Guest Bedroom Essentials: What Every Holiday Host Needs to Know
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Expecting visitors this holiday season? You’re not alone. Guest bedrooms get more use between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than at any other time of the year.
So how do you know if yours is company ready? According to Houzz contributor Shana Levy McCracken, spending one night in your own guest room can be very revealing. “I recommend you walk through each step your guests will face, from their arrival to their departure, to make sure all their needs will be met.”
Designers agree: Guest rooms should have a “you are special, and this room reflects it” vibe. Comfort is key. The most welcoming spaces combine the amenities of a hotel with the intimacy and charm of home.
How to Design the Perfect Guest Suite
Start with the essentials. Think a comfy mattress and pillows (medium-firm beds are crowd pleasers with back, stomach, and side sleepers alike), quality linens, and plush towels.
Create a defined seating area. “Guests will appreciate having a place to retreat to besides the bed that isn’t in a communal area,” shares Margaret Chambers. The Carrollton-based designer also recommends multi-purpose furniture including beds with built-in storage, bookcases with built-in desks, hollow ottomans, and sofa beds.
Plan for ample storage space. Clean out dresser drawers and closets. For smaller spaces, consider adding shelving or under-the-bed baskets.
Lighting options. Multiple sources of light — especially ambient lighting, like lamps and sconces — are key to making any room feel cozy. A reading light next to the bed makes it easy for guests to find the restroom in the middle of the night.
“Spare bedrooms must always be functional, with the right lamps for reading on either side of the bed,” designer Michelle Nussbaumer told Livingetc. “And soft enough lamplight so one person can read and the other can sleep.”
According to Dallas designer Chad Dorsey, an unexpected light choice is always a welcome addition. Case in point: a Nelson Saucer Bubble Pendant.
Add some personality. Dallas-based designer Amy Guess recently posted a guest bedroom inspired by a client’s lamp shades. “We pulled lots of fun color, reframed and arranged her art, picked out a bold wallpaper, and put together a furniture and bedding design to complement it all,” she wrote on her IG.
Window coverings. Strike a balance between privacy and natural light. Sheer curtains paired with blackout blinds allow guests to control the level of sunlight and privacy.
Welcoming Your Guests
Fresh flowers and foliage. A bedside vase with your guest’s favorite bloom is a thoughtful touch. And plants bring the outside, in.
Details, details. We’re talking a bedside water carafe, full-length mirror, luggage rack — you get the idea. The little extras can make or break a guest’s stay. Plus, don’t forget creature comforts like lotion, candles, slippers, reading materials, phone chargers, and more.
Leave a note with home how-to. Without guests having to ask, they’ll know how to find extra supplies and toiletries, Wi-Fi passwords, instructions for your television and household systems, plus more need-to-know information.
Fill a Christmas stocking with goodies. Include sweet treats, a pair of fluffy socks, and self-care items such as relaxing face masks.
A Little Retail Therapy
The good news: Black Friday is chock full of epic bedding and bath sales. A few of our favorite brands are offering sitewide deals:
Brooklinen, specializing in high-quality bedding, bath, and lifestyle products, is having a phenomenal 25% off black Friday sale that plenty of mag editors are raving about. Brooklinen’s luxe sateen duvet set is a highlight.
Parachute Home, known for its high-quality, minimalist bedding, bath, and lifestyle products, is taking 30% off everything this black Friday. And yes, that includes Parachute’s Eco Mattresses.
Cozy Earth, a favorite of Oprah’s, has their sustainable bamboo bedding on sale for 35% off.
And local favorite Peacock Alley recently launched its holiday gift guide featuring limited-edition discounted collections.
