While a guest bedroom is by no means a top-tier hotel, you can make it feel like one by equipping it with all of the essential features that will impress your guests and ensure that they feel right at home during their stay with you.
Read on to learn about eight common design mistakes that the pros urge you to avoid at all costs.
Not Offering Enough Surface Space
Your guests are going to want plenty of room to set out any essentials during their stay.
“I can’t tell how many times I have traveled and been dismayed to not have a place to set a cosmetic case, jewelry bag, or even a good place to set a glass of water,” Minnette Jackson, the founder of Minnette Jackson Interiors, says.
She advises offering not only a bedside table but also a dresser or vanity where people can place the aforementioned objects.
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Nowhere to Place an Overnight Bag
On a related note, keep in mind that guests will want a spot to set down their overnight bag that isn’t the bed. Lauren Carranza, the founder of Seasons 4 Design, recommends adding a stylish folding luggage rack that can easily be stored when it’s not in use. Another alternative is a low, durable side table that can be used for easier access.
Not Enough Hooks
So that guests can hang up some of their belongings, opt for hooks. Carranza explains how hooks are helpful because guests can use them to hang their damp towels, clothes, jackets, bags, and anything else they don’t want to wrinkle.
Poor Window Coverings
Guests will desire privacy as well as the opportunity to have a good night’s sleep during their stay.
“When designing a guest room, it’s easy to pass over window treatments since the room is used less frequently than the primary bedroom,” Jackson says. “But as a travel-weary guest, nothing is worse than looking forward to a good night’s rest only to be up with the early morning sun or kept awake by a neighboring street light.”
The designer recommends installing blackout curtains to provide as much darkness in the guest room as possible at all times of day, noting that guests may want to nap while the sun is still out, too.
Minimal Mirrors
Everyone appreciates having access to a sizable mirror when getting ready. Since going out to events or dinners is often a big part of travel, Jackson recommends adding necessities to help get ready more comfortable.
Even if you cannot display a large floor mirror, try hanging one above the dresser or vanity, she suggests.
Not Offering a Comfy, Well Made Bed
Yes, your guests are staying in your home, not a hotel room, but they still deserve a five-star quality bed. Putting a little effort into the pillows and bed linens you set out will go a long way in making a pleasant impact.
“Whenever I am having guests in my home, I pay attention to comfort with soft, beautiful bedding and pillows,” Shannon Murray Petruzello, the founder of Shannon Murray Interiors, says. “You want to create a bed that makes your guest happy to crawl into.”
Ensure that your mattress itself is conducive to a restful night’s sleep. Payal Bansal, the founder of Payal Bansal Interior Design, suggests investing in a good mattress, plush pillows, and soft linens so the bed is just right.
Bansal recommends even taking a moment to lie down on the guest bed to test it out for yourself.
“If you find yourself counting sheep after two minutes, it’s time for an upgrade,” she says.
Not Featuring a Work Space
In the era of work-from-home jobs, many guests will need to spend a few hours taking meetings or catching up on desk work during the day while traveling. Offering a work space for guests to use will make a major difference in the quality of their stay at your home. You can even use it yourself when you don’t have visitors.
“I recommend purchasing a secretary desk, which has drawers for storing clothing along with a flip-down workspace,” Meghan Jay, the founder of Meghan Jay Design, says.
She adds that task lighting is also paramount and will come in handy as guests catch up on work in the evenings.
Going Overboard With Color and Personality
Bright colors do not necessarily belong in the guest room. To create a universally pleasing space, keep it simple, Megan Pisano, the founder of Megan Pisano Design, suggests.
“For instance, you could use a calming color palette with small accents like themed artwork or decorative pillows to bring in the fun elements without overwhelming the space,” she says. “It’s all about balance and making sure your guests feel comfortable and welcomed.”
On a similar note, steer clear of overly personal decor. Bansal recommends keeping the guest room neutral and inviting, so opt for soothing colors and universal appeal.
“Think of it as a blank canvas where anyone can feel at home,” Bansal says.
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