Clever built-in storage doubled the space in this compact room and turned it into the ultimate multi-tasking home office and guest room

With a bijou study that simply wasn't working, homeowner Helena Giannakopoulos was desperate for some fresh eyes to turn this space into one that offered more than one function.

'Helena contacted us in August 2025 because she needed help redesigning her study room. She needed a comfortable, organised home office that was fully operational and allowed her to relax as well,' says Tonie Pepperstreet, senior designer at Bespoke Carpentry London.

'During the design visit, we worked around the existing sofa to create the needed bespoke furniture.'

Before

The space wasn't huge, but large enough to transform with some clever bespoke carpentry and a great paint colour. The natural light was good and the mid-toned flooring helped to ground the room.

Helena chose Whirly Bird No. 309 by Farrow & Ball for the walls and cabinetry – an upbeat green that looks particular bright first thing in the morning, and looks wonderful with crisp white.

After

The brief was to pack in as much storage as possible without compromising on style. 'I was after full-height shelving, cupboards and a built-in desk to make the most of every inch, with the result being a calm, efficient compact home office.'

'Working with this smaller space, we set out to tackle wasted corners, clutter and limited storage,' says Helena. 'The room also adapts for guests, with space for a reading nook armchair that converts into a bed – a cosy spot for an overnight stay.'

For a similar sofa bed, try the Roma single velvet chair bed, £188 at Habitat, it is highly rated by Ideal Home's sofa bed expert, Amy Lockwood, in our best chair bed guide for its excellent value for money.

With great storage each side of the sofa bed, there's plenty of space for office items like printers to be kept out of sight.

A pretty pink wallpaper design was chosen for a decorative feel. For a similar look try the Galerie Italian Classics 4 pink floral damask embossed wallpaper, £25 per metre, B&Q.

Tongue-and-groove panelling is a great way to add character to walls and bespoke cabinetry. B&Q have a good range showcasing different panelling styles; try Cheshire Mouldings tongue & groove MDF modern wall panelling kit, £49 for 80 x 20cm panels for a similar look.

Get the look

This fabulous makeover is the perfect example of how a compact space can be transformed from one that's most definitely not working to one that has two uses. Bespoke carpentry is a great way to utilise every inch of your space because sometimes we simply can't get freestanding pieces to work.