Spare Room Ideas – How to Create a Comfortable Guest Bedroom
I have been commuting for business and staying with friends over the last few months, and I have learnt a thing or two about things I can do to improve my own spare room, so thought I’d share my top five tips with you…
1. Invest in acomfortable mattress
The mattress is IMPORTANT! I’ve become a bit of a mattress connoisseur. Now I generally sleep on a firm mattress, but my favourite stays have been in the rooms where those mattresses were like clouds. I genuinely loved sinking in to those marshmallow moments! Don’t skimp on the quality – your guests will love you for it! My favourite finds to date were one from Emma, and also one from Loaf.
2. Clear the Clutter
Now it may well be this is your home office, yoga studio, or dressing room (even all three!) but when you have friends to stay be sure to keep this space as clear as possible. Have clever ways to conceal your own stuff, such as screens or ottomans. Give them space to sit their bags/unpack. Oh, and a wee rail or coat stand can be a real help for them to hang their outfits on, or even their bath towel – there are plenty of options on Amazon and Temu which can be folded away when guests aren’t staying. This will help this feel more like a home from home and make the space more manageable when they visit.
3. Make plug sockets easy to reach
seems like a no brainer, but if you don’t use the space often you may not realise that these can be hidden behind beds/furniture. Make sure plug sockets are easy to reach. Guests often need to charge phones, watches, and hair tools. If you can, provide an extension lead or adaptor to make things easier.! Maximise that one spare socket if you can.
4. Provide extra blankets and pillows
Just because you have your own preference to whether you like to layer your bedding or sleep light, allow your guests to have the choice. I have loved my stays, I could tweak the bed to suit me and the changing weather. If there’s a blanket and I don’t need it I can pop it safely at the bottom of the bed, but if I’m cold I can layer it on and not worry about having to feel cold overnight. And as for pillows, we all have our own preferences, so by having 2 on the bed (or 4 if it’s not a single) people can stack or discard as they please.
5. Add bedside essentials
Now this seems obvious, but just in case it isn’t, make sure there’s a bedside table or shelf within reach.- whether that’s for sitting a glass of water, your phone or glasses on or for that all important bedside lamp, it makes life so much easier. Personally, I’d say it’s best to have a bedside light in a room – unless the main light switch is next to the bed. Nothing worse than not having your bearings and trying to cross the room to find the bed in the pitch dark – we all know that’s going to end with a stubbed toe! Lighting plays a big part in how a room feels and operates – something I’ve learnt the hard way when choosing lampshades for my own home….. you can discover all about that in my following blog!
So next time you stay with friends, pay attention to the little things that matter to you – and then replicate them in your own space! I for one will be duplicating the above going forward in my own spare room! I may even add a few of my own – perhaps a spare charger, a fan in the summer months, and a bottle of water.
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