Choosing the Right Furniture and Decor for a Guest Bedroom

Holiday weekends, dinner parties and family reunions are special times when we get to make memories with the people we care for — and having a guest bedroom available for your family and friends is an easy way to extend the festivities. Your guest room is a reflection of your hospitality and your personal style, and decorating it can be fun and exciting.

Staying in a cozy, welcoming guest room gives guests a chance to enjoy your home even more and keeps them coming back time and again. We’ve put together some simple tips for the first-time guest bedroom decorator to help you design a beautiful space for pampering your guests.

Furniture Must-Haves

You probably have a long list of guest bedroom ideas in your head already, and it can be overwhelming to choose your favorites. Having a stylish guest bedroom in your home starts with furniture shopping. Here are some functional guest room essentials to add to your shopping list before you get carried away with wall art and hanging plants.

A beautiful bed frame

The bed frame is one of the largest pieces in the guest bedroom, and it should make a statement about your style. Choose a bed frame that complements the color or style of existing fittings, such as closets and doors, for a cohesive room design. For small spaces, consider a bed frame with built-in storage features such as our Latham bed, or make it feel spacious with our floating Condor bed.

A comfortable mattress

An essential item is a comfortable mattress for your guests to sleep on because it influences how well they sleep. Providing a comfortable and supportive mattress is crucial for well-rested, pleasant house guests. Firmer mattresses are more supportive for back sleepers, while plush mattresses provide comfort for side sleepers. A medium-firm mattress is best for guest bedrooms because it caters to all types of guests and their sleeping positions.

Extra seating

Your guests may want to relax and unwind in private before they go to sleep. Providing a window seat, accent chairs or even a small workspace for guests will make them feel right at home. Place your accent chair near a sunny window for a relaxing reading nook or near a plug point for guests to charge their smart devices. Seating adds immense value to a guest room by making it more versatile and usable throughout the day.

Storage space

Guests usually come with baggage. Your guests will appreciate having the option to unpack their belongings instead of living out of a suitcase. Add a dresser for their clothes, and choose a nightstand with drawers for their passports, wallets, cell phones and chargers. Installing simple hooks on the back of the bedroom door is an effective way to keep their coats and hanging items from becoming creased in a suitcase.

Lighting

From sleek, metallic desk lights to industrial or retro bare bulbs, the theme and style of a room come together in the lighting. Wall sconces or reading lamps on either side of the bed will give the room a luxury hotel feeling. Using a reading light at night creates a cozy atmosphere in the room for your guests to enjoy.

A full-length mirror

Your guests will appreciate a full-length mirror in their room for them to inspect their outfits before they show them off to the hosts. Adding a mirror is a helpful trick to make a small guest bedroom feel bigger and brighter.

Choosing the Right Décor

Once you have the guest room essentials in the room, it’s time to bring it to life with decor. Decorating a spare bedroom with a clear vision for the final product ensures the success of your design. Here are three guiding principles to make your guest room feel like a luxury suite.

Pick a theme and stick to it

Choosing a theme at the beginning saves you time and energy. Every item you add to the room should align with your overall vision for its final look. Location-based themes are a favorite for guest bedrooms, as they give the guests a taste of the local area. Popular themes such as maritime, cottage, contemporary or bohemian are easy to implement with simple bedroom accents.

Make the room comforting and inviting

Spend a night in your guest room to experience it from a guest’s perspective. Add a bright throw for guests to wrap themselves up in while they read before bed or cheerful accent pillows to add a splash of color. A fluffy rug near the bed adds a homely touch and will keep the guests’ bare feet warm when they step out of their slippers. A vase of cut flowers on the nightstand makes the room smell fresh, and it lets your guests know that you prepared the room especially for them.

Add functional items

Most of the items in the room should be functional — try to avoid cluttering the space, especially in small bedrooms. Provide extra linen, blankets and pillows in case your guests get cold or need some extra support. Providing a tray with a water pitcher and glasses, folded bath towels, and basic toiletries gives the room a luxurious feeling. You could even provide magazines or books for your guests to enjoy before bed.

Find the Perfect Guest Room Furniture at Home Zone Furniture

Our passionate team at Home Zone Furniture would love to help you decorate your guest bedroom. We offer a range of bedroom furniture and accents that will bring new life to your unused space and transform it into the perfect guest room. For more advice on choosing a theme and finding the right décor, contact us or visit us in-store.