Having company stay overnight at your house is exciting, but also nerve-wracking. There are just so many questions that you want to ask to ensure they have a good time. Will they find your guest bed comfortable? What will they think of your décor? Will they be okay with your cat running around like a lunatic at 3 a.m.?
While we can’t answer that last question, we can help you create an overnight setup for your guests that is as relaxing as it is cozy. Below, here are eight surefire ways of creating a calming retreat for your guests that will make them feel pampered and loved.
Go Coastal
There is not a single person on earth who doesn’t find the ocean relaxing. Well, maybe Tom Hanks’ character in Castaway isn’t a big fan, but he’s fictional so our point still stands. Everyone loves the ocean’s ultra-calming vibes, so why not remind your guests of the salt, sand and the sea with a coastal bedding set? You can complete the look with a few coastal throw pillows, a weathered wood nightstand and a natural fiber rug that will instantly put guests into vacay-mode. Just don’t be surprised if your guests start jonesing for some daiquiris after spending a single night in your coastal haven.
Tone it Down
Look, we love a bold accent wall just as much as the next interior designer, but there is a time and a place for a fun splash of color. Those places include literally anywhere but your guest bedroom. Different color preferences aside, bright and bold hues generally aren’t relaxing colors. To create a calming atmosphere in your guest bedroom, stick to a neutral color palette. Not only will it give a luxurious vibe, but a neutral hue will also help guests relax and feel more at home in the space. If you’re just itching to show off your color prowess to guests, go bold with the powder room or guest bathroom instead.
Pile on the Blankets
We all know how some men can be at the thought of anyone touching their precious thermostat. If you don’t want your guests to mess with it (and cause a meltdown from Mr. Temperature Control over there), be sure to choose lightweight sheets for the guest bed and toss on a cozy-looking throw blanket that your guests can use in case it gets chilly. If you’re concerned that the throw blanket won’t be enough, place a cute basket in the corner and fill it with a chunky knit blanket or two for your guests. If they’re still cold after that, then you either need to get a heating blanket to keep them from freezing during the night or move out of the frozen tundra you call home.
Greet Them with a Bed Tray
If you search for “cozy bedroom ideas” on Pinterest right now, there’s a good chance that at least half of the pictures that appear will feature a cozy-looking bed with a tray on them. That’s because there’s just something oh-so-comforting and inviting about a bed tray with all our favorite goodies on them. Bed trays are perfect for guest bedrooms in particular because it gives you the opportunity to impress your guests and make them feel as though they just checked in to a five-star hotel. Load that bad boy up with some Pellegrino and a few decadent chocolates, and you’ll blow your guests away with your thoughtfulness.
Give It a Reading Nook
If your guests don’t enjoy curling up with a good book and a cup of tea, then why are they even your guests? Just kidding—sort of. Even if your visitors aren’t voracious readers (it’s their loss, really), creating a cozy reading nook in your guest bedroom is a smart way to make use of an empty corner. It doesn’t need to be super swanky with a built-in library and a huge daybed. If you’re working with a small space, all you really need is a cozy chair, a chic lamp and some complimentary reading material (i.e., magazines, beach reads, a copy of Kama Sutra— you know, the usual).
Set the Mood with Lighting
Lighting can make or break the ambiance in a guest bedroom, or any room for that matter. To give your guest bedroom some high-style, swap regular lamps for chic wall sconces and make sure that you get the brightness just right. Warm lighting is more natural and will give the room a cozy feel at nighttime. To give your guest bedroom some Pinterest-worthy appeal, you can also put candles in gorgeous lanterns of various sizes. Pro tip: Get flameless candles. Sure, it won’t look as natural as the real thing, but it will create a similar ambiance without the fire hazard.
Add Some Greenery
If you use your guest bedroom regularly, add some life to your space with a few lush potted plants. Trendy and relaxing, plants can instantly elevate a room and are well-known for their mood-boosting abilities (plant therapy is an actual thing). They’re also a better décor option compared to a pretty vase of flowers, which can be far too aromatic for guests with sensitive sniffers. And if you’re worried about your black thumb, don’t sweat it. Just reach for hardier plants, such as a pothos plant. Seriously, this plant regularly defies death on a level that reminds us of Westley from The Princess Bride.
Provide Luxurious Bathrobes
The best part about staying at a five-star hotel (other than the welcome macaroons, of course) is getting to slip into a plush, Italian-made bathrobe after taking a hot bath. There’s just something about hotel bathrobes that can make you feel like royalty. If you want to go all out to pamper your guests, slip a couple of luxurious bathrobes (and slippers, if you know their shoe size) into the guest room closet. They’ll feel like they just checked into the Ritz Carlton, minus the butler service and full-service spa. But we think they’ll get by without those perks, don’t you?
Give It a Test Run
Finally, don’t forget to give your guest bedroom a trial run. Sleep in your guest bed and walk through the steps your guests might take when they stay at your home. Is it comfortable at night? What could make their stay better? Answer those questions, and you should have a calming and comfortable space for your future guests. Oh, and for the love of technology, don’t forget to give them the Wi-Fi info!
Written in Collaboration with Southern Tide.
