How to Create the Best Guest Bedroom
With the holidays quickly approaching, you probably have family and friends on the way to stay overnight in your home. Here are some tips and tricks to help you create a warm and inviting guest bedroom that will make your guests feel right at home.
Set the Mood
A bedroom furniture set that includes a bed, nightstand, and dresser is a great place to start when creating your guest room. A small desk and chair are also great additional options to provide your guests so that they have a place to charge and stow laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Guest bedrooms are typically not large, so keep your design simple to avoid overcrowding.
Make it Cozy
Ensure that your guests feel extra special by purchasing the best linens that you can afford. Soft, smooth sheets and nice fluffy towels are nice treats when away from the comforts of home, and having plush pillows on hand will help make sure that your guests get a good night’s sleep. Providing a variety of soft and firm pillows for your guests to choose from is an extra-thoughtful touch, while extra blankets go a long way on chilly nights. Curtains with blackout panels can help provide extra comfort for extra sensitive sleepers.
Think About Storage
A decorative bench at the end of the bed can double as both blanket and linen storage and a convenient luggage rack for your guests. If you have extra closet space, provide a few hangers for your guests’ items that need to be hung. Hooks can also be attached or mounted to the back sides of doors so that guests can hang purses, jackets, or other items and reduce clutter during their stay.
Find the Right Light
Ample lighting can make a room feel cozy while also being functional. Choose a decorative floor or table lamp with a pretty lampshade that compliments the décor. An adjustable desk lamp is another great option for a bedside table, and will allow night owls to enjoy a good book or catch up on email without disturbing the rest of the houseguest. Furthermore, a night light can provide comfort for middle-of-the-night treks to the bathroom in an unfamiliar place.
Consider In-Room Entertainment
If your guest room is equipped with a cable connection, a small TV can be a nice touch that will allow guests to catch up on the news in the morning or wind down with their favorite show before bed.
Outfit the Accents
Stack a few magazines and books on the nightstand for guests who like to read. A decorative bowl to collect watches and jewelry is also a nice touch, or you can leave a small card or decorative frame to display the house Wi-Fi name and password so that guests don’t even have to ask. (The card can also contain reminders like the home telephone numbers and street address.)
Be Thoughtful
It’s easy to forget small-but-crucial personal care items when we travel, so consider including a basket of travel-sized toiletries in the guest bedroom that will cover all of the bases—mini toothpaste, an extra toothbrush, small bottles of shampoo and lotion, shaving soap, and more.
Coffee or Tea?
Nothing will make a guest feel more at home than the ability to have a small drink or snack in their room without having to bother their host. Just like your favorite hotel, stock the guest room with mugs, a mini coffee make, and small packets of coffee and tea so that guests can help themselves to a cup. Find out what snacks your guests like, and leave a few options in a decorative bowl or basket. A carafe of water, an ice bucket, and a few glasses are also a nice touch. Be sure to include coasters so that no water rings are left on your furniture.
Stop and Smell the Roses
A final and homey touch is a small vase of fresh flowers. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or expensive – a small, trimmed bouquet from the local grocery store will suffice. Tulips are perfect, as they are available year round, and a small bouquet makes a large and fragrant impact.