Temporary cheap guest room sounds like the stuff that dreams are made of. See how I carved a corner for a visiting guest in the living room. This is also a GREAT PLAYROOM IDEA for the kids or grandkids over the summer!
Keep in mind this idea is still current but the original post appeared years ago when digital cameras were far from perfect! So let’s see how I did created this “room” for my daughter.
How To Create An Amazing Temporary Cheap Guest Room
For this temporary cheap guest room, I made a little room within a room by temporarily dividing off a section. I put up my photography backdrop screen on one side, and one of my clothing racks (left over from the days that I used to do shows) on another.
What looks like barn board siding is a roll up screen. On the clothing rack is a white sheet that is clamped on. I left the “room” open on one side so that she can get in (obviously!) and the other side is against the wall. When I took this photo I wasn’t quite finished with the outside…looks better now:-)
Then I went to work making it a little cottage haven.
Soft pillows with faded fabrics.
I added some more ruffled white sheets loosely draped inside the room for more privacy and because they look pretty!
A tiny vintage Florentine table for her with some pretty pink roses.
Oh yeah….the $99 part? This is an Aerobed that I bought and it’s REALLY comfy! Everything else was found and scrounged in my stash of stuff. If you don’t have stuff….ask your friends, someone will!
She was a ballet dancer who went to a special high school for dance and although is working at a different sort of job now, still loves ballet…so I themed “her room” around it.
Soft place to land her feet with a vintage rug and some favorite magazines.
A pair of her old pointe shoes and a couple of white paper poms I just poked through the sheets for a sweet touch.
A yummy fringed throw for lounging, and some dried roses.
The nitty gritty…..rolling rack. You can find these inexpensively these days so be on the lookout at yard sales and such. I use mine so often for many things.
You may not want a photographers backdrop, but mine sure comes in handy.
Clips…you NEED some in your workroom and/garage, and can be found at Lowes/Home Depot, Amazon, or any hardware store.
Stick~um or earthquake putty are great for hanging things up temporarily or holding in place.
I hung the ballet painting up in “her room” with it, since it’s only for a few days…
Something to think about if you need a spare room and don’t have one. This post was first written in 2008 and has been updated. If you enjoyed this post you might want to check out my 15 tips to prepare for overnight guests posts HERE.
Hi Janet, Love how you made it such a cozy space, I'd love to snuggle down there with a good book or two! But the personal touches and sense of style you add is what makes it so special. You've got the touch! Patti We'd love for you to share this at our linky party. too.
What a sweet room and a brilliant idea! I just know you'll have a wonderful time visiting and that your daughter will love her guest suite! Enjoy your family time! xoxo, Leena
Everything is sooo dreamy Janet!… you certainly have the magic touch with everything… I love that serene room… I just ordered one of your dusty lilac throws from your shop… can hardly wait to get it!… much love, xoxo Julie Marie
Hello there, I have come across your blog… It's one of my favourites! I have followed you! Your photography is beautiful… i adore your decoration! Love
I am in AWE of your $ 99 dollar spare room! You decorated so beautifully and your daughter is going to be so happy that you made it so special for her. By the way, I LOVE the french iron cross I bought from you a few month's back and it found itself in my eldest daughter's bedroom! ~ Steph
Genius! I have only one spare room and often need two. These are great ideas and I already have the rolling racks and the airbed. Thanks so much for the creative ideas!
This is a great idea for temporary or just letting the kids play. I don’t have the back drops or roller pieces so would have to come up with something different.
Now that is an amazing idea! We have a small place and something like this would be perfect for us because we can set it up and take it down easily and it gives our guest more privacy!
Beautiful and with a houseful of men I think I might make this for myself as it would be a beautiful place to relax and the guys might not venture into it with it being so Frilly. Although knowing my son, that wouldn’t stop him.
It is great to be able to have guests over and make them feel at home. I have some room in my house so I will try and make a guest room as nice as yours.
Actually really appreciate this right now because we have two guest rooms right now that are kinda LACKLUSTER because well, we just moved into our space!! We need to spruce them up ASAP! Even if just for temp purposes!
I adore all these ideas. Super simple and totally doable. This would be perfect in my basement when I have an entire house full of guests from out of state.
What a gorgeous idea to amp up the style in the guest room. Our guest room could use an update and it’s nice to know I can do it without breaking the bank.
That is such a great idea! We lost our guest room when my second kiddo was born and the “guest room” became his room, so I’ve always kind of figured we couldn’t have anyone stay with us. This is a game changer- we totally have room for this in our living room!
I am currently in the middle of redecorating our extra room and turning it into a guest room. Not temporary so it is a big project. We’re almost ready to paint. I will be so happy when it is finished.
I love all the details! This is a fun temporary guest room idea and it’s definitely going to be awesome to try and recreate! I really like how you decorated it.
This is stunning, Janet!
I bow to the master. 🙂
XO,
Anne
One word…AMAZING!
Janet, this is simply gorgeous! I'm in awe of your ability to bring your "stuff around the house" together so beautifully. 🙂 xo
Janet it looks like a million bucks!
Janet it looks like a million bucks!
Ooooooooooooo, you clever girl! This is beautiful and I know she will be comfy!
Happy Thursday my sweet friend!
