You’ve heard the jokes about not wanting to create too comfortable of a guest room or the guest may never leave. But if you put yourself in the guest’s shoes, what would you say then? Many people are uncomfortable staying in someone else’s house. Perhaps, you are, too. And wouldn’t it be nice if you could create the kind of guest room that you would enjoy staying in. Feeling comfortable, having enough space to unpack and access your belongings easily, and privacy are all what would be important to you. Here are some things to keep in mind then when designing a guest room:
- Create a guest wing with private bedroom, bathroom, and entrance if at all possible. Some homes have a separate apartment-like dwelling such as a separate cabana or apartment over the garage. This is the ultimate guest room and will give you and your guest the ability to feel comfortable and private.
- Furnish a separate bedroom with a comfortable bed, attractive furnishings with nightstand and dresser and a closet. An attached bathroom allows for a guest suite.
- Choose a room with a bathroom nearby for convenience. Stock the bathroom with special amenities such as soft, fluffy bath towels, hand towels, specially-scented soaps, robe and slippers.
- Change the sheets and keep extra blankets and pillows nearby. You don’t want your guest to have to ask.
- Keep the room clutter-free, especially if it doubles as another room when guests are not there. Murphy beds are popular choices for turning an office into an instant guestroom, but you want to put the office clutter away before your guest arrives.
- Welcome your guest with a fruit basket or sparkling cider cooling in a champagne bucket. Small touches like candles, a pleasant scent, and a small note of welcome create and bed-and-breakfast atmosphere and says more about you than your guest.
- Add a comfortable chair and ottoman in the guest room to give your guest a quiet place to relax. You and your guest will appreciate that.
- Put an alarm clock with a CD player in the room and leave them a variety of CD’s. Listening to music before sleep is a good way to help your guest relax in an environment not their own.
- Make sure the room is well lit. Add a nightlight and/or table lamp within reach of the bed.
These amenities are important to allow your guest to feel like he/she is at home and in a separate area from you and your family. You also benefit from offering your guest a comfortable place to stay while you and your family go about your business, keeping your privacy as well.