Home Away From Home: Guest Room Edition

By Arlyn Molina, DSA

It’s that time of year again where we prepare for large (sometimes awkward) family gatherings, festive meals, and familiar faces who might or might not spend the night in our homes. With these come the inevitable feelings of anxiety from feeling like your spaces need work and preparing for the time to come. Fear not! I have all the tips and trips for making your guest room feel inviting and cozy for relatives to enjoy. Read on for more details!

（from：@alexisandraaustin）

Bedding

Ever think about how cozy hotel bedding is and looks? You know exactly what I’m talking about! You walk into the room and run to jump on that freshly made, glorious and buttery bed. Let’s recreate that same feeling for your own guest room. First of all, I’m here to officially give you permission to splurge on nice bedding. Go on. You only need one nice set and this will be used sparingly and for many years down the road. Go ahead and “girl math” it. The numbers add up!

Now for the actual buying part. Make sure the sheets WOW you and your eyebrows go up when you first feel them. Chances are if you love them, so will your guests. You can go timeless with white or add something with a pattern. This one is totally up to you and according to the style you’re hoping to design.

I always also recommend down alternative comforters. Why? Because that’s what hotels use! I always opt for a heavy-weight comforter for an ultra fluffy appeal. If you know your guests are hot sleepers, go for an all-season option instead as it will be on the thinner side. With this, purchase a seasonal duvet cover. Nothing is more festive than bringing in plaid and traditional Christmas colors through the use of covers.

As a rule of thumb, I always add four regular pillows, two euro pillows (three for a king bed), and a smaller combination of pillows such as a long lumbar or 20x20 pillows combined with a smaller lumbar pillow. Play with the patterns, but ultimately make sure they coordinate with the overall color scheme.

Finally, finish up with a large, knit blanket or a folded quilt at the end of the bed. This ads so much visual appeal and interest. It’s like the final punctuation mark on a sentence.

（from：@thesimplecozyhaven）

Nightstands

Nightstands are designed to be functional and beautiful. Make yours both by assuring there are chargers in a drawers or hidden behind decor over the top of the nightstand. Add a textured, sizable lamp, a plant, and either a photo frame or basket for little knick knacks. You could add some sweets in the baskets for a cute detail.

Bring in the fresh aroma of the holidays through the use of candles. Balsam, spruce, and cranberry can fill the air as soon as your guests open their bedroom door. The warm burning of a wick on a nightstands also makes people feel cozy right away. Taper holders with lit tapers can create the same comforting effect.

Rug

Make sure to ground your space by adding a rug. This piece will go under your bed only! (Make sure it isn’t under a dresser or nightstand as many make the mistake of doing.) As soon as your guests wake up, will they feel a cold floor or a velvety rug? The choice is entirely up to you. I personally vote for the latter and love recommending higher-piled rugs to create an ultra-comfortable room. As always, make sure colors coordinate with whatever scheme you have in mind for the space.

（from：@patriciahuic）

Curtains

This one is very important! Curtains serve multiple purposes: they add a different element of design to a space, make windows appear a lot larger than they really are, and they can provide a means to darken a room for guests who want some repose after traveling. Opt for curtains that are unexpected but still coordinate with the final design you have in mind. Adding a patterned curtain incorporates character into your guest bedroom and helps the space look collected.

Once you get your hands on some curtains, hang them as high and wide as possible to help trick the eyes into making the windows appear larger. I recommend blackout curtains for guest rooms so your guests can have the option of either leaving curtains open at night to bring in the sun as it rises or darkening the room so they can sleep longer.

（from：@southernsurroundings）

Want a little razzle dazzle? Look into roman blinds. You’re welcome!

These are key tips for helping your guests feel right at home! Want them to leave a little early? Maybe skip a few of these. Just kidding! Ultimately, remember this time is invaluable with loved ones and thankfully, design helps create a beautiful backdrop for the creation of memories. You’ve got this!

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