I think it would depend on who your 'regular' guests are going to be, and whether or not you mind putting away unfinished projects(I have a hard time getting re-started). If you have children staying with you, I think there would be too many sharp things they could get into and you'd really have to secure things before the visit. I hate to put everything thing away mid-project, so I've always tried to have a dedicated room where I can sew, iron laundry, do crafts, etc. I don't right now, as we are in a tiny apartment and my machine is in the bedroom. I have a thin piece of smooth plywood that I place on my ironing board for cutting and set behind the door when not in use. Even if you don't sew that often, it might still be better to use the smaller room and get creative about a cutting board. But I guess it depends on what you usually sew...quilts and other large items, or mending and making clothes(and doll clothes)for the grandkids(like me). I hope I didn't make your decision more difficult. Good luck.

Take the big room.Guest only need a place to sleep,and you don't want to make them too comfy,they may want to stay longer!!!! LOL
Kathi

Is there room enough in the small room for your guest bed?
I took over our large guest room 16 years ago and have never regretted it. The ironing board is always up, my two machines, the iron and a lamp behind one machine are all plugged into a strip. I touch it with my toe and am ready to sew.
If you don't have to put everything away when you sew, you may find yourself sewing more than ever. I have to have everything orderly to sew, so my things (pins, needles, gauge, ruler, rotary cutter, etc.) are always right where I want and need them. If I had to put things out of sight, I probably would not bother to sew. And, if you're in the middle of a big project, you can just shut the door.
Hope you find a happy solution to your problem!
Carol

Larger room is my vote!!!! Your need to sew may grow!!!
Susan

Ok, putting aside the little green monster that you have such a choice....

How big is big and how small is small?

I agree with the point about putting things away, much better and more conducive to sewing to be able to leave things out. I also agree with the point about 'points' and children, so your type of guest is a consideration.

If the small room is big enough for a sewing desk (for machines) a big shelving unit (or wardrobe sized cupboard) for supplies, ironing board and still has a wall free, how about a fold down cutting table? This would be attached by hinge to one wall with a gate-leg that would support when in use and fold flat the rest of the time. Any good creative joiner (or helpful husband!) should be able to fix it up. I find that I don't need my cutting board that often in a project you tend to do all the cutting out and then be sewing (and pressing) for the next stages of a project.

Plenty of good light, access to sockets and good ventilation would be the last consideration. If the small room is too small for this - make sure you have small guests in there instead ;-)

Please post pictures when you are done!??

Cheers,
AJ

If you need to turn the sewing room over to guests, including children, keep all your sharp instruments, pins, etc in a small 3-drawer plastic unit which you can just carry to a safer room for the duration of the visit. I started keeping all those together just for my own organization, then found how handy it was when the grandchildren came to visit.

We only have an overnight guest about 1 or 2 nights a year, so I'm really tempted to get rid of the daybed in that room and take it over for sewing, too! LOL I even told DH once that I was thinking about knocking out the wall/closets between the 2 bedrooms to make one big room. Maybe I'll move the TV into the guest room and take over the living room for sewing...

Donna

I have a 10x12 guest room with a daybed in it. Like you, msmeow, I only have guests a couple nights out of the year so it's a waste to dedicate an entire room in a small 3 bedroom house as soley a guest room.

I can understand why you might want to give up the bed but I use mine quite a lot when I'm working on a project. It becomes a "soft" table, I lay out fabric on it, throw all kinds of stuff on it that I don't want on the desk because I need that surface free of clutter for sewing. Yet I still need these things at my disposal. There isn't enough room for a work table so the bed serves that purpose, and when my back is aching I push everything off of it and lie down!

I would take the largest room, make it the sewing room and guest room. But that's because I sew more often than I have guests visiting. Your situation may be opposite. Depends on how many days out of the year you have overnight guests and how often you think you'll be sewing. If your MIL visits every year for 3 months and you want to sew during that time you won't like giving up your craft room. This also means freeing up drawers for so they can unpack their luggage. I throw all the stuff in my drawer in a box and when they leave it goes back in. Not a big deal for just one or two days. But it would be very inconvenient if I had to do that more often.

If you think you will get into sewing more you'll be glad you chose the larger room because at least then you'll have the space to add work tables, ironing board, even room to lay out fabric on the floor. Storage space will become more important if you start buying fabric,etc.

Okay, I am bad! I showed my daughter a picure of what her room, MY future sewing room, will look like when she goes away to school! She laughed and asked where she would sleep when she is home. I kiddingly told her an air mattress. The day bed idea sounds perfect. I will have to tell her she will have a bed after all. :)