How to create the perfect small guest room

Obviously it goes without saying that I would happily sleep on a sofa with a blanket if that was required, and I would never expect anyone to have the perfect guest room set up ready when hosting me. In fact, nearly all my family and friends do not have a guest room readily available and that is, I expect, more the norm than the exception!

However, for those lucky enough to have a spare room that they can keep as a guest room, here are a few ideas on how you can make it a welcoming space for all.

Firstly, I always think it is a good idea to sleep in your guest room yourself for a few nights so you can notice any details that you might not pick up on if you are only in it briefly during the day. For instance, when I slept in our guest room recently, I realised that the duvet wasn’t thick enough (the room is much colder than our bedrooms upstairs) and that the windows needed something on them to make them more private during the day, as they are positioned very closely to our neighbour’s front door.

So beyond the obvious, like sleeping on the mattress yourself (is it comfortable?) and ensuring the room is well lit, (have you got a bedside light easily accessible?) there are other essentials, that may seem obvious, but they really do make a person’s stay easier. For instance, a mirror in the room so your guests don’t feel like they have to rush getting ready in the shared bathroom, is a must. As well as ensuring there is a bin, so guests can dispose of rubbish easily without having to pop it in their own suitcase!

Unless you plan on having guests to stay for weeks on end, an empty cupboard isn’t essential, but I do think surface area is helpful so it’s worth factoring it in if you have space. Like many people, we use our guest room for storage so we do have a cupboard in there full of tools (!) but you would never know as a guest, and it sits under the mirror making it a good surface for make up bags and wash bags and general items guest need close to hand throughout their stay.

I would love a stand for a suitcase like you see in hotels, (I’ve seen some stunning wooden antique ones) but alas we don’t have the space in our guest room. I do think this is a great addition though if you can, as it makes the room feel much more considered and gives the guest easier access to their suitcase as well as providing an extra storage space underneath for their shoes or handbag. If you want to incorporate this idea into something that would give you extra storage throughout the year, why not try and find a secondhand trunk or chest, (I see a lot on Facebook Marketplace,) that can be used throughout the year for storage, but guests can also use the top for their suitcase, resulting in a more comfortable stay as they don’t have to keep bending down.

I love this vintage luggage stand I found on eBay!

Another cheap and easy solution for storage is to have lots of pegs, maybe some hooks on the back of the door and a little peg rail too if you have space. This way, guests can hang up their towels to dry, their coats or any clothing they’ve brought on a hanger. Obviously if you have wardrobe space available for them, that’s amazing! Just be sure to provide hangers as they may not have brought them with them.

You may have guests that will need to do a little work throughout their stay, so if there is no space for a desk, why not pop a bed tray in their room so they can sit in bed comfortably with a laptop. They may also find this helpful for a little breakfast in bed or a coffee and Netflix show on an iPad! It’s also a good idea to pop your Wifi password in the room, maybe on a little note on the mirror or on the back of the door?

Everyone likes different levels of warmth throughout the night, so be sure to put some blankets on the bed, giving your guest the option for extra layers if required. I found large thick bedspreads hard to find at a reasonable price, so during the winter I popped another duvet on our bed so our guests could be super cosy! We live in an old house though, so this may not be necessary in your home!

We love having guests to stay now we finally have the space, and it is important to me to make their stay as restful and comfortable as possible.