Is there another spot the bed can go? What are the other walls? Windows in this room?

Develop an overall plan - not piece by piece. Do this by getting a narrow binder, loose leaf paper, and tabs to identify categories: budget, ideas, vendors, etc. Get ideas by putting in top search box: light airy basement bedroom in photos. Add texture, light in each corner on dimmers, add turquoise to break up the beige, and have wall decor with three demential qualities. Paint the ceiling white or a very light turquoise to make it appear taller and airy. Get wall decor from local artist or art.com.

Sorry - dimensional - not demential!

following

Could we get a few more photos of the rest of the room? Looking at that one, and the placement of the bed, the words "light and airy" are not the first things to come to mind.

If this is the only placement for a guest bed then first thing I would do is move the side table out - it’s taking up too much space. Center the bed. For lighting you could mount a wall lamp on one or both sides of the bed frame depending on space. For a side table, look for something very narrow in its base but big enough table top for guest to rest their cell phone. I’m assuming there’s no door? - luggage would be kept around the corner? Bedding is a personal preference but I love whites with textured throw pillows. And a nice throw.

Here are a few more pics.... I moved the bed so it’s not stuck in the corner.. it’s the only other place it can go because of the wall that cuts into the room...

I would put the bed back the way it was before, add Lighting on the wall for reading, get some Rattan accessories instead of the console table and the little dark round table. green and white trellis Style wallpaper on the walls and replace the large picture with a large mirror. Maybe add a plant somewhere, even if it has to be a fake one.

Is this a windowless bedroom?

that is a huge safety hazard if you have a bedroom without windows... even if it is a guest bedroom only used occasionally. better be careful with that

We need the fourth wall. Is there a window?

Yes no window but right outside the bedroom is a wall of large windows. Not a hazard at all.. I thought this was a decorating advice forum not a safety forum. Lol

If you center the bed in the original spot how much space is left on either side of the bed? Can you post a sketch of the room showing dimensions?

it absolutely is a hazard

Agree on first making sure you have safe exit in case of emergency.

I agree with centering the bed on the back wall. You need very small or wall mounted night tables both sides of bed. It will be a tight walkway but preferable to up against the wall. If that is a queen bed, consider getting a full so you have a little more space. Think of what you get in a hotel room, that's what you want in a guest room. A place to put a suitcase, a place to sit, a place to put reading glasses and a drink. In our town to legally call it a bedroom it must have an egress window inside the room large enough for a fireman in full gear to be able to rescue you. You can use it as a bedroom but it does not count as a bedroom if you go to sell. It is just a finished room in the basement.

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Here are elements I put in the mock up.

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Industrial Style Warm Brass Plug-In Wall Lamp · More Info

I tried to choose inexpensive items, but if you want to do something a bit more interesting for a night stand, you could do a great pair of corbels. Something like these. Could be an antique pair too. Use your imagination.

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Love this look. You could even do two different ones. So lots of options.

Flo's got it, but if you don't want to get mirrors, get a skyscape or landscape art work that gives the illusion of the the sky over the bed and on the other blank wall, something that pulls the eye to the outdoors.

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Give the room a window!

Floating bedside shelves. Hang small reading lights on each side of the bed to save on space.

A word on the mirrors. They are "convex" which means the mirror is curved, so they create interesting shapes and reflections and bring light into that nook as well as bouncing back into the room. I would put art on the side wall so it can be seen from the person(s) laying in bed. I might even consider doing a drapery panel at sides of entry to nook, even a rod across that opening for privacy at night. Just depends on objectives of the space.

A windowless bedroom is tough...can you remove the door and/or widen the opening so the room has the benefit of the windows outside the door? imho make basement spaces as open-plan as possible to avoid claustrophobia

The bright colors and clean lines in the above example help but room needs to see a window.

A ”dark“ basement with a small bunk area off the main room with windows

I love the ideas Houzzers! Great bunch of folks.

Yes, windowless bedrooms tend to feel a bit claustrophobic. Maybe create a feeling of a window with a mirror/window https://www.wayfair.com/decor-pillows/pdp/faux-window-wood-wall-mirror-lark6837.html

Make sure the basement is well equipped with smoke detectors. Having a basement bedroom with no egress is a hazard because there's no exit route in case of fire.

IMo an unsafe bedroom is in no way a good design I don’t care how pretty it is and we as pros would be remiss if we did not point out safety issues.

