Add personal touches to guest rooms and baths
One of the reasons we have guest rooms is because we enjoy spending time with family and friends we don’t often get to see! By adding personal touches, your guests will feel at home and not like they’re spending time in a hotel. It doesn’t take much effort, but will be so appreciated by your visitors!
Linens
This seems like a no-brainer, but quality linens – both bed and bath – make an impression. Invest in a set of 100% cotton sheets (we love the timelessness of white) and matching spare pillowcases. Because different people prefer different sleeping temperatures, providing layers works well. A quilt or light duvet on the bed with additional blankets either folded at the bottom or placed invitingly in a basket allow guests to choose their own comfort levels.
Additionally, dedicated guest bath linens are key. Have at least two of each per guest: bath towel, hand towel, and washcloth. Few things feel more awkward than having to seek out something in a host’s linen closet. We also recommend a pretty basket to serve as a hamper so that your visitors don’t need to ask what to do with their damp towels or used sheets.
Art and accents
Nothing feels as impersonal as a bedroom without any artwork or accents (although a room with a generic print above the bed isn’t much better). You should give guest rooms as much attention when it comes to decor as you do to the rest of your home. This doesn’t mean that you have to be extravagant or spend a lot; framed photos from a special vacation, a unique tray you found at a flea market on the dresser, and a favorite book on the nightstand go a long way! Think about it as you would with your family room: you want small touches that weave your personality through the space.
To make your guest room and guest bath feel even more personal, have space for them to unpack and really settle in. This could be a small chest of drawers or an empty closet with hangers, as well as a “guest drawer” in the bathroom so they can tuck their toiletries out of sight.
Amenities and extras
Speaking of toiletries, we’re big fans of keeping extras on hand for guests. Have you ever traveled and realized upon arrival that your toothbrush is on the bathroom counter…at home? Or that you forgot to grab your phone charger? Add a box of tissues to the nightstand, and tuck spare charging cords into the drawer. We recommend stocking a pretty basket in the guest bathroom with toothbrushes, floss, travel sized soap, first aid kit, and other personal items just in case.
Our personal tips for hosting
To really go the extra mile, Andrea recommends showing guests where mugs are as well as how to use the coffee maker, and having easy-to-access snacks and fruit so they can make themselves at home. Nicole loves this bedside carafe and water glass as an alternative to bottled water. Think about what you would like as a guest and go from there!
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Glenna Stone Interior Design is an award-winning Philadelphia interior design firm serving Philadelphia, the Main Line, and surrounding cities. Utilizing her background and training in interior design, architecture, and engineering, Glenna specializes in creating interiors for residential and commercial design settings. We invite you to visit our website, view our portfolio, and catch up on the latest interior design concepts on our blog!