Transform Your Guest Room Into a Relaxing Retreat
Create a haven that family and friends would love to call (their temporary) home, with these decorating ideas for your spare bedroom
Your home may not be a luxurious resort, but that doesn’t you can’t treat guests to a five-star experience when they visit you. While you may not offer room service or a concierge who’s available to assist visitors around the clock, you can transform a simple guest room into a cosy sanctuary with a hotel-like vibe, where visiting family and friends can rest and rejuvenate during their stay.
Here are some simple decorating tips to help you create a calm and stylish space your guests will love … and won’t ever want to leave.
Here are some simple decorating tips to help you create a calm and stylish space your guests will love … and won’t ever want to leave.
Pile on the pillows
It’s not necessary to provide a pillow menu for your guests like they do in five-star hotels, just stack a selection against the bedhead, instead. Choose options with different fillings and levels of support so visitors can find their perfect pillow match and enjoy a restful night’s sleep. An artful arrangement will make the bed look more plush and appealing, too.
It’s not necessary to provide a pillow menu for your guests like they do in five-star hotels, just stack a selection against the bedhead, instead. Choose options with different fillings and levels of support so visitors can find their perfect pillow match and enjoy a restful night’s sleep. An artful arrangement will make the bed look more plush and appealing, too.
Light some candles
A flickering candle or cluster of tea lights will infuse your guest room with a warm, welcoming vibe. If you want something that’s fragrant, choose a scent that’s soothing and not overpowering, such as vanilla, lavender or peony.
Follow this step-by-step guide to make your own scented candles
A flickering candle or cluster of tea lights will infuse your guest room with a warm, welcoming vibe. If you want something that’s fragrant, choose a scent that’s soothing and not overpowering, such as vanilla, lavender or peony.
Follow this step-by-step guide to make your own scented candles
Supply a few good reads
Place a pile of books and magazines (or even keep a complete library) in your guest room so visitors have something to flick through before bed or during quiet spots throughout the day. Offer a variety of reads, such as glossy mags, some classics, a selection of bestsellers and picture books for any kids.
Place a pile of books and magazines (or even keep a complete library) in your guest room so visitors have something to flick through before bed or during quiet spots throughout the day. Offer a variety of reads, such as glossy mags, some classics, a selection of bestsellers and picture books for any kids.
Brighten your bedside
If your guests are night owls or battling jetlag, they may not follow the same sleep schedule as you. Provide bedside lamps or pendant lights (such as the one shown here) that hang beside the bed so that overnight visitors can read or play with their phone without straining their eyes once the ceiling lights are off.
If your guests are night owls or battling jetlag, they may not follow the same sleep schedule as you. Provide bedside lamps or pendant lights (such as the one shown here) that hang beside the bed so that overnight visitors can read or play with their phone without straining their eyes once the ceiling lights are off.
Choose luxe bed linen
When it comes to sheets, both quality (of the fibres and type of weave) and quantity (of the threads) matter. If you’re looking for bed linen that’s more luxurious than basic cotton sheets, try a set with a percale or sateen weave. Percale sheets feel smooth yet crisp, while sateen fabrics have a lustrous finish, and are soft and silky to the touch. If you really want to indulge your guests, go with ultra-soft Egyptian cotton sheets, the ultimate bedding material.
Bamboo bed linen is another great option, as it’s eco-friendly and also hypoallergenic, so it’s suitable for allergy and asthma sufferers.
Confused about thread counts? As a general rule, the higher the count, the softer and more durable your sheets will be – a thread count of 300 is a good place to start.
When it comes to sheets, both quality (of the fibres and type of weave) and quantity (of the threads) matter. If you’re looking for bed linen that’s more luxurious than basic cotton sheets, try a set with a percale or sateen weave. Percale sheets feel smooth yet crisp, while sateen fabrics have a lustrous finish, and are soft and silky to the touch. If you really want to indulge your guests, go with ultra-soft Egyptian cotton sheets, the ultimate bedding material.
