How to Make Your Guest Room Look Amazing - Like a Pro
Close your eyes for a moment and think about the feeling you get when you walk into a room of a great hotel. The bed is perfectly made, it’s immaculately clean, it smells fresh and the temperature is just right, which instantly makes all the stress of your travels melt away. Ahhh.
If you’ve been searching for inspiration and tips from a designer, read on! I’ve got some great styling tips for your guest room that are super fun and easy to implement. Yes, you can create a guest room that is both functional and stylish, no matter how much space you have to work with!
Layout
Before we dive into the decorating details, think about the room essentials beginning with the furniture. The ideal layout is (always starting with the biggest piece of furniture first) the bed, nightstands on either side, a dresser and/or desk. You want to be sure each nightstand has convenient power outlets for your guest to plug in their smart phones, tablets and essentials.
Create an environment that promotes a great night's sleep starting with a comfortable bed, plush bedding with a high-thread count, lots of pillows and 100 percent cotton sheets. Then top with a thick duvet and pile on those fluffy pillows. Remember, the bed is always the star of your guest room so opt for a strong headboard that makes an impact.
Storage
Because secondary bedrooms are much smaller than the primary bedrooms, shop for storage ideas and solutions, such as, wall-hung cabinets, hooks, and under-bed boxes. These are all great ways of containing clutter.
Cozy guest bedrooms usually don’t have a walk-in closet where your visitors can leave a suitcase or another travel bag. Placing a bed bench at the foot of the bed can solve that issue, and boost the room’s storage capacity. Benches are excellent furniture multitaskers that can serve as extra seating or shelving for extra bed linens. In a pinch, they also create extra surface area for your guests’ belongings.
Lighting
Lighting is an important feature in creating a warm and intimate feel in a bedroom, but for some reason, it's often overlooked. Well placed lighting adds another dimension to a space, and brings the design project to life.
Bedside lighting such as sconces, wall lamps, and pendants can add safety and comfort to your guest bedroom. The convenient placement of this lighting means no stubbed toes in the middle of the night while your guest makes their way through a dark, unfamiliar, bedroom. It’s all about the balance of light and shade and bringing new energy to a space.
A simple way to add lighting to your guest bedroom is with table lamps. As a bonus, lamps add a decorative touch to the room and create a pleasant, homey feeling for your guests.
Dress the Windows
Curtains and blinds can make a major statement in a bedroom. Not only do they filter the sunlight for your guest, they also add warmth and make a space look finished. Dressing your windows is one of the best ways to pull the design elements of a room together.
Add inexpensive blinds, roller shades or ready-made draperies to any windows that are not covered. A guest in your home is taking a mini-vaca and will appreciate a dark room for sleeping in. If late nights are part of your plans, consider purchasing blackout drapes, which will more efficiently block out that early morning sunlight.
The Details
Remember that well-decorated rooms put you at ease and gets rid of anxiety, and that’s exactly what you want for your guests. Let the furniture and décor you select for the room create comfort and appeal with these guest room essential ingredients.
STYLING TIPS
Decor
Keep the decorations in your guest room setup simple and tasteful. The best way to decorate a guest room is to decide on your decor theme or color scheme and stick with it throughout the space. Keep towels and blankets in the same color palette and add accessories around the room that fit with the theme.
Add a Mirror
Always hang a mirror in your guest room to provide a private space for freshening up hair and makeup, or putting on jewelry. If the room allows, a full length dressing mirror is an ideal addition.
Literature
Stock the nightstands with current magazines or books that are a quick read. Literary-minded guests will appreciate the chance to wind down after a long day of activities.
Help Them Feel at Home
Use a deep basket to stash extra guest towels, a robe and throw blankets. Place it visibly in the room so your guests have everything they need to freshen up on arrival. Keep ing mind that everyone forgets to pack at least one thing when they travel, so cover their bases by stocking the dresser drawers with a few travel-size essentials.
Add a clock to ensure your guests don't miss any planned activities, or an early morning flight. If the clock is a new purchase, test its noise level first by holding it close to your ear because no one wants to lie awake all night listening to ticking.
Make It Personal
House guests get "the munchies" in the evening, just like everyone else. Get creative and place wrapped snacks and a bottle of water in the guest room. If your overnight guests are family or close friends, it's always a nice touch to display photos of happy times spent together; everyone enjoys a trip down memory lane.
Once you settle on a final guest room setup, you may want to update it occasionally according to the seasons. Your update could be something small, like simply adding a few seasonal decor accents on the shelves, or it could be something more substantial, such as swapping out an area rug for a thicker faux-fur in the winter months. The same extra room idea applies to bedding. Cool and breezy linen is a cozy choice for summer months, while tight weave percale sheets makes it ideal for when the temperatures drop.
The result of your efforts is not only a beautiful guest suite but ultimately, the it’s comfort of your closest friends and family members.
Need more Styling Tips?
If you live in the Galveston Bay Area and are thinking about home renovations or new ways to style up your space, book a discovery call. It will help us determine if our services will suit your needs. I can help with everything from choosing the right color scheme for your spare room to picking out towels for your guest bathroom.
XO,
