How Millennials Killed the Guest Room | Architectural Summary

The reasons for the popularity of the guest room are the same behind its demise. You know the facts: home ownership has been replaced by rental contracts, flatshares are more common than family units, and suburban homes have given way to (very) small city apartments. “Today, square footage is so important that the idea of ​​having a guest bedroom feels like golden-age luxury,” adds Sarah. When you have less space for your money, prioritization becomes key. It is something to advise in design and WeIncontro founder Helena Agusti knows too well. Her unique eye for decoration has made the homes she has lived in true Instagram sweets. When she looked for a new rental last year, a space to host guests was high on her wish list.

“I wanted a cozy and warm place with an outdoor space,” says Helena. “My current apartment ticked all the boxes except the guest room, but I found that the other priorities were more important. You can’t have it all! My house is fine with me right now, but if there was an extra room, even if it was really small, I would never move again.

Until last year, Helena lived in a beautiful apartment that also served as her agency’s headquarters. Guests would sleep on a comfortable couch in the living room.

Photo: Helena Agusti

POV: You are a guest in Helena’s old apartment and you sleep in her colorful living-dining-guestroom.

Photo: Helena Agusti

But those who have that luxurious second bedroom often find uses that are far from the traditional guest bedroom, especially due to the pandemic lifestyle change. “Even after the pandemic, we do a lot of things at home: make art and play music, exercise, work, cook from scratch – and we need storage for all the stuff. that goes with it,” says Sarah. “In my experience, this often means space for guests is sacrificed.” We have not only brought the office home, but also leisure: from glamorous bedrooms to sex rooms, private recreational spaces are also the new norm. It’s an idea that not only permeates small urban homes, but larger ones as well.

Alex Delaunay, founder of the architecture firm Sabo, has worked on all types of projects, from small apartments to larger ones, favoring transformable spaces. In one of his most recent commissions, for a 3,000 square foot venue, the designated guest room had to be more than that: “It’s designed as a multi-purpose room. The client also wanted to use it as an art room, so we designed a wall bed that folds up. The use of space is not scripted; it is more flexible and less goal-oriented, which makes it more appealing. »

A view of Helena’s small penthouse. “Although there is no room for a guest bedroom, my house is so comfortable that when friends stay, they never want to leave!”

Photo: Helena Agusti

Giving a spare room a fun use might actually be a bonus for customers sleeping in it. “An extravagant art room or retreat can be a pretty special place to sleep as a guest, and even more appealing than a standard room, especially if you also plan to occasionally rent it out on Airbnb,” adds Alex. In the end, what matters is not so much where guests sleep, but how welcome they feel. As Helena, who shares her bed when a guest arrives, says, “We have become more flexible with our expectations as guests and more transparent with what we can offer as hosts. My place is so small, but it feels like a real house, so when people visit, they don’t want to leave! It’s about making them feel comfortable. »

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