Decorating Ideas for a Guest Bedroom

If you are lucky enough to have a spare / guest bedroom, then you might find that it is the most neglected room in the home. Unless you regularly entertain guests, this room is likely to remain empty most of the time. Because of this, many people use the space to store laundry, fitness equipment, or boxes of unwanted items. If guests do unexpectedly show up, you need to know your guest bedroom is not going to be an embarrassment. Here are some tips to help you create a stylish yet practical guest bedroom for visitors.

Choose a Theme

Giving a bedroom a theme helps to create a more cohesive look. You don’t need to go too crazy, but an attractive colour scheme or a nautical theme will give you a starting point from which you can choose paints, fabrics and bed linen (click here for ideas).

Consider the style of your home or its location if you are stuck for ideas. For example, if you live in a seaside town, a nautical theme will work well, but if you live in a rural area, you may prefer to design a bedroom based on local wildlife. As long as your theme matches the rest of the property, it will work just fine.

Build Handy Storage

Storage is essential for guest rooms that double as home offices or places to keep unwanted items. Your guests are unlikely to need a wardrobe or chest of drawers unless they are staying for a while, but if you need extra hanging space, consider building a fitted wardrobe with shelves and drawers. Your guests can use it when they stop over and the rest of the time it will serve as a walk-in wardrobe.

A floor-to-ceiling shelving system could be useful if you use the room as a home office. Use the shelves to organise your files and office equipment and showcase a few nice ornaments to brighten up the room.

Create a Versatile Space

Beds take up a lot of room, so unless you entertain guests regularly, it is pointless installing a regular bed. Instead, consider investing in a sofa bed or day bed, which can be turned into a double or single guest bed when required. This is a lot more versatile than a standard bed and you are then free to use the space for other purposes.

A Few Welcoming Touches

If guests are due, take the time to add a few welcoming touches to your guest bedroom. Dress the bed with crisp new bed linen and clean sheets, and add a couple of scatter cushions as a decorative touch. Don’t forget to cover the bed with a thick throw if the weather is changeable.

Some freshly cut flowers will provide a floral fragrance to the room. Your guests will need towels, but you may also wish to provide a few other home comforts, including a box of tissues, a novel or two, and a glass so they can have a drink of water at bedtime.

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