Your guest bedroom shouldn’t look like a forgotten storage closet with a bed thrown in. You know what I’m talking about – that sad space where you dump everything you don’t know where else to put. Let’s fix that, shall we?
I made both sides of this equation. There are guest rooms that I have slept in that brought out the feel of a luxurious hotel suite, and there are those that have made me wonder where my friendship with the host went wrong. Believe me your houseguests take notice and though they may not say anything about that dusty treadmill as bed stand, they see it.
Transforming the flawless guest bedroom does not involve any rocket science but involves some planning. You need your visitors to be welcomed, comfortable and perhaps even spoiled. Why, happy customers are repeat customer (and they may bring wine with them the next time).
Start with the Foundation: Bedding That Actually Matters
The end-to end experience is determined by good bedding. The emphasis that I can put on this is great. Your guests are not interested in your fancy pieces of art on the wall when they are tossing and turning all night enduring scratchy sheets.
Here’s what you absolutely need:
Stylish cotton high thread count sheets (at least 300 and more sweet is 400-600) • Providing choices of pillows: some like firm, others prefer soft • A good quality mattress topper in case your mattress is on its last legs • Extra blankets to accommodate different body temperature requirements
Have you ever asked yourself the question of why bedding is something that hotels never get wrong? They spend on fundamentals and the fancy afterward. You ought to also.
The Mattress Reality Check
Come on, who would sleep on that mattress himself and think it should become the favorite one of your guests. I have happened to stay at a friend of mine where the guest bed was extremely lumpy that I even contemplated on using the couch. Avoid being such a host.
When you are not able to cover the expense of a new mattress at this moment, the well-chosen mattress topper can be a magic tool. Even a bad mattress could be comfortable with the addition of a memory foam or latex topper. You and your guests will be grateful to your back.
Color Schemes That Don’t Make People Run Screaming
Neutral does not imply boring. I have come across too many guest bedrooms that are decorated to look as though beige vomited all over the place. You can achieve a relaxed, friendly environment but not put the whole group into a coma, quite literally.
Here are some foolproof color combinations:
| Color Scheme | Primary Colors | Accent Colors |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Neutral | Soft gray, cream | Navy blue, sage green |
| Warm Classic | Warm white, beige | Terracotta, gold |
| Fresh Contemporary | Light blue, white | Coral, natural wood |
Is the secret to choose one key neutral and embellish with your accent colors. It is similar to dressing yourself- you begin with simple elements and then you put on extra stuff.
Adding Personality Without Going Overboard
I think the biggest mistake everyone does is overtrying. Your guest bed does not have to resemble a magazine page (just as that would be lovely, would not it? Give yourself a haven of calm, uncluttered atmosphere.
I am a big fan of incorporating art and cloth in order to provide some character. Several well-selected prints are better on a wall full of random prints any time. Select the art you like to smile at – taking pleasure in the art yourself is likely to tend the same in your guests.
Lighting: Because Nobody Likes Feeling Like They’re in a Cave
The right lighting is a make or break. I have been in rooms with the singular source of light being some overhead bulb that made it all look like a crime scene. Not quite the atmosphere youre attempting to give.
Layer your lighting with these essentials:
General area to be illuminated: • Overhead lighting • Bedside lights to read (please, please include these), and • A floor or table lamp to provide ambient light • Control of natural light with appropriate window shades
The Bedside Lamp Situation
This may be my greatest pet peeve in guest bedrooms though it is the lack of bedside lighting. What shall they, before they go to bed, read? Lurch about in darkness? Now I never go without a book light having been burnt too many times 🙂
Have lamps on each side of the bed provided you have the room. At least the small table lamp, your guests will like to have control of their own lights.
Storage Solutions That Actually Work
Your guests need somewhere to set their things, and I don,t mean the floor. Functional storage makes feels welcome because you’re envisioning their needs.
Smart storage options include:
A dresser, with luggage racks and/or a bench, at the foot of the bed • Empty dresser drawers (and actually empty dresser drawers) • Closet space with hangers, preferably good hangers, not wire numbers • A small tray or basket, to store keys, phone and/or jewelry
The Closet Conundrum
FYI, shoving your winter gear into the guest-room coat-closet does not qualify as storage space. It is so easy to think of using that closet as a place of overflow, but restrain. Your visitors should have a place to hang their garments particularly when they are not staying one night only.
Clear the closet at least to half and fill it with good hangers. Padded or wooden hangers tell you that you are a concerned person. The dry cleaner white plastic hangers? Not to that degree.
The Little Touches That Make a Big Impact
Good guest bedrooms and great guest bedrooms differ in the details. Adding these little pieces does not cost very much but it indicates to your guests that you have gone out of your way.
