HOW TO DESIGN A COMFORTABLE GUEST BEDROOM
When I designed our home here in Lake Arrowhead one of my primary considerations was to have the perfect guestroom. Living in a resort community I knew we would have a lot of guests. Plus, our children live in various places around the country and when they came to visit we wanted them to be as comfortable as possible so they’d be more inclined to stay a while. We also wanted our home to be as inviting as possible to our aging parents. So, in working with our architect I gave a great deal of thought to how to design a comfortable guest bedroom. In the long run think I did a pretty good job of it.
Our guest bedroom has a mini fridge that’s always stocked with mineral water, soft drinks and snacks.
It also has a small wet bar with a coffee pot and a drawer filled with a variety of coffee and tea so our guests can enjoy an early morning cup of coffee on their private terrace without having to come downstairs.
There is a fireplace in the room that provides a cosy ambiance during cold and snowy winter nights. And the closet is stocked with extra pillows, several luggage racks, an iron & ironing board and lots of wooden clothes hangers.
The bathroom has a jetted tub, soft oversized bath towels and all kinds of bath soaps, shampoos and luxurious bath amenities to allow our guests to relax and luxuriate while on holiday. I also stock the bathroom with extra toothbrushes and toothpaste, razors & shaving cream & lotion.
But the most important feature of our guest room is the bed.
Bed and Bedding
I’ve stayed at a few friends’ houses that have cost me a chiropractic appointment afterward. That’s why it’s so important to have a good quality mattress in your guest room. You don’t have to spend a ton of money but do make sure it’s firm enough that it’s not causing bodily harm. It’s also a great idea to add a mattress topper or eggshell foam mattress pad. Trust me, your guests will appreciate it.
And by all means don’t scrimp on sheets.
There are plenty of other ways to save money when it comes to making a bedroom comfortable, but sheets shouldn’t be one of them. There’s nothing more wonderful than slipping into a bed dressed in good quality, inviting crisp sheets. And did you know that higher thread count isn’t really what dictates the quality of sheets? It’s really more about the length of the fiber and the weave that makes for luxuriously soft sheets.
Check out an online retailer like TouchofModern.com to find modern bedding options designed by people who love to sleep. A great bed will see your guests lounging in bed until long after sun up, what a luxury when you’re away from home. Of course, finding the perfect pillows should go hand in hand with this as well. A night lying on overly flat, over-used pillows will be make guests remember their stay for all the wrong reasons. So step up your game in the pillow department as well.
Choose Inviting Decorations, Colors & Amenities
Bright and loud paint colors have certainly had their time in the spotlight and, while they might have a time and place, it’s best to keep your guest room more neutral. Not only are people more likely to be turned off by a bold color choice, there are actually proven psychological reasons why some colors are more soothing than others. A soft beige, taupe, or off-white is great, but you also can’t go wrong with simple white, the 2016 color of the year.
Your guests will also appreciate extra touches like attractive paintings on the wall…
soft lighting on dimmer switches (think wall sconces, reading lights or a statement chandelier),
throw blankets…
scented candles, some reading materials, fresh flowers…
and even black-out curtains so they can sleep in. This is an especially nice touch for those coming from a different timezone.
And, give them an extra set of house keys too so they can come and go without disturbing you.
The Basics
It all boils down to putting yourself in your guests’ shoes. Think about what you like when you stay at someone else’s home. Consider stocking the guest bathroom with soft, 100% cotton, fluffy towels…
luxury brand soaps & toiletries…
cosy robes, and don’t forget the trusty magnifying mirror!
The Comfort Zone
Temperature control is an important yet likely under-discussed consideration when it comes to having guests in your home. How many times have you woken up at someone else’s house either too hot to sleep or having to search for extra blankets because you’re too cold? Recently my son introduced me to a high-tech thermostat from Nest which he has installed in his home that is a really good remedy for that.
With a Nest Thermostat there’s no guessing about the right temperature, no matter what the weather’s doing outside. That’s because it can be programed to keep the temperature just how you like it at different times throughout the day and night. Plus, what I love about Nest is the fact that it will alert me on my phone if there’s something wrong – like the temperatures are so low my pipes could burst. That’s a very real consideration here on my mountain top in winter, especially if I happen to be out of town, or when my vacation rental property is vacant.
Designing a comfortable guest bedroom doesn’t have to be overwhelming, especially if you follow these tips. Your guests will thank you!
PS – Have you signed up for Ebates yet? They offer a rebate of 3.5% when you shop at TouchofModern.com!
So there you have it: HOW TO DESIGN A COMFORTABLE GUEST BEDROOM
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All opinions expressed in this post are my own. All photos of my blue & white guest suite are the original property of Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com and may not be reproduced without specific permission. All of the other photos are from Pinterest. This post contains affiliate links that help to make this blog possible.
