Furnishing a new home can be a challenge, especially if you’ve upgraded to a house with more space. But there’s nothing more exciting than decorating your new home exactly as you want it to look. This new house checklist from the interior design experts at Star Furniture breaks down the guest room essentials you’ll need to design a space that will make you excited for your next set of houseguests.
Guest Room Essential #1: A Comfortable Mattress
(Pictured Above: Sealy Hybrid Mattress)
Finding the best mattress for your guest room is all about meeting your unique needs. You’ll want to consider the frequency with which you host guests, the types of guests you host, the size of your guest room, and your budget. If you have frequent guests that stay for long periods of time, for example, you might want to invest more money into a high-quality mattress. If you tend to host couples, it might make sense to purchase a queen or king mattress, rather than a twin. If your guest room is limited on size or if you’re furnishing a guest room office combo, a daybed or sleeper sofa might make the most sense for your space. Just remember, better sleep makes for better houseguests, so make sure you find a comfortable option!
Guest Room Essential # 2: A Stylish Bed
(Pictured Above: Mid-Century Eliot Bed)
When decorating a guest room, beds often serve as the focal point of the room. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right bed for your space. While the size of the room and the type of mattress you have often dictates the size of the bed you’ll need, there are plenty of other factors to consider, including the type of bed and your interior design style. If you’re decorating a large traditional-style guest room, for example, a sleigh bed might be a great option, while a platform bed might be the right option for a small, modern guest room. If you’re really short on space, you might consider a daybed or a sleeper sofa to offer the maximum amount of comfort for a small space.
Guest Room Essential #3: Guest Room Storage
(Pictured Above: Cascade Allyson Nightstands)
While you don’t necessarily need full-sized dressers in your guest room, offering your guests convenient storage options can go a long way toward providing them with a great stay. One way to take advantage of space is to utilize nightstands with drawers on both ends of the bed. That way, your guests have a spot to store a glass of water and their cell phone while they sleep, and they can put some of their clothes in the drawers if they don’t want to live out of their suitcase. Desks and vanities work great in guest rooms because they give guests a space to store their suitcase where they can reach it or a place to get ready if there isn’t a connected bathroom. If you’re looking for small guest room ideas for storage, try placing a few hooks on the wall so they have somewhere to hang their clothes or coats.
Guest Room Essential #4: Guest Room Seating
(Pictured Above: Trisha Yearwood Nashville Bedroom Bench)
If you’re decorating a large guest bedroom and have the space, offering some extra seating can help your guests feel more at home. Whether it’s an accent chair they can relax in when they’re ready for some alone time or a bedroom bench they can use as a place to sit down and tie their shoes, guest room seating can be both functional and stylish, which is why we consider it a guest room essential.
Guest Room Essential #5: Guest Room Lighting
(Pictured Above: Amoria Table Lamp)
No list of guest bedroom essentials is complete without lighting. While many bedrooms have overhead lighting, providing additional lamps can make a huge difference in the ambiance and functionality of the room. Table lamps on both nightstands, for example, can make it easier for your guests to navigate an unfamiliar room at night by allowing them to turn out the lights from bed.
Guest Room Essential #6: Guest Room Décor
(Pictured Above: Stevens Wall Mirror)
Choosing the right bedroom décor can go a long way toward creating a stylish space for your guests, which is why we’ve included it on our new house checklist. Whether you’re looking for an area rug to anchor the room or wall art to add a pop of color and style, your guest room décor should make your guests feel welcome in your home and comfortable enough to enjoy their stay. Decorating a small guest room or office combo? One of our favorite guest room décor ideas is decorating with mirrors. Not only will a mirror help your guests get ready in the morning, but if you place it across from a window or lamp, you can amplify the lighting in the room, making it feel larger.
Checklist of Things to Have in a Guest Room
In addition to guest room furniture and décor, you’ll likely need some other items to make your guests feel at home. Here’s a quick checklist of things to have in a guest room.
- Clean Linens
- Sheets, Blankets, Pillows, Towels, Washcloths, etc.
- Basic Toiletries
- Toothpaste, Soap, Lotion, Shampoo, and Conditioner
- Conveniences
- Wastebasket, Clock, Mirror, etc.
- Personal Touches
- Fresh Flowers, Reading Material, Mints, Pictures, etc.
Visit a Star Furniture store near you for all of your guest bedroom furniture and décor needs! In the meantime, check out our new house checklist series, where we break down what you’ll need when decorating a new living room, dining room,bedroom, home office, and more.