Having a dedicated guest bedroom in your home can be an accomplishment. Many homeowners have guests sleep on the sofa or forfeit their own beds before they can offer visitors a room of their own. When you can provide guests the luxury of their own bedroom, the space should feel luxurious – not just a comfortable bed behind a closed door, but a room that shows time, effort, and intention went into the design. To make guests feel like a priority, not an afterthought, expert-approved tips can create a cozy guest bedroom that is more than just a spare room.
Key Takeaways
- Having a dedicated guest bedroom in your home can be an achievement
- The guest bedroom should feel luxurious, not just a comfortable bed
- Design the space to show time, effort, and intention were put into it
- Use expert-approved tips to create a cozy guest bedroom
- Make guests feel like a priority, not an afterthought
The Importance of a Dedicated Guest Room
Simply having a guest bedroom in your home can be somewhat of an accomplishment. Many of us go through years of making our guests sleep on the sofa or forfeiting our own beds to our visitors before we can offer them a room of their own. So, when you are able to offer guests the luxury of their own guest bedroom, the space should feel like exactly that—luxurious.
Offering Guests a Luxurious Retreat
That means not only providing a comfortable bed to sleep in behind a closed door, but also designing the room to show that time, effort, and intention went into it. To make your guests feel like a priority, not an afterthought, use these design expert-approved tips to create a cozy guest room that is so much more than just a spare.
Showing Intention and Effort through Design
To make your guests feel truly special, it’s important to invest in the design of your guest bedroom. This could mean incorporating high-quality guest bedroom furniture, implementing thoughtful guest bedroom organization solutions, or even undertaking a full guest bedroom makeover to create a truly luxurious retreat. By showcasing your intention and effort, you’ll ensure your visitors feel like the valued guests they are.
Defining the Guest Room Vibe
Think of the additional room as an extra opportunity to take design risks, whether that means painting the room a bright color, adding bold patterns, or using the space to incorporate unique decor items you’ve gotten while traveling. Sure, the end result might not fit each of your guest’s styles, but it will create a fun and memorable stay. „Make your guests feel like they are on vacation,” says Corban De La Vega, chief marketing officer at DecorMatters.
Creating a „Home Away from Home” Atmosphere
No matter what design route you take, De La Vega also emphasizes the importance of making the room restful. „When people are visiting, they are often on vacation and traveling and sightseeing,” he says. „This means they may spend the day out exploring, making coming back home to a cozy and calm bedroom all the more important.” So, invest in hotel-quality bedding and don’t skimp on the extra pillows.
Incorporating Bold Colors and Patterns
The guest bedroom is the perfect place to experiment with bold colors and patterns that you may not use in the rest of your home. This can help create a unique and memorable atmosphere for your visitors, making them feel like they’re truly on a getaway. From vibrant accent walls to eye-catching textiles, don’t be afraid to let your creativity shine in this special space.
Prioritizing Restfulness and Relaxation
While you want the guest bedroom to feel special and inviting, it’s also crucial to ensure the space is optimized for rest and relaxation. Incorporate plush, high-quality bedding, cozy throws, and blackout curtains to help your guests unwind after a busy day of exploring or attending to work obligations. By prioritizing their comfort and well-being, you’ll create a true retreat they’ll never want to leave.
guest bedroom ideas
One of the easiest ways to make a guest bedroom feel more lively is to add living elements. „When you have guests visiting, make sure you remember to place some fresh flowers and plants within the room to boost the environment and help your visitors feel connected with the outdoors,” says De La Vega, chief marketing officer at DecorMatters. Whether you keep the plants there year-round or just bring them in when guests come, it’s a thoughtful touch to add to your visitor’s stay.
Incorporating Living Elements
Besides being attractive, a guest bedroom should be functional for your guest by providing them with enough surfaces and storage, as transient as the nature of their visit might be,” says interior designer Jonathan Rachman. Functional bedside tables can play a big role in allowing your guest to settle in and get comfortable, giving them a place to keep a glass of water, set down a book or their phone, and turn on a lamp at night. Bonus points if you keep a phone charger at the ready for forgetful guests.
Providing Functional Surfaces and Storage
Functional bedside tables can play a big role in allowing your guest to settle in and get comfortable, giving them a place to keep a glass of water, set down a book or their phone, and turn on a lamp at night. Bonus points if you keep a phone charger at the ready for forgetful guests.
