5 Key Elements for the Perfect Guest Bedroom

Guest bedrooms are somewhat easy for me to design as they all tend to have the same end goal – to create a relaxing, luxurious feeling space for your house guests to relax in. Whether it’s adult children home from college, an old friend or an elderly parent visiting, we all just want our guests to feel comfortable. Most people have at least one guest bedroom in their home and I think that you can make a big impact without spending big money. Over the years, I have learned that there are a few key elements that help create this hotel-like comfort.

1. A comfortable bed: First and foremost, no bedroom is complete without a comfortable bed. This includes a legitimate head board and bed frame (and no, plopping your mattress on the floor doesn’t count!) as well as proper bedding. You can find tons of headboards these days for under $100 so whether you want chic upholstered, simple wood or a classic black metal, the options are there. My current favorite mattresses are the foam ones that come in a box, such as the Casper. They are easy to install, they’re affordable and delivery is simple. As for bedding – please, don’t skimp on bedding. My go-to retailer for most bedding projects is typically Pottery Barn (like the Morgan line); however, I have found very nice bedding options at affordable retailers such as Costco or HomeGoods.

2. Proper lighting: This is a key element to any bedroom, especially a guest bedroom. Most people tend to read prior to hitting the sack, so some sort of bedside sconce / nightstand lamp is needed. I typically suggest getting two matching lamps on either side of the bed to not only create symmetry and balance, but to make the space feel a bit more polished. Even if you happen to have mismatched nightstands, the two matching lamps will make it feel more put together. Plus, you don’t want anyone stumbling around at night when it’s dark. Overhead lighting and natural lighting are of course ideal as well – just remember, your guest is getting dressed and putting their makeup on in here so you want to make sure they are able to do so.

3. Make it mature: Let me be clear – there is nothing more awkward than staying at someone’s house and feeling like you are staying in their childhood bedroom. It’s pretty uncomfortable y’all. An easy way to mature a space is to stick to neutrals (ivory, gray, brown, black, etc), remove any excessive childhood decor (pictures, stuffed animals, etc) and add some more “adult” touches. What do I mean by that? Include a legitimate mirror, a couple of house plants, some proper drapery and simple artwork. If you need some more insight, read my list of ways to prep your home for house guests.

4. Dress the windows: This is actually a great tip for decorating any bedroom, but this is especially important in a guest bedroom since the person(s) will already be sleeping away from home. Now I’m not sure about you, but when I am in a new place (especially on the first night), I wake up to any odd sound or light. Not only will proper window treatments aid in keeping the bedroom dark and private for your house guests, but they really help make any room feel complete. I usually like a combination of blinds and drapes for bedrooms (the blinds are for privacy/lighting and the drapes are more aesthetics/warmth. There are a lot of great guides from top designers on how to choose window treatments and how to hang them.

5. Keep it simple: I typically agree with the saying that “less is more” in life and I definitely agree with it in design. All you really need is a well-balanced, functional room. There’s no need to go crazy trying to make the “perfect” guest bedroom. The recipe is quite simple – a comfortable bed, two nightstands with lamps, a dresser for storage, a chair for comfort (if it will fit) and proper window treatments for privacy. Other than that, I would recommend sticking to neutral colors – I know that white bedding and towels scare a lot of people but it’s easy to clean with bleach and rarely fades. Add some fresh flowers and boom, guest bedroom complete!