Sprucing Up Your Guest Room

Sprucing up your guest room soon? Your visitors will thank you!

We all know that traveling can be a pain – delays, traffic, lack of sleep – the list goes on! Even happy trips and vacations can cause disruptions to people’s routines and sleep patterns. As a host, you should spend a bit of time and money sprucing up your guest room to make it as welcoming as possible. Thoughtful touches and small details go a very long way to making your guests feel at home at your home.

Here are a few easy things you can do in sprucing up your guest room this weekend!

The Essentials

You’ll want to offer your guests the coziest and most relaxing space possible. Start by investing in some fresh new, high-quality pillows and luxurious sheets. We’re in love with this soft Belgian flax bedding set from West Elm.

Also to warm up your guest room, invest in some plush throws like this Sable Faux-Fur Throw from Horchow and some decorative pillows. We’re a bit obsessed with this velvet pillow with a down-like filling from Crate & Barrel.

You’ll also want to offer your guests some fresh, fluffy towels like these  “resort” cotton towels from Frontgate.

People have definite preferences for the bedroom’s temperature when they’re sleeping. If there is no way for your guests to control the thermostat in their space, keep a small portable fan and space heater in the guest room.

The Right Light

Make sure you have small table lamp next to the bed for nighttime reading. For those middle of the night restroom trips, offer a nightlight or flashlight in the guest room (have nighttime lighting in the bathroom as well).

Install window treatments that filter or block the morning sun – especially if the guest room is on the eastern side of your home. These blackout Roman blinds from Select Blinds come in many fun colors and patterns.

The Little Things

Always keep a basket of travel essentials in your guest room. Include a new toothbrush and fresh tube toothpaste, new bar of soap, travel size shampoo, ibuprofen, some snacks, and a few bottles of water.

Consider setting out a small bowl of mints, a small notepad, and pens. Make sure there is a box of tissues and a wastepaper basket in the room.

Tech Touches

Be sure there is an accessible outlet near the bed and nightstand. Have at least one additional outlet in the room that’s easily accessible. Offering a charger in your guest space is a thoughtful touch as well. Provide an alarm clock on the nightstand in case people don’t want to rely on their phones to wake them.

Consider a wall hanging with your home’s Wifi password on it. This clever chalkboard version from Etsy allows you to change the password as needed.

Storage Solutions

Your guest room should offer your guests a few empty dresser drawers or empty ottoman, trunk, etc. Clear out some closet space and include several empty hangers for your visitors’ use.

Also, offer a spot for your guest to unpack and store their suitcases, like this classic Bunny Williams leather luggage rack from Ballard Designs.

Mirror Mirror

Ensure your guest room has at least one mirror, preferably a full-length version, so your visitors can check their entire look before heading out for the day. If you have some sort of vanity for your guest, add a mirror like this whimsical Pottery Barn one there as well.

Take a Load Off

It’s always a great idea to have a place for your guests to sit (other than on the bed!) in the guest room. Nothing is cozier in a guest room than a little reading nook like this one.

A window seat or chair with a footrest is ideal for weary travelers. Include a floor lamp for reading light and offer an assortment of current magazines and/or best sellers.

The Bottom Line

Offering your houseguests a thoughtful and welcoming guest room is perhaps the single best thing you can do for them. If you are thinking of sprucing up your guest room this weekend, keep these tips in mind and you will have happy houseguests that will want to return.

If you need ideas for these or any other home improvement projects, please let us know. We are always happy to help with contractor recommendations or to discuss how to get the biggest bang for your home improvement dollar.

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