Achieving Coziness with Thoughtful Touches
It can be awkward as a guest to ask your host to turn down the air conditioning or crank up the heat. That’s why making sure a guest bedroom is stocked with cozy blankets is a great way to ensure your visitors are always comfortable. As interior designer Jonathan Rachman explains, „These details say that not only do you welcome them, but you have thought out every single detail prior to their arrival to make them feel they are at their home away from home.”
Layering Cozy Blankets and Throws
Not to mention, a beautifully designed throw or a blanket basket at the end of the bed can add an extra element of design that can benefit the entire guest bedroom. These thoughtful touches convey your attention to making your guests feel truly at ease during their stay.
Blocking Out Light with Blackout Curtains
Ensuring your guests can sleep comfortably during their visit is a crucial part of hosting. And nothing quite says „sleep well” like blackout curtains. These can be especially helpful for guests who are visiting from different time zones or just need to take mid-day naps to break up their activity-filled days.
Mastering Guest Room Lighting
Crafting the perfect ambiance in a guest bedroom goes beyond just picking the right furniture and decor. Lighting plays a crucial role in creating a warm, inviting space that your visitors will feel comfortable in. According to Sheva Knopfler, decor expert and co-founder of Lights.com, guest bedroom lighting should achieve both functional and aesthetic goals.
Combining Bright and Diffused Lighting Options
To strike the right balance, Knopfler recommends incorporating a bright primary light source, such as an overhead fixture or recessed lighting, to ensure guests don’t feel like they’re staying in a dimly lit, forgotten room. Complement this with softer, more diffused lighting options like guest bedroom lighting such as table lamps or floor lamps. This allows your guests to control the brightness level and create a cozy, relaxing ambiance when they want it.
When selecting the lighting, pay close attention to the guest bedroom color schemes and make sure the color temperature of each light source is consistent throughout the space. „You don’t want to end up with a mismatched lighting environment that feels disjointed,” Knopfler explains. By thoughtfully combining bright and diffused lighting, you can create a guest bedroom ideas that is both functional and inviting for your visitors.
Accommodating Work and Leisure
Not every guest bedroom has enough space to accommodate additional seating, but if yours does, consider adding a dedicated workspace to the mix. This is especially important now that so many people are working remotely. If guests come to stay for a bit and need a few work hours, they’ll be less stressed having a designated space to work instead of trying to find a quiet moment around your kitchen island. Make sure to supply anything else they might need like paper, pens, and a nearby outlet for computer charging.
While a guest bedroom should be a cozy place for visitors, it’s even better if you can get use out of it for all time when it’s unoccupied throughout the year. That was the goal for architect Amanda Gunawan, the founding principal at OWIU (The Only Way Is Up), when she redesigned this Los Angeles loft. The design features a hidden futon that can be pulled out when visitors come, and stored away when guests aren’t around to make room to use the space as a hangout spot.
Incorporating a Dedicated Workspace
Having a desk or work surface in the guest bedroom can be a game-changer for visitors who need to get a bit of work done during their stay. This designated workspace helps them feel productive and focused, rather than trying to balance a laptop on their lap or work from the bed. Be sure to provide essentials like paper, pens, and nearby power outlets to make it a truly functional setup.
Adding Entertainment Options
To ensure your guests feel comfortable and entertained, consider incorporating elements that allow them to relax and unwind. This could include a comfortable chair or sofa, a small side table for setting down drinks or books, and even a hidden futon or daybed that can be pulled out when needed. Thoughtful touches like these transform the guest bedroom into a multifunctional space that caters to both work and leisure.
Design Inspiration for Guest Bedrooms
Crafting the perfect guest bedroom goes beyond just providing a comfortable bed. The right decorative accents can truly set the tone and make your visitors feel right at home. When it comes to guest bedroom ideas, art is a powerful tool to create a serene and relaxing ambiance. Subtle, abstract pieces are typically very easy on the eyes and not visually distracting—excellent for guests who want to unwind at the end of the day.
For those of us with limited space, Murphy beds can be a clever solution. While traditionally not the coziest option for overnight guests, there are some pretty, high-quality Murphy beds available that can actually enhance the guest room design. We were particularly smitten with one DIY Murphy bed project by Bre Bertolini of Brepurposed. When closed, it looks like a beautiful armoire with cane doors, but when unfolded, it reveals a delicate floral wallpaper lining that makes it feel even more special for guest bedroom decor.
Ultimately, the key to crafting a memorable guest bedroom is striking the right balance between thoughtful, functional design and a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. By incorporating guest room essentials, carefully curated guest bedroom furniture, and personal touches, you can create a space that truly makes your visitors feel like they’re in a home away from home.