If you’re someone who tends to get a lot of overnight guests throughout the year, then you might want to consider setting up a guest bedroom. This is an excellent idea if you have a spare room that you can use. Of course, you could also convert your basement or even your attic space into a guest bedroom if you want to. If you decide to turn your spare room into a guest bedroom, your goal should be to create a private and welcoming space that your guests will feel comfortable in. These 12 guest room decor ideas will help you do just that.
1. Start With Picking Out A Comfortable Bed
At the very least, your guest bedroom should have a comfortable bed. It doesn’t matter how beautifully you decorate the room or how inviting the space feels; if the bed’s uncomfortable, your guest will be uncomfortable. Consider investing in a full bed or a queen bed at a minimum so that a couple can share the bed comfortably. Spring for a high-quality mattress, such as a foam mattress or a foam/spring hybrid. If a full or queen-sized bed is a tight squeeze because the space is limited, a couch that converts into a bed is another option.
Finally, in addition to the mattress, choose quality sheets and pillows. Add an extra blanket or a cozy throw blanket to the bed so that the guest can remove or add layers, allowing them to adjust the bed to their comfort. Since everybody sleeps differently, make sure you have plenty of pillows as well.
2. Set Up A Bedside Table
If the room allows for it, flank the bed with a pair of bedside tables. A small bedside table will give your guest a place to set some of their belongings before bed, such as their phone, wallet, book, medications, and more. It also gives them a place to put a glass of water in case they wake up thirsty. Without a bedside table, they’ll be forced to get out of bed to reach the things they need, which will diminish their overall comfort.
Stock The Table With Essentials
A bedside table by itself is fine, but you can go the extra yard by stocking it with essentials. For instance, a notepad, a pen, a box of tissues, and a bottle of aspirin can all be useful to your guest.
3. Add Function To The Guest Room
The primary purpose of your guest bedroom is to give your guests a place to sleep. However, if you have ample space to work with, consider adding function to the room. For instance, a reading chair can be a nice touch. It gives your guests the ability to sit down and relax without the bed being the only option. Another option is adding a desk. Your guest may need to do some work while visiting with you. A desk can be quite useful when children return home from college when on break, or come home to visit later in life as a working professional.
4. Provide Adequate Lighting
Although there’s a good chance your guests won’t be spending that much time in the guest bedroom, good lighting is still a must should they want a few minutes to themselves. In addition to the overhead light, add task lighting in various places. For example, there should be at least one lamp next to the bed on top of the bedside table, if not two (one for each side). If there’s no room for bulky light fixtures, consider installing sconces on the wall the bed sits against. If you’ve positioned a desk in the room, make sure it has a desk lamp as well.
5. Ensure Your Guest’s Privacy
Privacy is an absolute must. If you have a spare room to convert into a guest bedroom, then the space should provide enough privacy. However, if you’re converting a room with another function as a part-time guest bedroom, you’ll need to figure out how to create more privacy, such as setting up a couch that converts into a bed in your home office. Even if you don’t plan to use your home office when you have guests, the fact that they are sleeping in your home office can make it feel less private. In such a case, you might consider a temporary barrier, such as a privacy screen that can separate the bed from the office area or a curtain that can be pulled across the room.
6. Use A Calming Color Scheme
Family gatherings can often be exhausting, even if they’re a ton of fun. Your guests may be tired following hours worth of exploring your town or socializing. Make it easy for them to relax, whether they’re just recharging their batteries for a brief moment or going to sleep at night. To create a relaxing atmosphere, use colors that create a calm environment. Neutral colors, as well as blues and greens, are appropriate in such a case. Try to avoid colors that are too bold.
7. Provide Storage Space
Guests who aren’t provided storage space are essentially going to be living out of their suitcases. Give them storage space so that they can put away their clothes. An empty dresser (or at least a dresser with a few empty drawers), as well as closet space where they can hang whatever they need, should suffice. If you don’t have a closet, set up a clothing rack to hang items such as jackets and dresses. At the very least, provide a small dresser and a few clothing hooks (such as on the back of the door).
8. Make Sure There’s Space For Walking Around
While the perfect guest bedroom might include a reading chair, desk, and even a TV, the room you’re working with might not have that kind of space. Guests need to feel comfortable moving around the room without the risk of banging into furniture every couple of steps. If there’s barely enough space for a bed, don’t try to squeeze a desk in there. Too much furniture will not only make it awkward to move around, but it will make the room feel small and cramped as well.
9. Avoid Clutter When Decorating
A guest room without any decoration will feel more like a hotel room. Add a bit of personality to make the space more inviting. You can do this by hanging photographs and art on the walls and putting up a few decor items on any shelves you’ve put up in the room. However, don’t go overboard. Filing the walls and shelves up too much can make the room feel cluttered.
10. Avoid Using Personal Decor Items
While it’s true that your guests know you and your family, it’s still better if you don’t use personal items to decorate the room. Guests will feel a little uncomfortable and out of place if they wake up every morning to a portrait of your parents or your grandchildren on the bedside table. The personal decor will make them feel like they’re sleeping in someone else’s room, not the guest bedroom, which will make it more challenging for them to feel at home.
11. Decorate The Room To Reflect Where You Live
When choosing your decor items, go with decorations that reflect the area you live in. For example, a framed photograph of the Rocky Mountains would be more than appropriate for your guest bedroom in Denver. However, a picture of a tropical island might feel slightly out of place, especially if guests stay over during the holidays when it tends to snow quite a lot. Decorative items and art from around town (especially those made by local artists) can add a lot of charm to the room as well. And, of course, fresh flowers are always a nice touch, no matter where you live.
12. Don’t Deviate Too Much From Your Home’s Interior Design
The guest bedroom is a part of your home, which means its interior design shouldn’t differ too much from the rest of your home’s interior design. If your home has a very rustic, mountain style interior design and you go with a modern contemporary style in the guest bedroom, guests will feel disoriented going into and out of their room. The clash of styles will just make the guest bedroom’s aesthetic a little awkward.
Design A Welcoming And Warm Guest Room With These Guest Room Decor Ideas
Setting up a guest bedroom is a great way to make staying at your home more comfortable and enjoyable. If you decide to convert a spare room to a guest room, these 12 guest room decor ideas will help you create a cozy, welcoming space.
