31 Ideas to Create a Welcoming, Comfortable Guest Room
Want to know how to create a room for guests that’s cosy, warm, and welcoming? While everyone wants their guest room to be attractive, their highest priority is creating a space where guests feel comfortable and at home.
Before you start scouting items for overnight visitors, spend some time thinking about the aesthetic you’ll be creating. Ideally, it shouldn’t be a departure from the rest of your house. Your guest room should incorporate the design style and general color palette you’ve used in your other rooms.
The items you’ll collect to put in a guest room can all be found in a range of price points and purchased over time. In fact, my favorite rooms are always created through years of collecting. Not everyone has the time or resources to create a magazine-ready guest room overnight, and conveniently, this space is generally one of the least-used areas of the house.
Let’s start with the bed — obviously the most important element of the room.
The headboard creates a lot of visual impact, but mattress quality will matter much more to your guest. Their comfort and ability to get a good night’s sleep has to be the top objective. An expensive mattress isn’t necessary, but guests should feel like their mattress is somewhat new.
So many of the headboards in these inspiration images are upholstered, which isn’t surprising. They’re not only comfortable, but gorgeous, too. Here’s a link to the one pictured above, and here’s another link for different upholstered headboard styles.
If you’re interested in a non-upholstered option, consider rattan or wicker which both provide a warm, vintage, collected vibe.
I’m sharing headboards instead of full beds because usually people choose the smallest bedroom in their house for their guest room. Unless you have a large enough room and already have a full bed to use, a stand-alone headboard provides the most flexibility. Wall mounted headboards are available which require even less space and can be less expensive.
For bedding, consider percale white sheets with a thread count between 200-600. Consider the season and/or temperature as you choose the rest of the bedding.
Fluffy Euro pillows will keep your guests cosy as they read or scroll.
The quality of the standard size pillows will ensure your overnight visitors get the best possible sleep. These are my absolute favorites.
The room above is an absolutely gorgeous example of optimizing a small space. Sometimes there’s not enough space for a bedside table, and I’d really miss having a spot for my phone, water, and lotion.
If you have the space in the room you’re creating for guests, at least one nightstand would be a great addition. A pair would be even better (think lamps).
Leave the wifi information for your guest on a nightstand.
Any magazines pertaining to your guest’s interests left in a nightstand drawer or on a nightstand shelf would be a thoughtful gesture.
A large area rug, or just one on the side of the bed is always a welcome touch— something comfy for your guest to step out of bed onto.
Bedside table lamps are so impactful in a bedroom, especially when a pair is flanking the bed. They fill empty space with their color and structure and make a room feel more finished and homey. While an overhead light is recommended, too, it’s the table lamps that make everyone feel cozy (which actually applies to every room in your house). If you lack space, wall lamps are a good option. For guests, having a dimmer switch option is helpful as some may catch up on work while others will relax with a novel or magazine.
Use warm temperature colored bulbs for guest room lamps. They create a more cozy space. The blue bulbs create a cold, sterile effect which you definitely don’t want. I personally don’t like the warmest options, either. They create a glow that I find unattractive. Between neutral and warmest is what I prefer for table lamps. See the temperature color scale below.
If you’ve been wanting to add wallpaper somewhere in your house, your guest room would be a perfect choice. You can see from these images that it obviously ups the cozy factor.
Twin beds can allow for greater flexibility in certain circumstances and should be considered as you plan your space.
A carafe and tumbler on a bedside table filled with cold water is a always appreciated.
Install some type of window coverings that allow for both privacy and light control.
So that your guests can easily dress, hang a large mirror somewhere in the room. A standing mirror is less desirable as it takes up floor space and can be a trip hazard, especially in a smaller room.
If you have the space, it’s very convenient for guests to have a luggage rack or a bench at the foot of the bed.
What could be more welcoming than placing a bud vase with a few fresh cut flowers on your guest’s nightstand? Besides making your guest feel special, it’ll add such pretty color and life to the space.
We all occasionally enjoy a midnight snack. Leaving a basket of treats you know your guest prefers will save them from the awkward position of having to rummage through your kitchen cabinets.
If you experience extreme temperatures where you live, you’ll need to remember to make accommodations to keep your guest comfortable. That may entail a ceiling fan and lightweight bedding or a space heater and extra blankets.
A folding ironing board/iron and a garment steamer are frequently necessary for travelers.
Including a mini-refrigerator for bottled water or another of your guest’s favorite beverage is a thoughtful, welcoming gesture.
With most everyone using their cell phone for everything now, a bedside clock may not be required. However, for our older guests, it would likely be appreciated.
Motion sensor nightlights enhance the convenience and safety of guests.
Before including a TV or coffee station (items sometimes recommended), consider your relationship with your guest. If you’re like me, they’ll always be close friends or family members. I’d hope they’d join me to hang out and catch up, watch TV, or enjoy coffee. Including these elements in the guest room may send a less than welcoming message.
A scented candle can feel luxurious and relaxing. If you know it’s something your guest enjoys, it’s a thoughtful idea to leave one in your guest room. In addition, they make a lovely hostess gift when you’re the guest.
Lastly, I’ve heard people mention wanting to make their guest room feel like a hotel. In my experience, hotels feel impersonal and not particularly warm or cozy regardless of their level of luxury. After a stay at my house, I’d love nothing more than for my guest to feel like they experienced the most warm, personal hospitality possible. Your guests will feel more special and welcome if your space feels less like a hotel and more like a home.
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