14 Tips for Creating a Comfortable Guest Room
With the holidays fast approaching, you may be in the circumstance to be hosting friends or family in your home for a weekend!
As I spent my career working in Hospitality, I have definitely learned a thing or two about creating a warm welcome for guests, making sure that their needs have been anticipated, and that they are comfortable and leave happy. Here’s a list of tips to enhance the experience in your own guest room, while making your home their home away from home.
Vacation in your Guest Room
Do you already have the makings of a guest room? My first recommendation is that you test out your guest room yourself. During this trial run you’ll want to pay attention to any items you needed to grab from another room to see if you’re missing anything. You’ll also be on the lookout to see if the functionality of anything is off – this could be anything from the lighting not being bright enough at night, a door not opening all the way, the shades not keeping enough light out, improper heating or cooling, or even realizing that the outlet you plugged your phone into all night doesn’t charge when the light is turned off.
Ample Lighting
We all know that lighting sets the tone of a space. Expertly placed lighting can create depth, enhance design and provide needed visibility in your space. It’s also important to have at least two separate light sources in a room.
Shades
Just as light is important, darkness at night is important as well! While light and airy white curtains may give a wonderful aesthetic, chances are that the morning sun will beam directly through them, as if they weren’t there at all. I always recommend black out curtains as they make a huge difference in the quality of sleep your guests will receive. I always like to make sure my curtains are hung past the windows, so that there are no gaps of light sneaking through the side of the curtains.
Quality Bedding
Quality sheets and pillows make such a difference for a great night of sleep. I always try to find sheets with a high thread count and smooth cotton feel. I also keep additional blankets available in the room, in case anyone prefers a heavier weight as they sleep, or if they need more warmth.
A Queen Bed
Who are your guests? Will you ever have a couple sharing this bed in your guest room? If you answered yes, and your room can accommodate a Queen size bed, then do not settle for a Full. Your guests will greatly appreciate the extra 7″, which make the bed much more sleepable for two people.
Avoid Clutter
Be thoughtful with the items that you bring into this room. While some decor makes a room feel homey, you want to make sure that your guest will have plenty of room to unpack, and lay things out. For flat surfaces such as desks, nightstands and dressers, I always try to make sure that items take up no more than about 30% of the total surface area.
Storage Space
I’m a firm believer that everything should have a home. As we know when a guest visits, the chances are very high that they will bring luggage or bags with them, it’s important to have dedicated space for them to put things down or away. I recommend keeping the guest bedroom closets fairly empty and stocked with hangers so that guests can hang items up. I also have a luggage rack available for them to place their suitcase on, as it’s much easier than living off the floor, and reduces the chances of them placing a dirty suitcase on your luxury linens.
Additional Furniture
If your space allows, a nice comfortable chair is an ideal spot for guests to put on their shoes or sit and relax before or after the rest of the house goes to bed. Other helpful items would be a desk chair with a desk, or even a long bench at the end of the bed.
Getting Ready Space
Having a dedicated mirror, near an open outlet, to put on makeup, or style your hair is a must in a guest room, as it will give the guest more privacy, keep your bathroom accessible to others in the house, and reduce the chances of a guest forgetting items at your home. Keeping a small travel steamer in the room is also a great touch, incase their outfits got wrinkled in their travels.
Basic Amenities
There are a few small items that make all the difference when staying at someone’s house. These basic amenities are the little features in a room that make it more comfortable – things like fresh towels, a clock, a phone charging pad, a printed wifi password, a scented candle with matches, and even a garbage can. Some other amenities that may be useful are a fan, a space heater for winter months, hair dryer, and even a white noise machine.
Water & Snacks
Always stock your guest room with a few water bottles and a few small snacks. I like to utilize locally sourced items, that your guests may not have where they live, as it gives them an opportunity to try something new and local, while you support your own small businesses. Being in Connecticut means we often utilize Deep River Potato Chips & Foxon Park Sodas.
Toiletries
I love to assemble a small tray of toiletries that my guests may need while they’re here. While I have purchased some items, such as deodorant wipes and Advil, a lot of the items have fallen into my lap or have been part of a larger purchase for myself, such as a multi pack of hair ties, or a pack of silicone beauty blenders. I always look out for individually packages items. For example when the dentist gives you a toothbrush and travel toothpaste or when you receive free beauty samples with a purchase, those are great items to place in a guest room, that didn’t cost you a thing.
Turn Down Service
I typically do my own version of turn down service when we have guests in the evenings. Typically all this entails is closing the curtains for them, removing all of the decorative throw pillows from the bed, and turning on the light in their room, and in the bathroom across the hall.
Always Give a Tour of the Room
Now that you spent all this time curating an inviting and comfortable space, when your guests arrive, give them a tour and show off all of the thoughtful details that you’ve opted to include! They won’t use things they don’t know about! When I give a tour of the room, I typically point out the toiletries that are in a drawer, the blankets in the closet, how to close and open the curtains, how the lights function, as there are two lamps in each guest room and one is powered manually and the other by a switch. I also always tell them to please feel at home, and if they need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Let me know in the comments below, which tip or tips you’ll put into action this holiday season!
Sources For My Guest Room
Housewife Hospitality features items that I use and love. As the website is reader-supported – when you purchase through links on my website, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.