Adding ottomans to the end of this bed gives guests another place to set their bags or fasten their shoes.
Do you plan to host your friends or family this year, but feel like your guest bedroom could use an update? With the right look and the right shopping list, you can recreate the feel of a luxury hotel in your own home. To update an existing bedroom, here are some guidelines for achieving the most comfortable experience:
It’s not uncommon for old, tired bedding sets to be relegated to the guest bedroom. Consider investing in new sheets with a high thread-count. If your mattress is uncomfortable or lumpy, you can put on a memory foam topper or mattress pad to make it feel like new. A thick area rug under the bed will give guests something soft to step on when they rise for the day, especially if you have hardwood floors.
Although this guest bathroom has many different patterns, the cool white-and-gray color scheme helps it feel calming rather than busy.
Sooner or later, most homeowners are tempted to use their guest bedroom closets for overflow storage. If you do, don’t forget to make space for your guests’ things before they arrive. When sheets and towels have been left undisturbed for a long time, they may develop a slight musty smell. Change the sheets and pillowcases, and wash and dry the towels in the bathroom too.
Your room should be well-lit so guests can comfortably read. However, you’ll also want it to be as dark as possible at night so guests can get a good night’s sleep. To achieve this, you can either install blackout curtains or leave a sleep mask on the bedside table.
Just because you don’t have a designated guest bedroom doesn’t mean you can’t create a restful guest space. An attic can be a perfectly good guest bedroom: if your ceiling is sloped, make sure to choose furniture that sits low to the floor to make the ceiling seem taller. To repurpose your home office as a guest bedroom, add a daybed, or include a full-sized bed that is partitioned off with a curtain. Even if you do have a guest bedroom, consider adding a work desk anyway. A small desk, lamp, and chair give your room a “hotel” feel.
Pictured is a seating area from a guest bedroom we designed. With the drink table on one side and a pharmacy lamp on the other, it makes an excellent reading corner.
If you’re designing a guest bedroom from scratch, here are some additional points to consider:
Think ahead about who you’d like to invite over. Will you be hosting couples, or family members with children? Make sure you can accommodate their storage needs and sleeping arrangements.
If you anticipate having families with children over, or a pair of single friends, you’ll probably want to fit in twin beds rather than a single queen or king-size bed. Another consideration: will you be allowing guests to bring a pet? If so, keeping food and water dishes and a pet bed on hand is a thoughtful extra touch.
If you can, include at least one comfortable sitting area or reading nook. Guests will appreciate having a place to retreat to and relax besides the bed that isn’t in a communal living space. Padded benches at the end of the bed are another option: they add a place for guests to sit and tie their shoes or set down their bags.
Guest bedrooms should be as self-contained as possible. Include a TV and full-length mirror if you can. For the ultimate in luxury, look into having heated floors installed in the guest bathroom.
Having a landline phone on the bedside table is helpful for guests when their cell phones are low on battery, or when you live in a remote area with spotty cell phone service. Include some books (preferably light reading) or recently published magazines on the bedside table too. Some people have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds, and those guests will appreciate having the reading material available. Your bedside table lamp should also be bright enough to read by.
Of course, the best hotel rooms are not only comfortable but tastefully designed. You’ll want yours to be a beautiful room that guests remember, too. A distinctive or unusual headboard is one way to make a statement. Decorative pillows, rugs, and throw blankets are also a good opportunity to add a burst of color.
The fabric on the curtains you see in this Preston Hollow guest bedroom originally belonged to the client’s mother. The purple, apple green, and black in the curtains was a challenging color scheme for us to work with, but ultimately lead us to create a unique result.
Other ways to add personality to your guest bedroom include decorating the wall with a gallery of artwork, choosing a colorful wallpaper, or picking a theme for the room (nautical is a popular theme for guest rooms). For an extra luxurious feel, outfit your window treatments with rope tiebacks or simple valances. When it comes to color schemes for guest bedrooms, you can either go light and bright for a clean and refreshing look, or dark for a cozy, cave-like feel. To design a romantic bedroom, choose deep, rich colors.
The key to being a great host is to anticipate your guest’s needs before they do. Here is a checklist of items to include that help you go the extra mile:
· Bathrobe, slippers
· Water bottle and drinking glasses
· Fresh flowers
· Luggage rack
· Pen and paper
· Books and magazines
· Note with your Wi-Fi password
· Small clock (make sure it doesn’t tick loudly)
· Hair dryer, travel-size toiletries
· Snacks (such as a bowl of fruit)
· Charging station for electronic devices
· Coffee pot
· Ironing board and iron
When your bedroom is close to complete, stay a night to test it out. Did you sleep as comfortably as you would in your master bed? Were you missing anything?
Inviting guests into your home gives them a glimpse into your own lifestyle. If you keep these design tips in mind, your guests will not only enjoy their stay, but admire your great taste too.
If you could use a professional touch to help your guest bedroom go the extra mile, consider hiring an interior designer. To schedule a free consultation with us, call our Dallas office at 214-651-7665 or send an email to info@chambersinteriors.com.