and offer open and closed storage and display space.
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14
of 21Paint Horizontal Stripes
Credit: Design by Ghislaine Vinas / Photo by Art Gray
Use horizontal wall stripes to make a narrow room feel wider. Interior designer Ghislaine Viñas added an accent wall that extends to the ceiling of this small bedroom to conceal the door with an irreverent dash of color and pattern.
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15
of 21Try Multipurpose Furniture
Credit: Design by Ghislaine Viñas / Photo by Garrett Rowland
Interior designer Ghislaine Viñas installed a pair of turquoise sofas on either side of this spare room that create a cozy seating area by the day. The two deep, firm sofas can double as single beds in a pinch when extra guests sleep over for the weekend.
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16
of 21Embrace Symmetry
Credit: Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Christy Q. Photo
Using low-slung vintage furniture in a small room will make the ceilings feel higher. Cathie Hong Interiors chose vintage-style rattan bed frames and a midcentury modern-inspired shared bed table to add style without adding bulk to this twin bedroom with a perfectly symmetrical layout.
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17
of 21Make One a Daybed
Credit: Design by Vanessa Scoffier / Hotel Henriette
Style a bonus twin mattress like a daybed to provide an extra sleeping space when needed. In this cozy room from interior designer Vanessa Scoffier at Paris’ Hotel Henriette, a twin bed is positioned flush against the wall and backed with a mix of throw pillows that turn it into a daybed that can turn into a sleeping spot for kids or teens.
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18
of 21Use Creative Lighting
Credit: Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly
Swap bedside lamps for a low-hanging pendant light for a light and airy look in a guest room with high ceilings. Leanne Ford Interiors hung a tiered Capiz shell pendant light centered above a pair of antique twin bed frames in this timeless whitewashed space.
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19
of 21Use Paint to Divide Space
Credit: Design by Vanessa Scoffier / Hotel Henriette
Use paint to create an inexpensive and inventive way to create a virtual separation between twin beds. Interior designer Vanessa Scoffier placed twin beds a stool’s width apart in this small room at Paris’ Hotel Henriette, visually dividing the space with two-tone paint in soft pastel shades.
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20
of 21Share the Headboard
Credit: Design by Christina Kim Interior Design
A shared headboard will make twin beds feel integrated and cut down on visual clutter. In this twin bedroom from Christina Kim Interior Design, a long shared pale blue velvet headboard and matching linens create a unified look. A different photograph over each bed keeps it from looking too matchy-matchy.
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21
of 21Consider a Murphy Bed
Credit: Design by MKCA / Photo by Alan Tansey
Add functionality to a small bedroom or studio apartment with a Murphy bed. In this sleek space from MKCA, a built-in wall bed above the dining table is hidden in plain sight to provide an extra bed for overnight guests. For a budget-friendly option, try a DIY Murphy bed.