How to Design the Perfect Room for a Lodger

How do you make a lodger comfortable in your home? What’s the best way to finish a room for a lodger?

We have the answers here in today’s article, keep reading for our tips on turning your spare room into a lodger’s bedroom. 

So, you’ve decided that the extra room could be perfect for a lodger. However, you want to be sure your investment pays off and you have a lodger that will either keep coming back, or spread the good word about you to their friends once they leave.

This can be easier said than done, but there are several sure-fire ways to make them feel at home.

How to Create the Perfect Room for a Lodger

1. Don’t be a hotel

This person has chosen to live with a stranger as a lodger rather than go to a hotel. The reasons for this could be multi-layered.

Price could be a main concern, but there are plenty of budget hotels that are reasonable. In this case, you must consider why this person wants to be a lodger.

Maybe they want the comfort of being in a house. Maybe they want someone they can ask for directions and get a few details about the area from a local’s perspective.

You can bet, however, that they don’t want to feel they are in a hotel.

A lodger will probably want and expect your company, to a degree. It is your house after all.

With this in mind, the room you create for them should be in sync with the rest of the house and bear some of your personality. Make them feel they’re staying in a home, not a hostel.

 

2. Their taste may not be yours

 Of course your room should not be the stark and empty white of a hotel room, but you don’t want to go too crazy with your own quirks either.

Remember, this is not your room.

Don’t fill the bed with stuffed animals thinking it looks cute and do take the scary artwork down from the wall. If a man is coming to stay, get rid of the frilly pillows and if it’s a girl, keep the room feeling fresh and clean with light, bright colours.

Your lodger’s room should look as though it belongs in your house, but it should not feel as though they are sleeping in your bedroom. Keep furnishings and bedding as gender neutral as possible and remove the majority of personal items such as photographs, perfumes and jewellery.

Your lodger should feel comfortable, as if they had their own space in your home. Give them room to hang their clothes, place their shoes and try and include a few drawers for personal items they don’t want on display.

There are plenty of fantastic bedroom offers available to get your creative juices flowing.

3. Give them what you’ve got

A lodger will soon notice if you’re wrapped up in a cashmere blanket watching TV as they shiver and shake in the moth-eaten rag you’ve given them for the night.

Of course we will always want to uphold good standards for our guests, but it can be tempting to keep the best for ourselves. So if you’re buying some nice bedding for your room, get the same for your spare room.

Any prospective lodger will appreciate you are treating them to the same comforts as you.

How do you furnish a room for a lodger? Here is a list of key items every lodger’s room needs:

• Bed with good quality bedding
• Bedside table with lamp
• Wardrobe and storage drawers
• Storage for personal items
• A lockable cupboard for privacy
• A desk and desk chair 
• Noticeboard
• Access to wifi
• Simple facilities for making hot drinks
• Good quality window treatments
• Variety of lighting and lamps

Remember, as a lodger, the person renting this room gets to spend time and share the rest of your home too. They’ll probably want company and expect you, as the landlord to be around. 

That’s the difference between a lodger and a renter. You will live in the home with the lodger too, whereas a renter normally gets the whole house to themselves. 

If you love this post and it’s ideas you might also like How to Setup the Perfect Guest Bedroom and 5 Budget Bedroom Design Ideas.

Jen x