35 Tips for Turning Your Guest Bedroom Into a Retreat
Whether you're expecting overnight guests this weekend or months from now, be the host with the most with our guest bedroom ideas.
Freshen Up
Fresh flowers are a must but creating an arrangement doesn't have to be a chore. Pick up a few bunches at the grocery store or local florist, snip the ends, then plop them in a vase. Tulips are a natural choice because they're available year-round and their droopy shape lends itself to fuss-free arrangements.
Make It Luxe
Treat your guests to a great night's sleep with luxurious bedding. Start with high-thread-count, 100% cotton sheets, then add a thick duvet or quilt and pile on lots of fluffy pillows.
Toss In a Throw
A cozy throw blanket, either folded neatly across the foot of the bed or casually tossed across, pops in a little extra color and will also come in handy on chilly nights.
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Make Space in the Closet
If your guest bedroom closet has become overflow for items you no longer wear (too small, too big, out of style), consider this the perfect time to clean it out and donate or sell pieces you no longer want. Your guests will thank you for being able to hang up their clothes on arrival, and long after your guests have left, you'll enjoy having a little more storage space of your own.
Serve Breakfast in Bed
Inexpensively upcycle a bland tray and a bit of leftover fabric into a designer-worthy tray where guests will be ready for breakfast-in-bed any day.
Pile on the Pillows
Layered pillows aren't just pretty, they also serve different purposes. Large 26-inch square Euro pillows add a cushy layer to solid-wood headboards while decorative shams, or just pretty patterned sheets, dress up bed pillows. And, decorative throw pillows pull the bedroom's patterns and colors together.
Dress the Windows
Add inexpensive blinds, roller shades or ready-made draperies to any windows that aren't covered. A guest in your home is on vacation and will appreciate a dark room for sleeping in. If late nights are part of your plans, consider purchasing blackout drapes, which will more efficiently block early morning sunlight.
Provide the Wi-Fi Password?
It's a fact of modern life: Even on vacation, we really can't live without our phones. Save guests from asking this crucial question by printing the info onto card stock and framing it.
Add a Mirror
Hang a small mirror in the guest room to provide a spot for touching up makeup or putting on jewelry. If space allows, a long dressing mirror is an even better addition.
Mind the Time
Ensure that guests don't miss any planned activities (or an early morning flight) by placing a small clock in their room. If the clock is a new purchase, test its noise level first by holding it close to your ear — no one wants to lie awake all night listening to tick-tock.
Add Impact With DIY Art
Art makes any room feel more alive and personalized. For a truly one-of-a-kind touch, frame a vintage scarf for a big pop of color and pattern on a budget.
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Clear the Air
Live plants not only add a mood-lifting reminder of the great outdoors, they also clean the air of common indoor pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde and act as mini humidifiers, releasing moisture back into the home.
Cleverly Incorporate Storage
While the bed in a guest room may only see occasional use, you can put the area around it to work as everyday storage. Readymade lower cabinets and shelves, custom built around a bed, create a lovely bed niche surrounded by lots of hidden and decorative storage.
Make It Personal
If your overnight guests are family or close friends, it's always a nice touch to display photos of happy times spent together; everyone enjoys a trip down memory lane.
Bring In a Bench
Place a long bench at the foot of the bed so your guests have a handy spot for unpacking their suitcase or sitting down to remove their shoes.
Put Even the Smallest Spaces to Work
Designer Layla Palmer turned an underused bathroom into this sunny (and super cute!) guest room. Just 6'x6', the former bathroom was too small for a full-size bed but just right for a daybed and nightstand, perfect for a visiting child or single adult.
No Guest Room, No Problem
Faking a guest bedroom is easier than you may think but skip the thin, camping-style air mattress. Instead, invest in a self-inflating mattress with a built-in frame or inflatable base to keep your guests up off the floor (and make getting in and out of the bed much easier). And be sure to top it with luxurious linens for added comfort. Use old suitcases or wooden crates to stack up a bedside table and layer in living plants to clean the air.
Use What You Have
Don't rush out to buy new furniture if your guest room is missing a few pieces — just improvise. Designer Erinn Valencich brought in a weathered garden step to serve as a bedside table. Its rustic patina adds charm, while the steps create display space.
Add a Kitchenette
If your guest room has the space, try adding a kitchenette to allow them to really feel at home. If you don't have that much room, a mini fridge would be a great alternative.
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