Nine styling tips to make your guests never want to leave

Whether you’re impressing the relatives or creating a cosy sanctuary for a friend, here are nine simple tips to styling your guest bedroom so it makes a major impact.

Make the bed the focus
Lush, plump pillows and crisp, clean sheets are enough to make anyone want to cosy on up and never get out of bed to face the real world again. Mix and match textures – think velvet or wool and thick cotton. Layer different size pillows and don’t scrimp on quality fillings, so your guests sink their heads down and enjoy a restful snooze.

Tweak according to the seasons
Opt for earthy tones or greys in winter, and brighter colours in summer. You can achieve this simply by having a base of neutral linen and pillows that you swap a few coloured pieces in and out of. Wintery flowers like roses can be swapped simply for a bright bunch of daisies in summer time.

Make life simpler for your guests
Create a visitor’s kit of items commonly used and forgotten – a spare toothbrush, soap, lip balm, moisturiser, mints, bandaids and more. Style in a pretty basket or interesting bowl for your visitors to use and appreciate your gesture.

Create useful lighting solutions

Your guests won’t know where the light switch is if they wake in the middle of the night. Or, if they rouse early and want to read in bed, they don’t want to have to get up and fumble about for the light. Ensure you have a cosy lamp next to the bed that is bright enough for reading but mellow enough to create a low impact lighting solution if your guest is still bleary eyed. 

Layer up your linen

Leave your guests clean towels and an extra blanket on their bed or close by, so they don’t have to ask for them if needed. You don’t want them feeling cold, or awkward about trying to find a towel when they get out of the shower. 

Create a hanging solution

They may not require a full walk-in robe but having at least some hooks and a hanging rod will allow your guest to hang any clothes that they don’t want crumpled, or just want up and out of the way.

Make it multi-task

Add a simple table that can be used for many purposes – so your room can double as a study or office when not in use by a guest. When they are there, they can use the table for their own belongings. Increase the space’s versatility by having beds that perform double duty – such as a pull-out trundle, or two singles that can be pushed together as a “queen”.

Mirror, mirror on the wall…

A full-length mirror will let your guest check out how they look, get ready in peace or simply free up the main bathroom so more than one household member can get ready at once. Mirrors also open up a room, making it appear bigger.

Now, who to invite over?