How to get a #GuestBedReady @BedGuru

When my husband and I bought our London flat back in 2012 it was our first home and I wanted to make sure we had a guest set-up for friends and family who might want to stay the night. As our flat was small we used the second bedroom as a study/guest room with a daybed which was perfect for using as a sofa when not required as a bed!

We still have the daybed today and it still serves as a perfect multi-use piece of furniture. Of course, when we do have guests it is nice to add a few extra touches to the room to make it feel like a home away from home. Here are some top tips in collaboration with Bed Guru on how to prepare a guest bedroom to help inspire you.

Atmosphere

When you have guests it is nice to create a homely atmosphere to make them feel at ease and comfortable in your home. It goes without saying that it’s best to give the whole house a good old clean and tidy up. Go the extra mile and use great smelling cleaning supplies to create a lovely fragrance. Try and keep your guest room decoration minimal with whites, greys, soft blues or greens, even a soft blush, to create a calm bedroom. To create that cosy feeling try adding some fairy lights and candles (great for soft light and fragrance) or small directional lights, bedside lamps, wall lamps or even a floor lamp. Avoid turning on the ceiling lights as it’s sure to kill any atmosphere. Why not use a coloured rug to add some texture?

Bedding

Who doesn’t love beautiful bedding? Nothing is more inviting than 100% cotton sheets with a thick duvet and a pile of fluffy pillows! Go the extra mile and have an extra throw blanket at the end of the bed in case it gets cold. Make sure to have plenty of pillows available so your guests can choose how many they want to use for a comfortable night’s sleep. If, like us, you don’t have space for a dedicated guest bed then try out something different, Bed Guru has some great guest bed solutions.

Bedside Table

A nightstand by the bed is a nice touch, it means your guests have somewhere close at hand to keep their personal bits and bobs like their phone! A good bedside table should have a clock so that guests don’t oversleep as well as task lighting like an adjustable desk lamp to that guests can enjoy a good book or catch up on email in bed without having to use harsh overhead lighting. In fact, you should provide ample lighting to make sure guests can move comfortably around the room.

Amenities

Make sure you have towels and washcloths easily available so your guest doesn’t have to hunt for them, have a stack of big white fluffy towels on the bed to make everything easy! It is nice to provide guests with some extra toiletries in case they have forgotten something. Try placing glass container filled with helpful items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, body wash etc. in your guest room to allow guests to use as required. To go the extra mile have a deep basket available to store guest towels, a bathrobe and extra blankets.

Little Extras

If you want to be known as the hostess with the mostess there are some small things you can do to go the extra mile. Why not stock a bedside table or bookshelf with magazines or books so that your guests can wind down after a long day of activities? Provide a mirror in the guest room so guests can touch up makeup or put on jewellery without asking for help. To ensure your guests have a great night’s sleep you can install a blackout blind in the room to provide a calm, dark atmosphere which promotes sleep. Pop an aroma diffuser and some essential oils on the bedside table to create a relaxing atmosphere. Why not add some healthy snacks within guests’ easy reach by placing a bowl of fruit or small packets of nibbles in the room? Don’t forget, small touches of nature like plants or flowers in the guest room will make all the difference!