Does your guest bedroom make a third rate backpacker hostel look luxurious? Don’t let it ruin your reputation as a good host. Here are a few simple ideas you should consider when you’re styling your space before your next visitor arrives. Keep these tips in mind and guests will love their home away from home.
Comfort Over Cost
You want guests to feel welcomed when they’re in your home, so put in a little money and effort to make sure the guest room is of a high standard. Give the walls a fresh coat of paint, brighten up the fixtures and lay some quality carpet from a luxury manufacturer like Stainmaster. It can be hard to invest the money when you don’t use the space yourself, but your guests will certainly thank you for it.
A Good Bed
It doesn’t matter how hospitable you are, how charming your kids are or how delicious your meals taste – no one will want to stay with you if your bed is terrible. It’s highly unlikely that you sleep on a futon or sofa bed each night, so don’t expect your guests to. Get a quality bed with a quality comfortable mattress. A second hand option is good if you’re looking to save money. Just be sure to steam clean the mattress before your first guest arrives.
Storage Options
Living out of a suitcase isn’t pleasant. Give your guest somewhere to store their clothes and toiletries while they’re staying with you. Keep a chest of drawers or a wardrobe free in the guest room and ensure your guests know that it’s there for their use. They will appreciate the opportunity to air out and organise their garments. Make sure you also leave somewhere for the empty suitcase – they don’t want to have to step over it twenty times a day.
Small Workstation
With the prevalence of laptops, tablets and smartphones, we’re never more than one email away from the office and all the responsibilities of the job. Even when travelling or on holidays, many people have to take half an hour each day to catch up on emails. With this in mind, include a small workstation in your guest bedroom. This will give your guests a little privacy while they check up on their work emails, make further travel arrangements or do their online banking. For the workstation to be truly useful, make sure it is in close proximity to a power outlet!
Something Warm
Your guests will have a miserable night if they can’t sleep because of the chattering of their teeth! It’s not really a styling issue, but you need to make sure that there are options they can use to get warm through the night. Make sure you have spare blankets or throws available. If you’re a really clever decorator, you might be able to incorporate a spare blanket into the design of the room, perhaps by draping it stylishly over a wing chair.
Have you ever stayed in a guest room that blew you away? What was so special about it? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