Consider adding:
An arrangement of fresh flowers or a plant (but nothing too high-maintenance) • A carafe of water and glasses on the nightstand • Books or magazines to read at bedtime • Phone chargers, preferably universal (if you really want to go the extra mile) /* A small welcome basket with snacks, toiletries or local treats
Creating a Mini Welcome Experience
I went on doing this after visiting a B&B which left me a little welcome basket. Nothing special just a few local cookies, tea bags, and a hand-written note. It helped so much in terms of my feeling of welcome.
You do not have to splash the cash here. It includes a small basket filled with travel-sized toiletries and a phone charger and, possibly, mints or chocolate, to demonstrate concern. These details will be in the minds of your guests even as they forget the color of the walls.
Technology and Practical Needs
So, now we should discuss the technical aspects which need to be provided by a modern guest. The WiFi password, access to outlets, and phone charging space are the things that are not a luxury anymore because it is a need.
Make sure you have:
A comfortable access to power points close to bed/ chair • WiFi available details apparent • Have a small clock (not everyone uses their phone to do everything) • Control of temperature or at least extra blankets and a fan
The Outlet Situation
Have you ever coveted a power socket, relegated behind a cumbersome dresser, when out of juice on your cell phone in a guest room? Donot force your guests to play furniture Tetris in order to charge their devices.
Place your furniture in a way that your outlets are accessible or buy some extension cords with USB ports. It will thankfully be appreciated by your tech dependent guests (ie, that would be everyone these days).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Experience in being an apparent guest, and then being an apparent host, after years of both guest room work, has yielded some of what does not work. Staying away of these pitfalls will place you above the majority of hosts.
Don’t do these things:
Storing all that you do not know where to store in the guest room • Making a mattress selection only on the base of the price • Neglecting the issue of the temperature control • Leaving washing detergents or personal items in an open place • Making the room so priceless that your guests are afraid to even touch something
The Museum Effect
You also would like your guest room to be attractive, but not too attractive that the visitor is inclined not to use it. I was on one room in which I was afraid to use throw pillows because they were perfectly decorated. That is not relaxing- that is stressful.
Make it beautiful but lets make it liveable. You want your guests to be able to leave their coffee cup down, or throw their sweater over the back of a chair and not worry.
Budget-Friendly Ways to Upgrade
You do not have to spend infinite money to design a fabulous guest bedroom. Thrifty purchases and clever renovation are the keys to restyling your place without spending a fortune.
Focus your budget on these high-impact areas:
Quality bedding-that is where you need to spend money • Good pillows-pick two different firmnesses of pillows • Proper lighting-lamps need not be costly to serve their purpose • Fresh paint-nothing will make a room feel like a new room so easily as new paint
Thrift Store and DIY Wins
I found a few of my best guest room items at thrift stores or did myself. That old night table? Goodwill find. The bespoke art? Framed pictures printed, framed.
Be inventive with what you have instead of jumping out to purchase a brand new everything. Other times interchanging existing pieces of furniture, or putting new pillows in an old chair can be the answer.
Seasonal Considerations
Your guest bedroom should be seasonal-free, but simple seasonal tweaks will ensure that your guests always feel right at home, no matter when.
Summer considerations: • Lighter blankets and breathing materials • A little fan should you lack the amazing AC • Blackout curtains with the longer daylight hours
Winter elements: • Exra fluffy blankets • A space heater if your home is cool • Warm & fuzzy textures like fleece or flannel
The trick is to think in advance of what your guests will require in varying season conditions. None of this is impossible to do: the extra blankets in a basket in the winter or the little fan in the summer indicate thoughtfulness.
Making It Personal (But Not Too Personal)
You desire the quality of your guest bedroom to be yours but at the same time want it to be visitor-friendly. Maintain the middle ground of personal and unpersonal.
Personalizing touches that rest well: • A small piece of local art or photography • Books on your hometown or interests • A small number of impactful decor embellishments • Some plants that portray your green thumb (in case you have one)
Just keep in mind, it is not your bedroom. Your visitors do not have to see familiar pictures and very personal objects. Keep it cordial yet not so close.
Final Thoughts
It is not complicated to make the ideal guest bedroom since it is all about empathy and mindfulness to details. Just imagine how you would want to feel at home in the house of another person, and consider giving that to your house guests.
You do not require the magazine-perfect room or an unrestricted budget. You must have fresh, soft bed linen, proper lighting, sufficient storage and tuxes that show that you care about the comfort of your guests. All the rest is added points.
The grandest guest rooms are as cozy as a hug- comfortable and friendly yet somehow a little bit special. You also only need to take effort to be noticed by your friends and family even though they might not be commenting on every detail. And honestly? Anyone is likely to feel tempted to fall asleep in there as well.