45 Ideas for the Ultimate Guest Room

The holidays are coming, and for many people, that means overnight guests. Are you ready for them? As a good host, you’ll want to make your guests, and of course your guest room, as inviting and comfortable as possible. But how?

We’ve shared 45 ideas for transforming a boring spare room with a bed into a bonafide guest room — one that you might be tempted to move into yourself. We have design ideas as well as small helpful touches that make guests feel more at home. Read on to learn how you can design the ultimate guest room that will have friends and family coming back for more.

Guest Room Design Ideas

1. Convert an attic space into your guest room: Short on rooms to use as a guest room? Consider turning attic space into a space for guests. It will be pricey, but the results are amazing and you’ll significantly increase your property value.
2. Use a light paint color: Guest bedrooms are often the smallest bedroom in the house. And they’ll only look smaller with a dark shade on the walls. Stick to a light paint color to make your guest bedroom feel larger and airy.
3. Install mirrors to add space: Another way to make a small guest room look larger: mirrors. Large or small, a mirror or multiple mirrors will open up your space.
4. Carefully consider bed size: Guest beds are often full or twin size, but there’s no hard and fast rule about the size of your guest bed. Just remember that bigger is not always better, as guests may have multiple pieces of luggage taking up floor space along with your bed and other furniture. Twin beds are popular in guest rooms because they are versatile for guests who are not couples. They can even share a night stand.
5. Consider a daybed, particularly with a trundle: A daybed can be especially versatile, functioning as a couch when not needed for sleeping. Choose one with a trundle bed below, and you can accommodate an additional guest.
6. Build up: Bunk beds and loft beds aren’t just for kids. You can fit more guests into a small guest room with a bunk bed. Or, consider a loft bed with built ins. You’ll get sleeping space up top and storage on the bottom — or more space for an extra bed.
7. Install a Murphy bed: Really short on space? A Murphy bed puts beds vertical in the day and horizontal at night.
8. Put in a sleeper sofa: Want a more versatile room? Buy a sleeper sofa so you only need to take up space with a bed when guests are in town.
9. Pull the bed away from the wall for better access: Pushing one side of the bed against the wall seems like a good idea to free up space, but what it really does is make your room look cramped and make it difficult for more than one guest to access the bed. Center the bed on a wall to make things easier.
10. Add a balcony or exterior door: It won’t be cheap, but adding a balcony or exterior door can give your guests extra breathing room and access to the outdoors. Plus it adds an amenity that guests typically only get at hotels.
11. Buy a new mattress: Your guest room is not the place to put your old worn out hand me down mattress. Give your guests a new, clean mattress that will give them a good night’s sleep. Opt for a medium firm or universal firmness model that will be appropriate for most sleepers.
12. Buy new bed sheets: Again, your guest room is not a good place for hand me downs. Guests will enjoy a more comfortable night of sleep on new sheets, ideally in classic white.
13. Add a rug: Lebowski was right: a rug really can tie a room together. Make your guest room more colorful, comforting, and inviting with a great rug under the bed.
14. Don’t skimp on the dresser: A large dresser is great for guests — and for you. You can use some of the bottom drawers for storage if needed, while offering a place for guests to comfortably put their clothes and other travel items while they’re visiting.
15. Use a bookcase as a headboard: With a bookcase for a headboard, you can save space and give guests extra storage areas. This is especially helpful if you don’t have room for a bedside table.
16. Double as a home office: Let your guest room do double duty as a home office. You’ll get to use the room when guests aren’t in town, plus your guests will have a handy desk available for their use. Just be sure you’re ready to use a different space to work while you have visitors and keep it organized so you can stash tech and papers away when guests are using the room.
17. Install blackout window coverings: Whether you live near a street light or just want to make nap time more comfortable, blackout window coverings can come in handy. They’ll make the room extremely dark and more comfortable for sleeping.
18. Hang long drapes: With long drapes hung from the top of the wall, your small room will appear larger. Place them on the outside of the window as well to make your window look bigger.
19. Add a chair for reading: Give guests a spot to sit down and enjoy a book, magazine, or just sit down and surf the web. If you’ve got room, a reading chair or a complete reading nook will make your guest room much more welcoming and cozy — even if all guests do is put their handbag or coat down on the chair.
20. Install a fan: Everyone has different temperature preferences. Guests visiting your home may feel hot or simply enjoy a breeze while they sleep. Give them options with a fan. If you can’t install one in the ceiling, at least place one on the bedside table or dresser.

