How to Create the Perfect Guest Room Retreat

You’ve designed a luxurious master suite where you can relax and get away from all of your daily tasks; as well as living spaces that are both functional for your family and fashionable to suit your exquisite design tastes. However, there’s one more step in making your home a place that your family not only loves to live in, but your closest friends and relatives can’t wait to visit as well. The guest bedroom! Take note from the most hospitable and lavish hotels and create a guest retreat within your own home that your overnight company will be dreaming about long after their stay.

Designing a sumptuous overnight space for your guests is easier than you think, but it takes some planning to identify exactly the space you need and the furniture and décor that will best suit the needs of your guests. Make your hosting aspirations a reality by first asking yourself the following questions.

1. Who are your guests likely to be: single visitors, couples or families with kids?
2. How long will your company stay: overnight, a weekend or perhaps up to a week or more?
3. Will the space be used exclusively as a guest room, or will the space be used for other purposes as well?

Read on for more guest bedroom ideas, including a list of furniture and home accessories that you’ll need, as well as guest bedroom décor ideas that will make your guest room feel like an extension of your home, but also a separate and relaxing space where your guests can unwind.

Guest Room Bed and Furniture

Once you’ve identified who your guests will be and certain factors about their stays, you are ready to move on to selecting the guest room furniture that will fit your space, suit your guests’ needs and complement the style of your home. After all, the guest bedroom is designed for your company’s comfort. However, it is still a part of your home and should carry over the personalized design that you’ve developed throughout the rest of your space—whether your home is traditional, transitional, casual or modern in style.

In order to create a cohesive and relaxing guest bedroom retreat, you should start by choosing the biggest piece: the bed, followed by the accent furniture and home accessories that will complete your design inspiration.

• Comfortable bed – Similar to any bedroom in your house, the most important items you need for a guest bedroom are a nice bedframe paired with a comfortable mattress. Choose from a king bed, queen bed, full bed or even one or two twin beds, depending on your space and the guests who will be making an appearance. Here are a couple of our favorite bed ideas, and don’t forget comfortable pillows and bedding to complete the look and give your guests a comfortable place to rest and rejuvenate for the next day.
• Upholstered bed – There’s something inherently luxurious about an upholstered bed, making it perfect for a guest bedroom retreat. You can choose a style that will complement your bedroom design and add comfort to the space.
• Storage bed – A storage bed may feature drawers on one side, both sides and even the footboard of the bed, giving you the perfect place to store extra linens, guest towels and more items that could come in handy for guests.
• Sleigh bed – While you can choose any bed style that you like, there’s something familiar and comforting about a sleigh bed design that can help your guests feel at home. Choose from a variety of styles and colors to enhance the design of your guest bedroom.
• Quality mattress – The mattress is perhaps the most important item that you’ll choose for the guest bedroom. It’s the difference between your guests waking up stiff and sore, or raving about the comfort of their quarters. Consider what mattress type will be most comfortable for the majority of your guests. Since you plan to host multiple people throughout the year with decidedly different tastes, you may want to meet in the middle. Choose a medium firm mattress that won’t be too far out of the comfort zone for people who prefer soft, medium or firm mattresses.
• Nightstand and lamp – A matching bedroom set complete with two nightstands will create a cohesive space for your guests to relax and enjoy some quiet time. However, you can also choose nightstands that don’t match, yet complement the other pieces in your bedroom, creating a more personalized design. The important thing is to include items your guests may need for an overnight stay, including a set of lamps that will allow them to read a book and unwind in bed.
• Mirror - A full length mirror or another hanging mirror will give your guests the confidence of checking their outfit and hair before they come out to join you for the lovely breakfast that you’ve prepared.

Once these must-have items have been selected, you may want to consider additional pieces that will make your guests feel even more at home. While these pieces of furniture are nice to have, it’s important that you first determine if you have the space. You don’t want your guest bedroom to feel overcrowded or disjointed, so choosing the ideal number of pieces is critical to your overall guest bedroom design.

