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This is the first home where we've had a "real" guest room (our last place only had enough space for a twin size bed). It makes us so happy to be able to host friends and family, and we've had a lot of people stay with us over the past year and a half. With the holidays and a few more visitors coming up, I decided it was time to tackle the last few lingering projects on my guest room to-do list. Plus, I gave it some festive styling and warm winter layers, to make it extra cozy! Since I just went through the process, I thought it would be a good time to share some tips for getting your guest room ready for hosting. Is anyone coming to stay with you over the holidays?
1. A good window treatment. The first item on my list was to replace the old window treatment! I was excited to remove the basic, utilitarian blinds and install a beautiful fabric Classic Roman shade from Bali Blinds. We have these in almost every room of the house now, and I recommend them so much. I love the way they look, and the cordless lift is so easy to use (plus, safe for kids). Besides style, Roman shades have a functional advantage over blinds: they're better at heat retention. That will help to keep this room warm and comfortable over the winter, and maybe even save us a little on our energy bills!
2. Wifi sign. I always forget to ask for the wifi password at friends' houses and end up using data, whoops. A framed sign with all the info makes it easy for guests to connect to your internet...and it makes it so you don't have to remember the password and repeat it over and over. ;) There are lots of cute printables online, but my printer was out of ink so I just hand-wrote mine. Hey, it doesn't have to be fancy!
3. Layers of cozy blankets. I want winter guests to be comfortable and warm at night, but I don't want to crank the heat up too high. So I let guests control their own temperature by providing a variety of different blankets. On this bed, I layered an amazingly soft faux fur blanket over a lightweight cotton quilt, and stacked some extra blankets and throws in the closet just in case. Sheets are also an easy thing to change seasonally. I know some people love flannel sheets for winter, but I personally don't like the feel of them. So I use good cotton sheets year-round, just in different colors and patterns (these ones are eco-friendly, super soft, and luxurious--yet still under $50!).
4. Some greenery. Another easy, inexpensive way to make your guest room feel instantly festive, is to add some fresh (or faux) greenery. A wreath over the bed, a garland around the window, some clippings on the nightstand...maybe all of the above. Bonus: they'll make the room smell super good.
5. Seasonal art. This is not a necessary step by any means, but if your art is rather summery (like the beach print we had in here before), consider switching it out for a winter scene in the same size. I totally copied Suzannah from Create/Enjoy on this. The print is a free download from Unsplash (by photographer Dan Otis), and I had it printed at Parabo Press. The do color engineer prints that are highly affordable, especially compared to other large scale art. I just love this foggy PNW scene!
6. Basket of essentials. I tend to forget something small on nearly every trip--typically toothpaste or a razor, since I wait to pack my last-minute toiletries until the morning of our travel. If you want to be a super awesome host, stock a basket with those kind of items, that aren't terribly expensive to provide and might save your guests a late-night trip to the store. A new toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, a blowdryer, shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, lotion and a disposable razor...that kind of thing. Think of what toiletries a nice hotel would usually have. I keep our basket of essentials in the vanity of our guest bathroom.
7. Good pillows. We recently upgraded to the iSense adjustable pillows, and I'm really impressed. The main thing I love about this pillow is, it's height-adjustable to give you exaaactly the right fit for your body and how you sleep. You adjust the loft by adding or removing the precision cut pieces of memory foam (which is what the pillow is filled with, instead of batting or feathers). What's more, the pillow adapts to provide responsive support as you change sleep positions throughout the night. It's honestly so comfy, and can improve your quality of sleep--the SMART pillow has the technology to prove it! It tracks heart rate, respiratory rate, sleep cycles, and restlessness to give you an overall sleep score (and tailored suggestions to improve your sleep). We are so happy with ours, and wanted our guests to get great sleep here too.
8. Closet space. If you're like me, your guest room closet might be crammed full of storage right now. Ours contained vacuum cleaners, games, craft supplies, off-season clothes, and our own luggage. I cleared most of those out to provide storage space for our guests. I left the vacuum cleaners for now, but when we actually have guests staying with us I will take those out too, so we don't have to intrude on their privacy every time we need to vacuum. A luggage rack is also a nice thing to provide, if you don't want people setting their suitcases on your bedding.
9. Reading material - For quiet downtimes, like if they wake up earlier than you, a stack of magazines and interesting books might be appreciated. Think coffee table books that are easy to flip through, or quick reads that can be finished within the time they're staying. Another cute idea? Grab some local guidebooks and maps, so you can feel like you're running a little boutique hotel. :)
10. Disposable waterbottle and a few snacks. This is also not necessary by any means, but it's an extra step that will make your guests feel special. Provide a waterbottle and some treats on the bedside table--bonus points if they're from local companies (I love Washington-made Almond Roca). The waterbottle is especially nice if your guest room doesn't have an attached bathroom, since no one wants to tiptoe into the kitchen in their pajamas, late at night, in someone else's house. And the snacks are a friendly way to say, it's ok to eat in here (unless, of course, you don't want them to--then nix the snacks).
One last tip: I've heard that you should sleep in your guest room at least once to make sure it's comfortable, and see if there are any annoyances that you can remedy. For example, if the only outlets are behind the bed, thus making it hard for guests to charge their phones at night, you could add a power strip to make those outlets more accessible. We've actually never done this, but now that the room is looking so cozy and welcoming, I totally want to! Although, we have people coming on Friday so I probably won't--too lazy to wash the sheets and make the bed twice this week. :)
Speaking of lazy, I've been extremely unmotivated to do any seasonal decorating this entire year. I think part of it is that I'm not excited about accumulating more stufffff. I actually tried some festive pillows in here first, with a red and ivory plaid, but they felt so Christmas-specific to me. So I took my own advice from last year: I tried to convey coziness and warmth in here, but with the same color palette I love year-round. Success?
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Love! Would you mind sharing the info on the frame above the bed? Thanks!
Thanks! It's the Addison frame in Natural from Framed & Matted. We have them several places in our house & love them!
Thanks!