Essentials for Making Guests Feel at Home

21. Share your Wi-Fi password: Everyone needs Wi-Fi these days. Make sure your guests can get online easily and without having to ask you for the password. Write it down on a card they can keep in the room or even make a framed sign for the guest room so the password is always handy.
22. Freshly wash sheets: Even if you washed sheets right after your last guests left, you should wash them again before your new guests come. Even clean sheets can get musty, so it’s best to just start off freshly washed.
23. Keep lots of pillows in the room: Your guests may prefer different firmness options, so give them multiple pillows to choose from. They can decide which one is the right size and firmness for them.
24. Design a practical bedside table: Make it easy for guests to keep everything important within reach. Be sure you have a lamp and alarm clock available on your bedside table. Flowers, a storage tray, and reading materials are nice as well. Consider using a dresser as a bedside table to give visitors additional storage.
25. Check light bulbs and do a thorough cleaning: Before your guests arrive, take some time to check light bulbs to make sure none have gone out since you last used the room. And even if you clean regularly, do a quick but thorough cleaning for overlooked spots like cobwebs in the corner.
26. Add a laundry basket or hamper: If your guests are staying longer than just overnight, they’ll almost certainly start to collect dirty clothes. They can shove them back in their luggage, or they can store them conveniently in a laundry basket away from clean clothes.
27. Empty dresser drawers or closet space: If your guest bedroom doubles as a storage space, make sure there’s still room for guests to store their clothes and other items. Clear out a few dresser drawers or closet space. And don’t forget hangers so it will be easy for guests to hang up their clothes upon arrival.
28. Put in a night light: You may be a pro at navigating your house in the dark, but your guests aren’t. Light the way in their room and in hallways with night lights so they can make their way to the bathroom or kitchen without stubbing a toe or waking up the whole house.
29. Add a mirror: Make it easy for guests to get dressed and perform hygiene routines in their room rather than having to head to the bathroom each time. A mirror, even a small one, is always a good idea in your guest room.
30. Put a television in your guest room: Guests may not always want to watch what you and the rest of your family are watching. Or they may want to catch some late night TV as they drift off to sleep. This is made easier and more convenient if you have a TV in your guest room.
31. Don’t forget a trash can: No room is complete without a trash can. Don’t make your guests head to the bathroom, kitchen, or other room to dispose of their trash.
32. Ensure easy to access outlets for charging devices: Make sure you have at least one exposed outlet available for guests. If not, add a power strip or extension cord to make it easy to get to. Bonus points if you can get a universal charger.
33. Put an extra blanket on the bed or in a basket: Guests may feel cold in the night or just want an extra blanket. Put one on the bed or in a handy basket so they won’t have to sleep cold or ask you for a blanket in the middle of the night.
34. Give guests a set of house keys: Make guests feel free to come and go as they please with their own set of keys.
35. Put up extra towels: Guests may want new towels each day or need more than one towel for their hair and body. Be sure to put out extras so they can use them as needed.
36. Install hooks: Put hooks up and they can be used to hang jackets, bags, bath towels and more. They’ll save space and make up for a shortage of storage elsewhere. They can be hung on a wall, the back of a door, or even in the closet.
37. Put extra toiletries in the bathroom: Chances are, your guests will forget some important toiletry item. And you can save the day by having a spare available. Set up a guest toiletries basket with the essentials. You can start with a toothbrush, toothpaste, razors, shampoo, conditioner, q tips, and a small first aid kit.
38. Add a plant or fresh flowers: Nothing says a guest is welcome in your home like fresh flowers placed in their room. It’s a nice way to add life to your guest bedroom. Or if you prefer, you can add a houseplant, which will also add life to the room.
39. Place a few snacks in the room: Give guests a spot to grab a quick snack without feeling like they have to rummage through your kitchen. Apples, wrapped granola bars, and water bottles will come in handy.
40. Add a luggage stand: Your guests need somewhere other than the floor (or worse, the bed) to store and get items out of their luggage. Give them the hotel treatment with a handy luggage stand you can fold up when not in use. Or, consider adding a bench, chest, or trunk at the end of the bed that can function as a luggage stand instead.
41. Leave reading materials: Give guests something enjoyable to read during down time on their visit. Place old books or magazines you’ve enjoyed on the night stand or on a bookshelf where guests can easily see them.
42. Resist the urge to add home fragrance: You may love the smell of lavender, but your guests might be highly offended by it — it may even make them feel sick. Play it safe and let the cleanliness of the room be enough. Avoid candles, plug ins, and home fragrance sprays.
43. Keep a dog bed handy for guests with furry friends: Nothing says you and your pets are welcome here like a dog bed in the guest room. It gives pups a comfy place to land, and if you inform your guests ahead of time, can save your guests precious packing space as they plan to use your dog bed instead of hauling along their own.
44. Consider a bedside table tray: Give guests a place to put odds and ends and keep them from getting lost. These are ideal for loose change, jewelry, cell phone, glasses, or keys.
45. Set up a beverage station in your guest room: Let guests enjoy coffee, tea, and other beverages right in their guest room without having to head down to the kitchen first thing. Add a small coffee machine, a selection of coffee, teas, and other beverages, sugar, and shelf stable creamer.