AITA for sacrificing the guest room instead of the office space?

A Reddit user shared a family conflict about prioritizing home space after turning their guest room into a nursery. When their father objected to staying in their office during his visit, tensions escalated. Read their story below.

‘ AITA for sacrificing the guest room instead of the office space?’

My husband and I live in a 3 bedroom apartment. We sleep in the master bedroom, and until earlier this year, the other two were a guest room and an office space we both shared.

Our first child was born in October, and we decided to turn the guest room into his nursery. We thought about sacrificing the office instead, but decided we needed it more than the guest room. I work on-site, but I also do some freelancing from home, and my husband works hybrid. We don’t need to do our work from the office, but it’s more comfortable and less chaotic, especially now that we have a baby. On the other hand, we rarely have guests over.

If we do, the office is big enough to set a mattress on the floor. My father lives in a different country. He’s traveling here for Christmas in about a week, and this will be his first time meeting my son in person. Last time he came, I was pregnant and we still had the guest room, so he stayed there during his visit.

A couple weeks ago, my father called to ask whether he could stay at my apartment again this year. I said sure, but we don’t have the guest room anymore, so he’d have to sleep in the office. He asked what I meant, and I told him we’d turned the guest room into the baby’s nursery.

He then asked why I hadn’t gotten rid of the office instead. I explained my and my husband’s reasoning. My father got annoyed and said, “Whatever, I’ll get a hotel”, before hanging up on me. The next day, my father texted me.

He said it was selfish and inconsiderate of me and my husband to keep an office we “don’t actually need” over a room to properly house potential guests. He added that he didn’t raise me to be such an awful hostess, and it’s insane of me to think people would be okay sleeping on a mattress on the floor. My sister is siding with my father, and I’m starting to doubt myself here.. AITA?

These are the responses from Reddit users:

BlindUmpBob −  NTA. A guest room is nice to have, but you have reason enough to use that space otherwise. In fact, to not do so could be a waste of space. Surely your dad also taught you not to waste resources.

As for sister dear, does she live nearby to you? Maybe she’s afraid dad will hit her up. Or, does she live far away, and was figuring on using your guest room for some free lodging of her own?

KaliTheBlaze −  NTA. A home should be set up for the best interests of the people who live there. You and your husband both regularly work from home. Sure, you could make do without the office, but it would be awkward and inconvenient for you both. It’s quite absurd for someone who isn’t paying any part of the rent or living there to expect you to suffer routine inconvenience in your own home year round to better be convenient for them a few days a year.

StAlvis −  INFO. my father called to ask whether he could stay at my apartment again this year. I said sure, but we don’t have the guest room anymore, so he’d have to sleep in the office. I mean… is there a futon in the office? Pullout couch? Because if not, I wouldn’t even offer and just go straight to “no, get a hotel.”

Kimbo151 −  NTA, WFH wasn’t a thing when your father was in the workforce. Nowadays a home office is a must and it sounds like you and your husband both use it. While it is great to have a dedicated guest room it’s also crazy to have a room in your house that is almost never used “just in case” someone comes to visit you.

If the space permits I’d consider getting a nice/comfortable pull out sleeper sofa for your office but a plan to have guests stay at a nearby hotel is perfectly fine.

-cheeks −  It’s never inconsiderate to prioritize your households needs when making choices. Having a guest bedroom only benefits others not your husband your baby or you. NTA obviously.

Iokua_CDN −  Honestly, I sometimes think it’s so wasteful to keep a full room just on the premise that someone MIGHT come over to stay. I’m all for hybrid rooms. Office  with a built in Murphy Bed on the wall. Project room with a pull out couch, exercise home gym with an Air mattress. Like why take your limited space  and have it dedicated solely to something that might not be used for months on an end.. NTA by any means

Spare_Ad5009 −  NTA. You’re not an awful hostess, he’s an awful guest. He is entitled and rude. If you want to house him, you could buy a metal frame for the mattress so that it will pass as a real bed, and take it down when he leaves. Or he could stay in the hotel he claims to prefer.

young929 −  NTA. Your house, your rules. Why should you keep the guest room to accommodate infrequent visitors when you use the office regularly? You’d be inconvenienced nearly daily, while your visitors would only be inconvenienced for the duration of their visit.

Glad_Commercial183 −  NTA – housing a guest temporarily vs every day to day life? He’s rude for being so demanding on your space, especially at just having a baby. He will be more comfortable in hotel considering how “disruptive” a baby can be.

mrsagc90 −  NTA at all. It’s your place and you have every right to do as you please with it, and you don’t have to justify your decisions to anyone.

Was it unreasonable for the user to prioritize an office over a guest room? Should parents feel obligated to maintain dedicated spaces for visitors, or are the father’s expectations too high? How would you balance hosting family with practical needs in your own home? Share your thoughts below!