The Cure for Houzz Envy: Guest Room Touches Anyone Can Do

Don’t let perfectly styled rooms give you the blues. Steal ideas from them instead. In this series we’re fighting off Acute Houzz Envy by ransacking beautiful rooms for easy and free (or very inexpensive) ideas we can use in our own homes.

Since this is the time of year when guest rooms get used the most, we’ll head there. Guest rooms are usually pretty spare, which means that small details are important. Guests should feel relaxed and have everything they need close at hand. And should you happen to wander in occasionally to avoid the laundry that’s sitting on your bed, you might get some pleasure out of it, too.

Skirt your nightstand. Let’s face it: The furniture that doesn’t make the cut in our own bedrooms usually ends up in the guest room. If the nightstand is left over from your college dorm or has seen better days, create a skirt for it. If you aren’t friends with a sewing machine, throw a tablecloth over it.


Puff the duvets European-style. This is easy, and any inexpensive duvet and cover from Ikea, Bed Bath & Beyond or HomeGoods will do. In fact, as I combed through guest room photos for this ideabook, I noticed that this is a big trend with American designers right now, and several of my picks use this look.

Tuck in sheets tightly with hospital corners (a top sheet is optional if your duvet has a washable cover on it), fold and poof up the duvet at the foot of the bed, and prop a pillow and sham at the head. It’s minimalist, it’s inviting, and it doesn’t involve a bunch of extra throw pillows.


Designate a piece of furniture for suitcases. A suitcase on a bed is gross — think of all the yuck it’s picked up around the airport, on the ground and in the trunk of a taxi. Place a stool or two, a small ottoman, a flat-topped trunk or a bench at the foot of the bed.


A portable luggage rack like this one would fit the bill as well. If space is tight, you can stash it under the bed or in the closet when it’s not in use.


Make sure guests have enough blankets. An extra throw at the foot of the bed is practical and adds a special photo-stylist touch.


Set out a water pitcher and glasses. Place them on the dresser or nightstand.


Be sure there’s an exit door or egress window in a basement. This tip is more for safety than aesthetics, but it’s very important. In this room that shelf you see close to the floor doubles as a step so guests can reach the window in case of an emergency.


Add fresh flowers. I know I sound like a broken record with the flowers, but they are such a nice touch. Even if it’s one little rosebud in a tiny vase, or magnolia leaves picked from your yard, this gesture will make guests feel extra welcome.


Provide ample reading light. I have stayed in several guest rooms where there wasn’t adequate reading light. (An overhead ceiling light does not cut it.) Make sure table lamps or wall-mounted lights are the right height and brightness for nighttime reading.

Form usually follows function: Lamps that give off enough light at the correct height will usually be the right scale for your room. If your guest room has two separate nightstands, tie two different table lamps together by using similar lampshades.


Outfit the nightstand. Guests will appreciate an alarm clock and tissues. Also, give them a nightlight or flashlight, so they won’t be banging around an unfamiliar space in the middle of the night.


Leave empty space on the nightstands. Guests will need it for water, a magazine and a mobile phone. I love the uncluttered nightstands and dresser in my guest room — I struggle to achieve the look in my own bedroom.

Also, that top dresser drawer is off-limits to you. I know it seems like a waste of good storage space, but your guests deserve some space for their unmentionables, as well as some hanger space in the closet.


Dress the room for guests. Many of us make the most of a guest room by using the space as an office, project room or gym (or, in this case, a ballet studio). If you have a Murphy bed, pull it down and make it up nicely, and add a small side table if you don’t have built-ins like these. If your guest room doubles as your office, put all of your papers and supplies away.


Likewise, if your guest room has a daybed, make sure it’s set up for guests to sleep on before they arrive. (Stash all those extra throw pillows out of sight.)


Add a comfortable chaise or occasional chair. Having a place beside the bed for sitting and reading or talking on the phone is really a nice addition. When you’re expecting guests, tuck a power strip nearby for charging — you don’t want their phones, Kindles, laptops etc. junking up other spots in the house.


Provide the latest glossies. Current magazines are a great touch. (But don’t be like the doctor’s office and lay out three-month-old issues of Time.) The nicer and better outfitted your guest room is, the more it will keep your visitors content and happy … and away from you for a bit. I know you love your guests, but every host needs a break from company now and then.

A final note. Don’t forget that the guest room is not just for guests. Think about your visitors when setting up a guest room and accessorizing it, but remember that a guest room can be a secret getaway for you, too. You can close the door, enjoy the beautiful surroundings you’ve created and put that chair and magazine to use.

More:
Overnight Guests Coming? How to Be a Great Host
Kitchen Touches Anyone Can Do
Dining Room Touches Anyone Can Do

URL: The Cure for Houzz Envy: Guest Room Touches Anyone Can Do http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-22133.html