Comfort should be the top priority when making a guest bedroom. Whether a dedicated room or a multi-purpose space like an office with a sofa bed, simple upgrades can transform an ordinary space into a relaxing retreat where visitors feel refreshed and restored.
The key is focusing on the furniture and décor elements that impact sleep quality. Tiny details like the height of the bed frame, the headboard fabric, and the colours of the walls may seem insignificant, but they can set the stage for truly restful, restorative rest.
Guest bedroom ideas that balance. Lower the eyeline with a low bed frame.
Choosing a low-profile bed frame is one of the easiest ways to make a guest room cosy and lounge-like. Platform beds and other frames that are only inches off the floor lower the eye line, making small spaces appear more expansive.
Lower beds also have a comforting effect that conveys “relaxation” rather than “sleep,” which younger guests tend to prefer.
Upholstered headboards offer comfort and style.
Nothing beats sinking into bed and resting against a padded, upholstered headboard. The comfort is obvious, but upholstered headboards also lend style and luxury. Play with fabrics like linen, crushed velvet, and faux leather to suit your tastes. Neutral colours have versatility; patterns and textures add personality.
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Monte Carlo 3FT Single Headboard - Floor Standing. Priced £153.85
Choose the right mattress firmness.
Back sleepers do best with medium-firm mattresses to keep the spine aligned, while side sleepers need a plusher medium mattress to cradle the shoulders and hips.
Hybrid, pocket-sprung, and open-coil mattresses offer fantastic comfort across firmness levels – pocket springs provide more significant support than open coils and last longer. In contrast, hybrids usually have pocket springs with a higher percentage of foam.
Provide guests with a 13.5 tog duvet and brushed cotton sheets in winter. Switch to breathable linen sheets and lightweight duvets (4.5 togs) to prevent overheating when temperatures rise. Pay attention to pillows, too – offer a choice of firm and soft memory foam or hollowfibre ones to suit individual needs.
Take a calming decor approach.
Cool blue tones are incredibly relaxing - researchers at the University of Sussex found navy blue to be the world’s most calming hue.
Consider light pink, cream, lavender, deep green, soft neutral greys, and tan for guest room walls. Use accent colours sparingly since bold brights can feel too lively for a serene sleep space.
Install dimmable bedside lamps for easy reading, blackout curtains for restful sleep, and a white noise machine. A white noise machine is a device that produces a noise that calms the listener, which in many cases sounds like a rushing waterfall or wind blowing through trees.
Fit a couple of conveniently placed power outlets and USB charging ports so your guests can charge up devices easily, and consider voice-controlled smart lights so they can jump into bed and turn them off from there.
An insulated or fire door is another top upgrade for houses with thin doors to reduce sound transfer from other areas of the home.
Guest bedroom ideas for a sleepy mood, use scents.
Place a reed diffuser on the nightstand or add calming room spray to bed linens. If guests can tolerate scented candles, place one on a tray near the bed and let it fill the room with sleepy aromas like jasmine, cedarwood, and marjoram before bedtime.
Pictured: Jasmine essential oil promotes sleep and is thought to be an effective stress reliever.
Lavender and chamomile essential oils promote calm and sleep when diffused in the air, while mint and eucalyptus create a fresher vibe.
Spare room ideas.Don’t forget storage for overnight bags.
Even one-night guests will need a place to unpack toiletries and hang up the next day’s outfit. An ottoman storage bed is ideal for bags and suitcases—lift the mattress to reveal spacious storage inside the base.
Pictured: Giltedge Beds Side Opening 4FT Small Double Ottoman Base. Priced: £458.54
A tall, narrow wardrobe with a bottom drawer suits most spaces, occupying little room and providing somewhere to hang things up. Thanks to that built-in drawer, you probably won’t need a chest of drawers either.
How to make a guest bedroom super comfortable for 2024:
If guests can tolerate scented candles, place one on a tray near the bed and let it fill the room with sleepy aromas like jasmine, cedarwood, and marjoram before bedtime. Lavender and chamomile essential oils promote calm and sleep when diffused in the air, while mint and eucalyptus create a fresher vibe.
