HOW TO STYLE A GUEST-WORTHY GUEST BEDROOM
When you have a guest staying at your house, don’t lie, you feel a little design pressure. We all know our homes are a reflection of ourselves and our families—so we want them dressed to impress. And when it comes to providing a little private space to make friends and family feel at home in your home, we want to share ten tips on how to style a guest-worthy guest bedroom.
- Provide a comfy bed. Don’t use your old mattress. You know, the one you don’t even want to sleep on. (Unless you are trying to give subtle hints to your guests that you don’t want them to return.) If you do have to work with an older mattress, then consider purchasing a dreamy mattress topper to create a comfy, cozy bed.
- Make sure they have plenty of pillows and blankets. Guests can always pull down extra blankets or put a pillow away, but you don’t want them wishing they had more! It’s also a good idea to leave out an extra set of bed linens. Accidents do happen. Or, when they leave, they may ask to change the bed for you. Let them do it!
- Make sure there is plenty of privacy. You may know that the large tree outside the window keeps the neighbors from seeing inside, but your guests may feel exposed when changing clothes or getting ready for the day. Make sure there are window treatments to help create that extra sense of privacy.
- Make room for a suitcase. If a closet is not available, make sure your guests have a space to put their suitcases. The ability to put things away allows people to settle in and enjoy their stay.
- Clean off countertop areas. Your guest room might be tempting to use as a storage place for your kid’s rock collection, piles of paperwork or that to do project you never get around to actually doing. Clutter is not very welcoming. You want to make your guests feel comfortable and provide space for them to pull out the things they need.
- Make sure there is a plug for their phone/iPad charger. Many of us sleep with our phones by the bed to use the alarm, or to have nearby in case the children call an extra few times while we are away. Providing this charging station is a great way to make your guests feel at home, and you don’t have to worry about what they are unplugging.
- Prepare a visually beautiful display of clean towels. This puts guests at ease and makes them confident the towels are fresh and clean. No one likes snooping around closets or guessing which towels they are supposed to use.
- Place a lovely welcome tray on the bed. Include a vessel and glasses, so they can fill it with water to have by their bedside. Also provide the WiFi code as well as a little welcome note. And of course, fresh flowers are always an extra special touch.
- Supply a set of keys. Guests want to feel like it is okay to come and go without disrupting your daily schedule. They don’t want to be an imposition, so providing keys will reinforce their independence and freedom while staying with you.
Finally, provide area information. Whether a map and tips for how to get around town, or tourist info on the best sightseeing, shops, restaurants and must-see stops, helps your guests make the most of their trip—especially if you won’t be taking them everywhere.