10 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Guest Room
Creating a warm, welcoming space for your guests is as simple as counting to 10
Your invitation’s been accepted and their tickets are booked — now all that’s left is making sure your guest room is as inviting as it is comfortable. Whether it’s a dedicated space or one that serves double duty, these 10 quick, affordable updates will help you create a welcoming retreat that says, “We’re so glad you’re here.”
2. Welcome With Flowers
A touch of nature instantly makes a space feel more inviting. Placing a vase of fresh flowers — or just a bud vase with a single bloom — on a nightstand or dresser is an easy and inexpensive way to brighten a guest room and show your guests you were looking forward to their visit. Low-pollen, low-fragrance flowers like tulips, orchids and carnations are attractive and allergy-friendly picks.
A touch of nature instantly makes a space feel more inviting. Placing a vase of fresh flowers — or just a bud vase with a single bloom — on a nightstand or dresser is an easy and inexpensive way to brighten a guest room and show your guests you were looking forward to their visit. Low-pollen, low-fragrance flowers like tulips, orchids and carnations are attractive and allergy-friendly picks.
3. Provide Storage Space
Give guests a convenient spot for their suitcase by providing a luggage rack or a sturdy bench that serves as one. It will make packing and unpacking more ergonomic and keep luggage off the floor, where someone might trip over it. If possible, empty a few shelves, drawers or closet space so your guests can settle in. Wall-mounted hooks, over-the-door organizers and freestanding clothing racks can serve a similar purpose.
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Give guests a convenient spot for their suitcase by providing a luggage rack or a sturdy bench that serves as one. It will make packing and unpacking more ergonomic and keep luggage off the floor, where someone might trip over it. If possible, empty a few shelves, drawers or closet space so your guests can settle in. Wall-mounted hooks, over-the-door organizers and freestanding clothing racks can serve a similar purpose.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
4. Upgrade the Mattress and Pillows
Ensuring that your guests get a good night’s sleep should be a top priority, and it starts with having a comfortable bed. If you’re shopping for a new mattress, look for a medium-firm model, which will work for most people, and invest in the best-quality one you can afford. If a new mattress isn’t in the budget, a thick mattress pad can work wonders, especially on an older mattress, a pullout sofa, a thin Murphy bed mattress or a cot.
Not sure how comfortable your current setup is? Give it a test run for a night — you’ll know quickly if it needs an upgrade.
Ensuring that your guests get a good night’s sleep should be a top priority, and it starts with having a comfortable bed. If you’re shopping for a new mattress, look for a medium-firm model, which will work for most people, and invest in the best-quality one you can afford. If a new mattress isn’t in the budget, a thick mattress pad can work wonders, especially on an older mattress, a pullout sofa, a thin Murphy bed mattress or a cot.
Not sure how comfortable your current setup is? Give it a test run for a night — you’ll know quickly if it needs an upgrade.
While you’re at it, replace lumpy and stained pillows with fresh, plump ones encased in a pillow protector. Adjustable pillows will let your guests dial in their preferred firmness by adding or removing filling.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
5. Tailor the Bedding
Your choice of bedding also has a big impact on how inviting and comfortable your guest bed is. While it should reflect your taste, consider your audience too. When in doubt, look to hotel bedding for inspiration: Crisp white cotton percale sheets, a fluffy duvet and a soft blanket or comforter tend to please just about everyone. Create a finished look and add your own personal flair with a patterned lumbar pillow or pillow shams.
Your choice of bedding also has a big impact on how inviting and comfortable your guest bed is. While it should reflect your taste, consider your audience too. When in doubt, look to hotel bedding for inspiration: Crisp white cotton percale sheets, a fluffy duvet and a soft blanket or comforter tend to please just about everyone. Create a finished look and add your own personal flair with a patterned lumbar pillow or pillow shams.
Consider the season too. In warmer months, opt for a lightweight quilt or breathable linen sheets. In cooler weather, layer on an extra blanket or two so guests can adjust for comfort.
Year-round, a sturdy, washable blanket spread across the foot of the bed does triple duty: It adds warmth, introduces color and texture and protects the bedding from suitcases.
Year-round, a sturdy, washable blanket spread across the foot of the bed does triple duty: It adds warmth, introduces color and texture and protects the bedding from suitcases.
6. Create Separation and Privacy
Guest rooms often moonlight as home offices or craft rooms, and sometimes there isn’t a dedicated room at all — just a corner of a den. Still, you can offer visitors a sense of separation and privacy without making them feel like they’re intruding.
For example, if your guests will have full use of the room during their stay, consider rearranging furniture and tucking away office supplies to signal that the room is now theirs. In shared spaces, hanging curtains from a ceiling track can create temporary walls that are both functional and stylish.
Guest rooms often moonlight as home offices or craft rooms, and sometimes there isn’t a dedicated room at all — just a corner of a den. Still, you can offer visitors a sense of separation and privacy without making them feel like they’re intruding.
