GUEST ROOM ESSENTIALS

The festive season is fast approaching, bringing with it the inevitable onslaught of house guests. From far-flung family to long lost friends, your guest bedroom is sure to be in high demand, so why not give it a little love and turn it into the ultimate retreat for your nearest and dearest. With a little thought and a few extra touches, you can create a guest bedroom so considered and fabulous that it will have you struggling to convince your guests to leave at the end of their stay!

We all have a range of family and friends that could come and stay, so think carefully about bedding options that will allow you to maximise the versatility of your room. A double or queen bed is a great starter with a fold out single bed disguised as a chair providing perfect bedding balance. You can always stash some trundle beds under the larger bed base for good measure!

High-quality linen is essential, not only does it add some added chicness to your room but it will make your guests feel welcome and wanted in your home! Always dress your guest bedroom bed as if it were your own to add that personal touch and all those boutique hotel vibes into the room.

Let's face it, we all prefer different home temperatures from arctic air-conditioning to heated and cosy. Provide your guests with a few spare blankets to help them find their happy temperature in your home and don't forget to add a throw to the bottom of your main bed which will not only provide some texture into your room but will allow the guest to curl up on top of the bedding during the day for a siesta!

One pillow is never enough! Some people prefer to sleep with two, some like soft and some like hard as a rock firmer pillows. Always provide your guests with a variety of pillows and cushions on the bed so they can select the perfect one for their bedtime needs.

When you're winding down at the end of the day or waking up early, it is nice to be able to switch on a bedside lamp and avoid the harsh glare of an overhead light. Providing your guests with a lamp or two is an important contribution to their comfort.

Whether its a bench, an ottoman or designated luggage rack, ensure there is somewhere for your guests to place their suitcases for easy access. Include a small wardrobe or built-ins that have a clutter-free section to allow your guest's room to hang any precious items and stow away their bits and pieces. If you do provide hanging space ensure there are adequate wooden hangers for your guest's needs, no dodgy wire hangers, please! It's the small touches that make all the difference!

Guests like to snack too and can sometimes feel uneasy about helping themselves to the household fridge and pantry. Leave your guest a beautiful little welcome present that will work double duty to satisfy their nibbling urges whatever the hour.

Leaving your guests a stack of towels they might need in their room is a lovely personal touch that allows them to go about their business without having to interrupt you to ask for what they need! Whilst nothing beats a stack of fresh, fluffy towels, stick to patterned or darker towels for guests as they will last a longer distance and look luxe for longer.

Remember your guests like to look great too, so install a simple mirror or two in your guest's bedroom so they can ensure their appearance is in top shape before they exit the guest bedroom. This will also free up precious bathroom time for the rest of the household and enable more than one person to get ready at a time!

Place a chic carafe of water and a couple of beautiful glasses on a small tray on the nightstand for middle-of-the night thirst quenching needs. This will save your guests any stumbling around in a dark unfamiliar home nighttime adventures!

If you really want to test the quality and gauge the comfort level of your guest's bedroom then why not stay a night in there! You may realise you need darker curtains or that you need a rug because the floors are too cold in the morning… You will never know these things if you don’t experience them for yourselves. Pretend you're on holiday, you might even find you've done such an incredible job that you won't want to return to your normal room!

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