Create a Welcoming Retreat for Winter Guests

Previously used as a catch-all space, this second-story bedroom was reinvented as a cozy, wintry retreat for overnight guests. From the icy shade of blue used on the walls to the crisp, white and silver accents, the space is now sophisticated and soft.

To keep the space feeling light and bright during the cold winter months, the vaulted ceiling is left white to help bounce light throughout the space, highlighting its soft hues and metallic touches.

When designing guest suites, it's smart to stick with textures and colors that evoke a feeling of tranquility. Here, a classic upholstered headboard in a neutral sand tone is paired with icy blue-gray bedding and a glossy, lacquered gray nightstand. For a tone-on-tone effect, a ceramic lamp slightly darker than the wall color is used.

When space is at a premium, many designers use furniture and accents in unexpected ways. With the headboard wall measuring only nine feet wide, there was not enough space to accommodate nightstands on each side. So, to keep the space properly lit, the bed is flanked with a nightstand and table lamp on one side, and a polished nickel floor lamp on the other.