Guest Room Essentials

Guest Room Essentials

For many of us, the guest room is an area that doesn’t see much use or attention.  Occasional visits from out of town relatives or old friends might send you scrambling to spruce it up in a panic (trust us, we’ve done that).  We’ve got some tips on guest room essentials that will have you prepared no matter when a visitor might arrive!

Guest Room 101

This might sound a bit obvious, but your guest room should have an actual bed.  Let’s be honest; no one on this side of college wants to sleep on an air mattress, right?  Comfort is the most important thing, so you should have at least a full size mattress.  You don’t have to spend a fortune, and online reviews are a great way to ascertain quality at your desired price point.  Have a few different types of pillows available to accomodate allergies or personal preferences.  We also suggest splurging on high quality bed linens to offer your guests a luxe sleeping experience.

If you’re working with a smaller space or your guest room doubles as an office or den, check out sleeper sofas.  We recently designed a den with an sectional that converts to a queen sleeper sofa for clients who host several times a year.  As more people move into cities with increasing property values and shrinking square footage, manufacturers have really stepped up their game.   This is great news for your guest room!

Furniture and accents

Sometimes the guest room accumulates cast-off furnishings from around the house, making it seem less than welcoming.  To avoid that hand-me-down feeling, keep it simple and coordinate your design and decor.  Include a nightstand, lamp, and a chair or bench.  Keeping furniture in complementary tones ties the look together without being too matchy.  A dresser or closet allows your guests to unpack and feel settled in.

Just like the rest of your home, you should bring your own style to a guest room.  Love plants or fresh flowers?  Place some on the dresser or nightstand.  Add a fun mirror and some artwork, maybe a pretty catch-all tray, and anything else that feels friendly.  While we love crisp white sheets, mixing them with a patterned duvet or handmade quilt keeps the bed from feeling impersonal.  Don’t forget to add a cozy throw blanket at the foot of the bed in case guests get chilly!

Go the extra mile

If you really want to wow your visitors, it just takes a few thoughtful touches ahead of time.  Consider what makes you feel comfortable away from home.  Stack fresh towels and linens in a basket for easy accessibility.  Keeping extra toothbrushes and travel sized toiletries on hand will make you a five star host!  A nightlight in the hall prevents middle-of-the night mishaps.  Last but not least, the WiFi password on the nightstand is a must for any 21st century houseguest.   Then you can enjoy their company and invite them to come back soon!

 

Header image: Bedroom by Glenna Stone Interior Design; photo by Rebecca McAlpin

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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!