Bamboo bed linen is another great option, as it’s eco-friendly and also hypoallergenic, so it’s suitable for allergy and asthma sufferers.
Confused about thread counts? As a general rule, the higher the count, the softer and more durable your sheets will be – a thread count of 300 is a good place to start.
Keep guests connected
Have a spare laptop? Place it in your guest room so family and friends can use it to stream relaxing tunes, catch up on their favourite TV shows, or even check their emails if they’re worried about work – but only if completely necessary!
If you don’t have an extra laptop laying around, provide guests with your wi-fi password so they can connect to the Net via their smart phones and other portable devices.
Have a spare laptop? Place it in your guest room so family and friends can use it to stream relaxing tunes, catch up on their favourite TV shows, or even check their emails if they’re worried about work – but only if completely necessary!
If you don’t have an extra laptop laying around, provide guests with your wi-fi password so they can connect to the Net via their smart phones and other portable devices.
Select the right drapes
Heavy drapes block out the bright morning sun and other disturbances outside, allowing guests to wake up at their leisure. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a good sleep-in, especially when you’re away and in relaxation mode for a few days?
Heavy drapes block out the bright morning sun and other disturbances outside, allowing guests to wake up at their leisure. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a good sleep-in, especially when you’re away and in relaxation mode for a few days?
Add a comfy armchair
Guests will appreciate having a plush chair in their room when they want to sit back and relax between activities, while making phone calls or losing themselves in a good book. Complete the cosy corner with a soft throw, cushion and footrest.
Guests will appreciate having a plush chair in their room when they want to sit back and relax between activities, while making phone calls or losing themselves in a good book. Complete the cosy corner with a soft throw, cushion and footrest.
Provide ample storage
Furnish your guest room with a dresser – or even a built-in wardrobe, if space permits – so visitors have plenty of space to store their belongings. This will (hopefully) ensure the room remains blissfully calm and clutter free.
Furnish your guest room with a dresser – or even a built-in wardrobe, if space permits – so visitors have plenty of space to store their belongings. This will (hopefully) ensure the room remains blissfully calm and clutter free.
Pick a pretty posy
Add a splash of colour to your guest room with vase of big, beautiful blooms. They’ll infuse the space with a pleasing fragrance, too.
Add a splash of colour to your guest room with vase of big, beautiful blooms. They’ll infuse the space with a pleasing fragrance, too.
Think beyond the bedroom
Place a stack of plush towels and a selection of luxury toiletries (plus a fluffy bathrobe and slippers, if you have any to spare) in a guest bathroom. These thoughtful, hotel-style touches will make your guests feel truly pampered and eager to visit you again soon.
If the bedroom doesn’t have a bathroom of its own, set the towels on the end of the bed, along with a basket filled with bath essentials including soap, shampoo, conditioner and scented body lotion.
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Place a stack of plush towels and a selection of luxury toiletries (plus a fluffy bathrobe and slippers, if you have any to spare) in a guest bathroom. These thoughtful, hotel-style touches will make your guests feel truly pampered and eager to visit you again soon.
If the bedroom doesn’t have a bathroom of its own, set the towels on the end of the bed, along with a basket filled with bath essentials including soap, shampoo, conditioner and scented body lotion.
MORE
How to Organise Your Bathroom Storage So You Can Relax
How to Create a Zen-Inspired Home
12 Ways to Make Your Home a Stress-Free Home
Serenity in The City: 10 Ways to Create a Peaceful Urban Oasis
When creating a haven for house guests, it’s important to get the colours right. Chalky blues and greens are go-to tones for guest rooms, as they’re calming, soothing and serene. This relaxing sanctuary features a pleasing palette of white, beige and soft teal, which is a blend of both blue and green. If you’d prefer to use neutrals other than snowy white or beige, try off-white, a cool cream or dove grey.
See more serene bedroom colour combos