A well-thought-out guest room is more important than you may realize. For me personally, staying in a room specifically designated for guests when visiting a friend or family member is one of life’s greatest pleasures–especially when I know the room has been designed with care. I’d be perfectly satisfied with a simple bed and nightlight, but I have to admit that it’s extra nice when the room looks and feels like a retreat. The more it does, the more comfortable, pampered, and most importantly, at home your guest will feel.
Guest rooms come in all different shapes and sizes, which can sometimes pose decorating challenges. However, even focusing on a few select areas can make the plainest of spare rooms feel like a magnificent guest suite. Here are a handful of ideas that get you started. Pick a few or pick them all–any effort you take will have your guests feeling more than excited to make a return visit!Â
Make it Soothing
A soothing space is an enjoyable space. And one of the easiest ways to create a calming atmosphere is with color. When it comes to the bedroom, neutral hues, as well as soft greens and blues are no-fail choices (I don’t know about you, but I’d find it a lot harder to drift off to sleep when the colors of the room feel as though they’re screaming at me). To keep that from happening, stick with a subdued color palette to help make your guests feel more comfortable. Adding texture and accent colors with throw pillows, blankets, artwork, and window treatments can keep your neutral scheme from appearing boring.
Use Only Your Best
It’s easy to take what we don’t want in our own bedroom and use it in the guest room. Resist the urge! If your intention is to create a retreat, then your guests deserve the best you can offer. If the pieces you don’t want or don’t have room for are still in good shape, then, by all means, put them to use. If they’ve seen better days, however, get rid of them unless they can be salvaged with a DIY facelift. The goal is to treat the room as if it were part of a luxury hotel. Make sure the mattress, as well as the bedding and decor, reflects that.Â
Provide the Necessary Furniture
Having all the right pieces of furniture in the guest room really makes a difference. And while a beautiful bed is important, it’s only the beginning. Think about items such as nightstands, lamps, clothing storage (closet space, chest of drawers, wall hooks, etc), mirrors, and additional seating if space allows. While this isn’t a big deal for quick overnight visits, these extra furnishings will definitely come in handy when a friend or family member is staying for several days.Â
Focus on Little Details
What you may think of as minor, could actually be quite important for your guests. Be one step ahead, furnishing the room with essentials such as towels, a wastebasket, facial tissues, a night light, and an alarm clock. If the room doesn’t have a ceiling fan, having a small box fan tucked in the closet could serve useful. You could take it a step further by providing other amenities like fresh flowers, magazines or books of various genres, bottled water, a fold-up luggage stand, and a bowl of candies or mints. Additional toiletries such as travel-sized soaps, shampoos, and toothpaste are also a nice touch.
Clear Out Clutter
This is supposed to be a guest retreat–not a storage area, so be sure the room is kept in a manner that will serve its purpose. Avoid using this area for storage if possible. Or, at the very least, keep the storage minimal. Clear out any boxes, toys, exercise equipment, or anything else that detracts from the space. If your guest room serves as a double-duty space, such as an office, make sure it’s nice and tidy before your visitors arrive.Â
Take the Room for a Test Drive
Before you invite guests, stay a night in the room you’ve created to ensure that it is in fact, a retreat. Make sure the suite is comfortable and furnished to the fullest can give you peace of mind that your guests will thoroughly enjoy their stay in your home.Â
As you work toward turning your guest room into a guest retreat, be sure to stop by one of our showrooms to see how we can help. From fabrics to lighting to accessories, we have a variety of items that can turn your guest bedroom into something really special.Â
