Guest bedrooms come in many shapes and sizes. All deserve thoughtful design. Photo Credit: ElleDecor.com
Whether your spare bedroom does double-duty like the one above or is designated as a guest room only, January’s the perfect time to spruce it up while restoring its condition now that holiday guests have departed.
One of the best bits of advice I’ve ever received from a designer is to think about a guest room from the perspective of…a guest. He dared me, as he does his clients, to sleep in my guest bedroom for a whole weekend. I took that dare (you knew I would!) and realized that while my guest room measured up pretty well, the room needed some tweaking to feel more welcome. Here’s what wound up on my” to do” list that I’m betting will be on yours, too.
1. Replace the bedside table lamp. What I like about the Chromatic table lamp is that it delivers adequate light at the right height, so guests can read or work on their laptop while in bed without squinting. It also adds a fun touch of geometric pattern.
2. Get a better clock. This Gold Bamboo alarm clock is, hands-down, better than the dime store clock radio I had that no one (me, included) could figure out how to operate. This little beauty is made in Italy and is easy to set.
3. Banish boring walls. Floating Coral shelves add a touch of beachy texture, can be installed in a variety of configurations and are a creative way to display accessories.
Isn’t it time for a table that works?
4. Add a multi-functional table. The Jacobean Twist Leg Flip Top writing desk is sized right to double as a bedside table. Guests will appreciate its flip top that expands the writing surface enough to hold a laptop.
Expanding the surface of the Jacobean table makes it perfect for a laptop
A chic (and comfy) seat can’t be beat.
5. Tuck a chair into the corner. Every guest will welcome something other than the bed to sit on. I like this accent chair because it is color and gender neutral, and all it takes is a new accent pillow to change up its looks.
Small armless chairs are a charming choice for the guest bedroom as well. A couple of possibilities include the Margo chair or the Ainsley chair from Sam Moore Furniture.
The Margo armless chair
The Ainsley armless chair
For a good night’s sleep, it all comes down to the pillow. Photo Credit: ScandiaHome.com
6. Get new pillows. I had good quality down pillows but didn’t realize that they’d gone a bit flat enough so they weren’t comfortable. I like this Scandia Down Free pillow because it feels amazingly like real down, but won’t cause a problem for guests with feather allergies.
These hangers will hang around. Photo Credit: HSN.com
7. Ditch the cheap hangers. They don’t last! Joy Mangano Huggable Hangers will change your life (ok, your closet’s life!) by saving space, adding durability and looking great (choose from 10 cool colors). Your guests will love you for them.
With decor like this, it’s easy to create a getaway for family and friends that feels like home. So camp out in your guest bedroom this weekend, then get to fixing what doesn’t quite work. You’ll be glad you did (and so will your guests!).
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