For example, if your guests will have full use of the room during their stay, consider rearranging furniture and tucking away office supplies to signal that the room is now theirs. In shared spaces, hanging curtains from a ceiling track can create temporary walls that are both functional and stylish.
A folding screen also adds privacy and charm, and it can be tucked away when not in use. If your guests will sleep in bunk beds, consider adding train-car-style curtains to each bunk to create cozy and private nooks.
An interior designer, many of whom can be found on Houzz, can help you make the most of your space and offer even more creative solutions for carving out a guest area.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
An interior designer, many of whom can be found on Houzz, can help you make the most of your space and offer even more creative solutions for carving out a guest area.
Find an interior designer on Houzz
7. Stock the Essentials
Try to anticipate the little things your guest might have forgotten or that would simply make their stay more comfortable. Equip the nightstand with a few thoughtful items: a reading light, notepad and pen, a small dish for jewelry or keys, a wireless phone charger and a carafe of water. Don’t forget to leave room for your guest’s own book and personal items.
In the bedroom or bathroom, set out a neatly folded towel with new travel-size toiletries. You could even offer a fluffy bathrobe and a pair of washable slippers to create a resort-like vibe.
Try to anticipate the little things your guest might have forgotten or that would simply make their stay more comfortable. Equip the nightstand with a few thoughtful items: a reading light, notepad and pen, a small dish for jewelry or keys, a wireless phone charger and a carafe of water. Don’t forget to leave room for your guest’s own book and personal items.
In the bedroom or bathroom, set out a neatly folded towel with new travel-size toiletries. You could even offer a fluffy bathrobe and a pair of washable slippers to create a resort-like vibe.
8. Let There Be Dark
Room-darkening or light-blocking window coverings are critical in any bedroom. They offer privacy, insulation and light reduction, which add up to a better night’s sleep for your guests. If you’re upgrading, consider layering a room-darkening curtain over a light-filtering one using a double curtain rod, or pairing curtains with an inside-mounted light-blocking shade. This gives guests control over how much light they let in while still offering a polished look.
For a quick, inexpensive and temporary solution, you can hang a light-blocking curtain on a heavy-duty tension rod behind your existing sheers.
Room-darkening or light-blocking window coverings are critical in any bedroom. They offer privacy, insulation and light reduction, which add up to a better night’s sleep for your guests. If you’re upgrading, consider layering a room-darkening curtain over a light-filtering one using a double curtain rod, or pairing curtains with an inside-mounted light-blocking shade. This gives guests control over how much light they let in while still offering a polished look.
For a quick, inexpensive and temporary solution, you can hang a light-blocking curtain on a heavy-duty tension rod behind your existing sheers.
9. Create a Seating Area
A cozy chair offers guests a place to read, relax and put on shoes, and it can also help with balance and support while dressing. Pair it with a small side table so guests can set down a drink or laptop — no balancing act on the bed required. Just be sure to leave enough space to move around comfortably, which may mean editing out other furniture.
Choose a chair with personality to add character to the room. You can invest in a new one or simply borrow one from elsewhere in the house. A seat height between 17 and 19 inches will offer maximum comfort and functionality.
How to Futureproof Your Bedroom
A cozy chair offers guests a place to read, relax and put on shoes, and it can also help with balance and support while dressing. Pair it with a small side table so guests can set down a drink or laptop — no balancing act on the bed required. Just be sure to leave enough space to move around comfortably, which may mean editing out other furniture.
Choose a chair with personality to add character to the room. You can invest in a new one or simply borrow one from elsewhere in the house. A seat height between 17 and 19 inches will offer maximum comfort and functionality.
How to Futureproof Your Bedroom
10. Add a Personal Touch
Take your guest room to the next level with thoughtful extras that are tailored to your guests. Start by stocking a gift basket with local delicacies and visitor guides to offer a fun introduction to the area. Then personalize their stay with a few touches that reflect their interests — maybe a special bottle of wine, a pair of binoculars for bird-watching or a few handpicked albums waiting beside the record player.
Any of these small gestures will make your guests feel genuinely welcomed — and make you look like the consummate host.
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Take your guest room to the next level with thoughtful extras that are tailored to your guests. Start by stocking a gift basket with local delicacies and visitor guides to offer a fun introduction to the area. Then personalize their stay with a few touches that reflect their interests — maybe a special bottle of wine, a pair of binoculars for bird-watching or a few handpicked albums waiting beside the record player.
Any of these small gestures will make your guests feel genuinely welcomed — and make you look like the consummate host.
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse photos for ideas
Find a home professional
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After a long day’s travel, there’s nothing more welcoming than a fresh, tidy space in which to unwind. To ensure that your guest room fits that description, start by clearing surfaces and drawers of personal items so your guest has room to unpack and make themselves at home. Then give the room a top-to-bottom cleaning. If you’re unsure about sensitivities, opt for fragrance-free cleaning products.
Even if the bedding is already clean, give it a refresh by shaking out the duvet or comforter and fluffing the pillows. Finally, crack the windows to let in fresh air.
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