• Desk and office chair - Your guests may appreciate being able to remain productive during their stay, and there are many stylish desk options which complement any type of bedroom furniture. Even desk chairs have come a long way, with many attractive models available that won’t take up too much space in your guest bedroom.
• Accent chair – You want your guests to be comfortable, and an accent chair can bring their guest bedroom to the next level in comfort and style. Give your guests a place to sit and relax in their own space by adding an accent chair to the guest bedroom. It can also add visual interest to your room, allowing you to bring in an exciting design focal point through a favorite color or an interesting pattern.
• Area rug – If you have hard floors, you may want to consider an area rug that will give your guests something soft to sink their feet into after they wake up from a rejuvenating night’s sleep. An area rug can also add sound insulation and extra warmth to your room, as well as an opportunity to add extra texture, color and pattern to your guest bedroom design.
• Storage ottoman – If your room is large enough, consider positioning a storage ottoman at the foot of the bed. It’s an idyllic place for guests to sit and put on their socks. Plus, it can add extra storage for items for your guests, or even a space where you can hide away items that you don’t want to be seen, like seasonal décor items after the holidays are over.
• Dresser - Guests who will be joining you for an extended stay will likely prefer to fully unpack their bags. A dresser allows them to make themselves at home—and avoid wrinkles caused by suitcase living.

Guest Bedroom Décor Ideas

Once you’ve curated the perfect collection of furniture and accents for your guest bedroom, it’s time to move on to the extras—the home décor items that will elevate your guest bedroom design to something that’s both comfortable in the moment and memorable to your guests after they leave. There’s no limitation on design style—from traditional to contemporary. However, there are a few items that you can look for to complete the look of your guest bedroom.

• Wall art – Choose a single large painting to hang across from the bed, or choose several smaller pieces from a set to give your guest something beautiful to look at as they lie down in bed. Landscapes, florals or even abstract pieces can help create a calming environment for your guest.
• Vase – There’s hardly anything that’s as welcoming as fresh flowers. Be ready for guests by keeping a favorite vase in your guest bedroom that can easily be filled with fresh cuts from your garden or a local market.
• Tray – You can make your guests more comfortable by keeping a tray filled with items they may have forgotten to pack, such as a little bottle of shampoo, conditioner and lotion, as well as a bottle of water and even some candles. The tray can be placed on a nightstand or ottoman for your guest to enjoy at their convenience.

Multi-purpose Guest Room Solutions

If you prefer not to leave an entire room empty except for occasional guests, it is possible to do that without sacrificing comfort or style. There are many options for combining a guest bedroom with other functions, such as a guest bedroom that serves as a home office, home gym or even a craft room when you aren’t entertaining overnight company. With some thoughtful planning, you can make your guest bedroom functional for both guests and everyday use; and also create a beautiful space that can be enjoyed by everyone who uses it.

First, it’s important to make sure you have enough space for the extra items that will be needed in your shared room, whether it’s a large desk and executive home office chair, your favorite gym equipment, or extra storage for crafts and other hobbies. If your guest bedroom is on the small end, you can save space by choosing a chic futon, sleeper sofa, or a daybed that can be used for seating during the day and accommodate guests by night.

When a room serves multiple purposes, there are a few tricks to visually separate the space and make it work well for both uses. First, you may consider a room divider or screen that can separate the distinct areas of your room. A less obvious, but still effective, way of visually separating your space is through the use of area rugs. You can use two separate, coordinating area rugs to visually create distinct spaces around the guest bedroom section of your room and the other space in your room. Of course, they also add a beautiful design inspiration in the room, and help protect your floors as well.

As far as décor goes, the same rules follow whether you have a separate guest bedroom or you have a room that will serve multiple roles. Make sure to enhance your space, creating a peaceful oasis within your home where you can work and create, and your guests can relax. A serene painting and luxurious fabrics can go a long way in making the space feel calming yet upscale. You can also bring in different textures, through throw pillows, a throw blanket and other pieces, that can bring a chic and understated style to your guest bedroom retreat.