LuLu~*xoxo
Brilliant!!! <3
Hi Janet,
Love how you made it such a cozy space, I'd love to snuggle down there with a good book or two! But the personal touches and sense of style you add is what makes it so special.
You've got the touch!
Patti
We'd love for you to share this at our linky party. too.
I have to agree…absolutely gorgeous, Janet. I love the barn wood screen! I love it all…you are a very talented lady.
Cathleen
How special, how beautiful, how perfect!
so lovely!
Wow, that was an amazing little room! So creative, I'm sure your daughter will love it, I know I would, Laura
Beautifully done, Janet! Wow! You created such a sweet, cozy space! Your daughter is going to absolutely love it!
xoxo laurie
So pretty and creative! I'm sure your daughter will love it! 🙂
Jennelise
What a perfect idea! It's so shabby and chic, I love all of its ruffly goodness! I can't wait to see how your daughter likes it.
~Shanon
What a sweet room and a brilliant idea! I just know you'll have a wonderful time visiting and that your daughter will love her guest suite! Enjoy your family time! xoxo, Leena
What a sweet place for your sweet girl! Enjoy a wonderful weekend.
How creative and sweet! So absolutely lovely – you did an amazing job!
XO's,
Jessie
acozycottageinthecity.blogspot.com
Just brilliant! Pretty too!
Gorgeous! and so smart!
She will love it! She'll keep coming back to visit your place because of the treatment you gave. It's like she staying in a 5 star hotel.
great job!
Everything is sooo dreamy Janet!… you certainly have the magic touch with everything… I love that serene room… I just ordered one of your dusty lilac throws from your shop… can hardly wait to get it!… much love, xoxo Julie Marie
So lovely Janet ! Lucky daughter !
Your room within a room looks amazing….your daughter will love it, thanks for telling us how you did it too…terrific ideas, love the roll up screen.
Hello there,
I have come across your blog… It's one of my favourites! I have followed you! Your photography is beautiful… i adore your decoration!
Love
Amanda – my new blog: http://www.notsoperfectmess.blogspot.com
Hi Janet~
I am in AWE of your $ 99 dollar spare room! You decorated so beautifully and your daughter is going to be so happy that you made it so special for her. By the way, I LOVE the french iron cross I bought from you a few month's back and it found itself in my eldest daughter's bedroom!
~ Steph
All I can say is FABULOUS!!
xx
Genius! I have only one spare room and often need two. These are great ideas and I already have the rolling racks and the airbed. Thanks so much for the creative ideas!
Absolutely romantic, welcoming, nesty… Beautiful!
Silvia
It's beautiful! you did a great job.
This is a great idea for temporary or just letting the kids play. I don’t have the back drops or roller pieces so would have to come up with something different.
What an amazing idea! I never would have thought of that! Beautiful and practical! So glad you shared this! ?????
Now that is an amazing idea! We have a small place and something like this would be perfect for us because we can set it up and take it down easily and it gives our guest more privacy!
Beautiful and with a houseful of men I think I might make this for myself as it would be a beautiful place to relax and the guys might not venture into it with it being so Frilly. Although knowing my son, that wouldn’t stop him.
This is such a clever idea! I love that it actually gives guest some type pf privacy.
It is great to be able to have guests over and make them feel at home. I have some room in my house so I will try and make a guest room as nice as yours.
Actually really appreciate this right now because we have two guest rooms right now that are kinda LACKLUSTER because well, we just moved into our space!! We need to spruce them up ASAP! Even if just for temp purposes!
I adore all these ideas. Super simple and totally doable. This would be perfect in my basement when I have an entire house full of guests from out of state.
What a gorgeous idea to amp up the style in the guest room. Our guest room could use an update and it’s nice to know I can do it without breaking the bank.
This looks like a lovely room! I wish we had a guest room. Right now, all the rooms are occupied. One day, I hope.
This is really quite pretty! You’d never know it was a “temporary” thing at all.
That’s a great temporary solution! We actually just redid our guest room and I love it!
We need to replace our air mattress. Good to know this is a good one, I’ll have to check it out.
This is great for a guest room too! So pretty!
Maria
That is such a great idea! We lost our guest room when my second kiddo was born and the “guest room” became his room, so I’ve always kind of figured we couldn’t have anyone stay with us. This is a game changer- we totally have room for this in our living room!
I am currently in the middle of redecorating our extra room and turning it into a guest room. Not temporary so it is a big project. We’re almost ready to paint. I will be so happy when it is finished.
This is an awesome idea! I would love to redo my bedroom and make it a beautiful, feminine, place to be. I love what you did with this room!
I love all the details! This is a fun temporary guest room idea and it’s definitely going to be awesome to try and recreate! I really like how you decorated it.
This is such an awesome idea. Not everyone has a guest room so this would be perfect when you only need one on special occasions.
Wow, this is so nice! I love how it turned out well. Now, I got an idea from you. I will try a make over at my house and try this one too.
Love shabby chic style and this revamped guest room is lovely. Pretty shabby chic furniture and linens make a welcoming space.
What a great idea! I’d have loved to have done this for my friend coming down in 2 weeks. This would be perfect!
This is such a great idea!! I love that it’s temporary but still super cute and feminine!!