I tell family and friends that they are welcome to drop in anytime – as long as they give me 3 days notice. It takes that long to gather up all the extra “stuff” that eventually accumulates in the guest room. And vacuuming? I get winded just vacuuming the living room, much less the whole house. But as a designer, I’ve aced the guest bedroom stuff. If you are at that time in life where you have a guest room in your house, here are some guest bedroom ideas to follow that will make it affordable for you and make your guests feel welcome.
The Bed
Any guest room needs a bed, of course. But if you’re like so many people, you think that buying a really nice bed is really expensive.
The good news is that the bed is the easy part. There are fine air mattresses available that stand as high as a regular bed. You can even buy frames for them with nice headboard and footboard attachments. Air mattresses today are far more comfortable and durable than the 4-inch thick models we used to buy. They are constructed with extra-strong seams and supports around the edges. This keeps the mattress from breaking down under regular use and reduces the problems of seam blowout.
The comfort of air mattresses is a major plus for the guest room. The nice ones have baffles in them to add extra support in the center areas, and the side reinforcement keeps the edge from caving in and dumping you out on the floor.
Most air mattresses have brushed texture tops that grip the sheets and keep them from sliding around. Some of them have pumps that monitor the air pressure during the night and keep it inflated to the preferred comfort level. The pumps are built-in and virtually silent. Sleep Number, for example, has perfected the permanent air bed, but there are many models that are portable and can be packed away if you are not using them.
It all comes down to choosing the best air bed for the room in terms of size (Twin, Full, or Queen) and maybe adding one extra inflatable mattress if you are welcoming a number of people – for more info you can explore this guide on top-rated air mattresses, including tests and reviews at TheSleepStudies.com.
The Theme
Have you ever wanted to decorate according to a theme?
Now is your chance. A great guest bedroom can make your guests feel like they are on vacation – which they probably are, or they would be at home in their own beds – the easiest way to do it is choosing a theme for the room and sticking with it.
Maybe you’ve always wanted a room that reminds you of the ocean. White walls, an ecru area rug, and seafoam-green linens on the bed can establish the seaside theme.
Then, you can accessorize accordingly. Try a mirror with sea shells on the frame. Paint shelves seafoam-green to contrast with the walls, and decorate them with your ocean inspired mementos.
Perhaps your favorite refuge would be a cabin in the mountains. Warm earth tones and flannel sheets on the bed set the mood. You can have all kinds of fun with the wall finishes, from painting with a khaki color actually installing faux log cabin paneling. Keep in mind that the darker room will need more incidental lighting.
Accessories
What do you need in a guest room besides a bed?
This is totally up to you, of course, but a chair or a couple of ottomans would be nice.
A small table will help anchor the room. Placed beside the chair or the bed, it is handy for your guests’ alarm clock or the nighttime glass of water. It’s small accessories like this that will give the room that feeling of a well thought out, welcoming space.
If you want to take it a step further, you can add some extra pizzazz to the room by getting creative with vintage pieces. Even with a modern theme, tastefully chose chandelier or lamp will work with the space.
Besides the ceiling light, add a table or floor lamp. This will give your guest a chance to transition from the bright overhead light to nighttime lighting.
This gives you a bed, a chair, a table, and a lamp. What else will make your guests comfortable? A dresser would be nice. Don’t be afraid to paint it to tie in with your theme. It’s the same with the table.
We’ve already mentioned the seashell mirror. A mirror in the room helps to make the room feel bigger and is handy for the guest.
You can find mirrors, chairs, tables, and lamps that will tie in with your theme. Combined with the bedding, you have a lovely retreat.
Dual Purpose
Ok, let’s go with 4 Basic Principles that will make your guest bedroom something to be proud of. If you don’t actually have a room you can dedicate to guests, consider dual use of the space. A drop-leave table can serve as a desk in your home office.
You can fold the sides down and store it against the wall next to the office chair when guests come. Your office chair itself, can be the easy chair.
Add a simple, minimalistic paravan (room divider) to separate the “chunks” of the room. If you’re short on time, simple curtains will do. The separation of elements will make the design feel more elaborate.
It’s as easy as that
Hopefully, this guide helps you make sense of the clutter of tips and information out there. I know it can get overwhelming with all the fancy talk about the nitty-gritty of interior design and the fact that you want to impress your guests. If you are overwhelmed and don’t quite know where to start, contact your local professional interior designer. Their guidance will make a huge difference in making your guest bedroom welcoming.
But taking a step back and simplifying things goes a long way.
This post is a collaboration and may contain relevant, relatable affiliate links. All opinions are our own and for informational purposes only.