A guest bedroom is often the room we think least about until someone is arriving. Then we look at it properly and notice it’s become somewhere to store things.
The good news is that these guest bedroom ideas rarely mean buying anything. Most guest rooms are made welcoming by what is already in the house, put in the right place, and much of it can be brought in from another room for a short stay. For more inspiration, Country Life’s bedroom features are worth a look.
Keep the bed neutral and add a colourful throw
Choose neutral bedding and add one colourful throw at the end of the bed, or one decorative cushion to break up the plain duvet. The best throw is the one that matches something already in the room, such as a colour in a painting on the wall. It ties the bed to the rest of the room. Don’t use more than one decorative cushion, because it will end up on the floor and get in the way the moment the guest uses the bed.
Always have bedside tables
Every guest bedroom needs a bedside table on each side of the bed, with room for a small carafe of water, a book and a socket for their mobile phone. The socket is the first thing a guest looks for, and ideally it should be at table height. Have a clear dressing table or occasional table where guests can put their other small belongings.
Give it good light
A ceiling light alone makes a bedroom feel like a waiting room. Use a lamp on each side of the bed if you can, with a 5 amp plug that allows the light to be turned on from the door switch as the guest enters. Check that the lamp switch is within reach of someone lying down. Whenever possible, convert switches to dimmers.
Add a chair for clothes
Few people think about a chair, but it is so useful for a guest: somewhere to put their clothes when they go to bed, or to sit and put their shoes on in the morning.
Put hooks behind the door
I always include hooks behind every bedroom and bathroom door. If you have a spare dressing gown, hang it on the back of the door as an added thoughtful gesture for your guest. It gives them something to put on in the morning, and is an extra welcome.
Leave some space
Leave room in the wardrobe, with five or more unused wooden hangers, and an empty drawer too. These small things show a guest they were expected.
Add a full-length mirror
A full-length mirror on the inside of a cupboard door, free-standing, or in their bathroom lets guests check their outfits, which matters if there is a special event such as a wedding or black-tie dinner. Or put one on the landing for all the guests to use.
The minimum checklist for a guest bedroom
A bud vase of fresh garden flowers is the minimum for a guest room, plus shampoo, conditioner and soap in their bathroom at the very least, and a hairdryer if you have one spare. Naturally there will be towels, and I like to leave a flannel. It’s slightly old-fashioned, but I always appreciate one.
A welcoming guest bedroom is usually quieter and tidier than the one you have now, not more decorated. If you’d like a second pair of eyes on a room in your home, I’d be glad to help. Get in touch to book a Home Styling consultation.