It does need to be safe because I'm sure you wouldn't want to live with the consequences of your guests getting trapped inside during a fire.

IAC, if you want to make it lighter, then add lighting...you can use track lighting to add light to the walls and highlight some art, esp on the wall behind the headboard ...it really helps lighten an interior space.

Or you can add a soffit and add some cans to highlight the wall behind the bed.

The bed needs to be centered on the wall and it can make a very cozy niche.

Warm & Cozy might be better than light and bright...

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In many jurisdictions having a bedroom without a window is illegal and installing one will VOID your homeowner’s insurance. Better check. Anything happens and you will be SOL.

im not concerned...I am having a guest stay in the room 2 nights... first time anyone has stayed down there in 5 years... it’s a place to lay your head.. not calling it a bedroom.... geez

Well the geez comes in when something bad happens and you are charged with involuntary manslaughter for installing an illegal bedroom - because if a fire occurs, it takes less 5 minutes for a fatality to occur because that’s how fast death occurs from smoke inhalation. And GEEZ what a wonderful and concerned homeowner you are to think so little of the lives of your guests that you would put them in a dangerous and illegal bedroom.

Regardless of what the charges may be, I wouldn't want to live with knowing I was forewarned, went ahead anyway, and was responsible for the deaths of my guests. While you're looking into insurances, check out your PEL insurance in case you're sued for wrongful death by the family.

When I chaired the safety committee at work and used to try to get people to evacuate during a fire drill, if they didn't leave, I would ask them for the name and number of the next of kin so I can be sure to notify them personally...that usually got people to move.

But not to worry, I'm sure not calling it a bedroom will stop a fire dead in its tracks.

Hmm, I wonder why nobody's wanted to stay there in 5 years...

I am confident that if God forbid there was a fire my guest would be able to get out safe.. there is a wall of huge windows right outside the door of this room and and open staircase to the upstairs right outside of the door.. thanks for the design advice from most. It’s going to look great!

Frankly, OP, were I your guest I'd be asking for an air mattress on the floor in the part of the basement that actually has windows. I'm never going to be comfortable sleeping in a windowless box, no matter how pretty it might be.

You write that the wall of windows just outside the room is there in case of fire. What I fear you have not considered is if the fire breaks out at the doorway or in front of the windows or stairway. You seem to believe that when a fire happens, it will give the guests both the time and the space to get to the windows or allow them to get up the stairs. That's a pretty dangerous assumption. Fires happen and often when not expected or in places you would find hard to believe. And they spread really fast. If your guests were in bed when a fire broke out in the hallway outside the door, how much could it burn before the guests made their way to the door?

I know you think people are wrong in this, but a potential fire and death is just not worth it.

Is there any way to put a window in the room on the wall opposite the door? I know it would cost more than you'd want to spend but that is the very first thing I'd do before any decorating because, ultimately, as others have pointed out, it will be an emotional and financial disaster for you. I'd suggest getting a sofa bed for upstairs if you only rarely have guests (and I'd say five years between this guest and the previous one qualifies as rare).

PTSD here.... when I was young , our home caught fire. My brother was the last to escape....he had a window less room in the garage. Thankfully, we all survived. He never slept in that "room" again. OP, nobody is trying to be mean. Actually, you are getting sound and caring advice.

My best friend died in a fire from assumptions like this OP so I apologize if my tenor was inappropriate. I was also in a plane crash and we had 30 seconds to escape before the plane cabin filled with smoke. You don’t put anyone you love into this kind of DANGEROUS situation, ever. It’s like leaving a baby in a bathtub for 2 minutes that’s all it takes for the baby to drown. There are no do overs when death occurs

Yes, it's not just that the fire break out in the hallway, but that by the time the guests are aware, the hallway is filled with noxious smoke and they can't open the door. For me, it'd not be worth the risk.

I wonder if there's any way to incorporate the hallway and windows into the bedroom area to make it safe while adding more natural daylight. We do have a guest room in the lower level with lots of windows and it makes the room feel like one is not in a basement at all.

Maybe I’ll put a sofa sleeer in my den and make the basement room a craft room... thank you for all of the input

I wish the best , I bet you can come up with something really clever

I think that is a good plan. Surely, more peace of mind. You might consider a Murphy bed. Especially since it is only needed a few times a year. The newer ones even have desk/craft tables built in for using everyday.

One example queen size. Shop around.

Opps

Nothing fancy but might do for short term

That’s a great idea and you would probably use a craft room more. You get two spaces!