Guest Bedroom Tips - A Hosting Handbook
Whether it’s the in-laws, kids, family, or friends visiting – you can help your guests leave feeling fresher than when they arrived by turning that box room at the end of the hall into a rest inducing sanctuary with our ten easy guest bedroom tips…
1. A Spare Bedroom Deserves Good Bedding
We might be more than a little biased, but extremely soft bedding is a sure-fire way to make a truly great guest room. No-one loves sleeping on scratchy sheets that have been in the master bedroom for ten years before being relegated to the spare room, and an added bonus of investing in luxury bedding for your guests is that they may feel so comfortable they sleep in and miss breakfast. That means extra zzz’s for you too.
At Bedfolk HQ, we typically recommend our ‘Classic’ cotton percale bedding for guest rooms – it’s got that crisp and cool quality that you find in boutique hotels, making it an absolute hit with guests.
Not sure where to start? Here’s how to shop for bedding like a pro.
Get the boutique hotel look with our Classic Cotton in Snow
2. Layer Up for Cosiness
We don’t all feel the same temperature during the night. Cater to everyone’s needs, and make your guest bedroom extra comfortable, by layering up the bed with quilts, throws, and extra squishy pillows.
Different bedding styles can vary in terms of warmth:
Percale bedding tends to feel cooler to the touch and is suited to hot sleepers
Sateen bedding has a naturally heavier drape, making it ideal for those that feel cold in the night.
Linen bedding is perfect for year-round use as its moisture wicking properties have the effect of a natural anti-perspirant, but it also works as an insulator to keep you warm and toasty in the winter.
Make your guest bed into a cloud-of-comfort with our extra cosy bedding layers.
The Cotton Quilt adds an extra layer of comfort for your guests
3. Light it up
Nothing detracts from a calm, relaxing bedroom more than a bright overhead light. That’s why, just like with your bedding, we recommend layering your lighting to create the soft and cosy atmosphere you want for your guests.
For top tips on lighting, read this expert advice from our friends at Pooky.
Use gentle lighting to create a calm guest space
4. Aromatherapy
Relaxing aromas in the bedroom will help encourage a good night’s sleep for your guests. Sandalwood, lavender, and chamomile encourage rest, and there's nothing cosier than a gently flickering candle on the nightstand.
Over at Bedfolk HQ, we’re currently enjoying aromas from This Works (sleep mist), Skandinavisk (scented candles), and NEOM (wellness pod).
5. Thoughtful Touches
It’s the little touches that really make the difference. A carafe of water with glasses on the bedside table and some fluffy towels on the end of the bed will make guests feel welcome as soon as they arrive.
6. Electrics
No-one loves an empty battery. A spare universal charger will avoid any 21st century smart-phone related meltdowns. Make sure there’s spare plug sockets or an extension cable so your guests can charge up their devices, and grab an adapter to cater for any international guests that are coming. They’ll love you for it.
7. Guest Bedroom Storage
Living out of a suitcase isn’t our idea of a comfortable stay, and that beat up holdall really detracts from the relaxing guest room feel you’ve worked so hard to create. Clearing out some wardrobe, drawer, and luggage space for guests is a guaranteed way to gain extra hosting kudos.
8. Bathroom Essentials
So you might not have been planning to go full hotel mode, but if it’s either that or waking up to guests with hair-of-the-dog breath, we’re going for the former. A little bowl in the bathroom with a spare toothbrush, toothpaste, and other essentials will avoid any needless emergency trips to the shops.
9. Reading Material
Just because you’ve invited them to stay, doesn’t mean you necessarily want to hang out with your friends and family 24/7. A couple of books on the bedside is a great way to keep your guests happy, plus it’s an opportunity to show them what a connoisseur of literature you really are, right?
Currently on our bookshelves and perfect to pick up for ten minutes here and there are: Zadie Smith’s ‘Grand Union’, Adam Kay’s ‘Twas the Nightshift before Christmas’, and Billy Connolly’s ‘Tall Tales and Wee Stories’.
10. Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter Clean
It might go without saying, but no-one wants to sleep in a messy or dirty bedroom, and just because you never go in there, doesn’t mean its staying clean. Pick up those clothes, hoover that carpet, and dust those bedsides down as a final task before your guests arrive…
It’s Time to Turn Your Guest Bedroom into A Welcoming Sanctuary
So now you’ve got some tricks up your sleeves, all that’s left is to make that guest room into the nest that your guests deserve…
Make the perfect start by investing in some high quality, luxury bedding.
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