Trendspotting: The daybed is back, not only in guest and children's bedrooms, but also in the sun porch, home office, even the living and family room. It's practical, versatile and available in many styles and price points, starting at about $300. A daybed's symmetrical ends, like bookends, set it apart from a chaise lounge or récamier. It's the ideal solution when you need extra sleeping in a compact space, because its design can be quite minimal. And it also works especially well as plush extra seating in a home office that multitasks as an infrequent guest room.

Do you have any tricks for making a small dull guest bathroom seem roomier and dramatic? This bath is square with an 8-foot ceiling and has in it a shower stall, toilet and vanity with cabinet space underneath.

Pam DiTomaso did a wonderfully successful small bathroom at this year's ASID Designer Showhouse, so she has just the techniques to improve your problem room. "The more clutter, the more confined your room will appear. You want to aspire to a clean, airy look. First of all I'd pick just one color and go with different shades for the walls, floors and accessories. The ceiling should be white and there should be some lights up there-white light, not florescent-in the form of a chandelier, which would provide drama, and/or recessed lighting. There should also be lights over the mirror. This mirror should be a large framed one over the basin or if wall-to-wall, it should extend up to the ceiling.

"Replace your cabinet vanity with a pedestal sink for a roomier look. Add glass shower doors instead of a shower curtain. This also will visually expand the area. Use large tiles on the floor, up to 16x16-inch ones. This results in fewer grout lines, thus decreasing a busy look. For the walls, paint or paper with vertical stripes. This makes the ceiling look higher. If you use most or all of these techniques, you'll be surprised at how much space you've suddenly claimed in that tiny bath. Just make sure you resist the temptation to clutter the space with small objects." Pam DiTomaso, The RyanAlexander Group, 5121 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota. (941) 349-1019.