Preparing for guests can be a fun experience. It means looking at a room from a new perspective and creating a feel that is both welcoming and homey. When you plan out your space, no matter how small, consider what features you’d like to see when staying away from home.
Follow the 10 tricks below to make your small guest space feel friendly.
Get Comfy Seating
Feeling comfortable can be difficult when there’s not a good place to sit. Assess your small guest space and decide where you can add some seating. Besides the bed, there should be at least one chair for someone to unwind in. For a small space, consider nesting furniture or a settee, which you can tuck into the corner. Don’t forget to add a small tabletop lamp nearby so guests can read or do crossword puzzles before bed.
Offer Some Privacy
Guests will feel uncomfortable if they have no privacy like someone could be watching them. Even with a small space, you can take steps to ensure a guest feels like a spot is their own. If there’s no doorway, invest in an ornamental room divider that matches your home’s aesthetic. Choose coverings, like curtains or blinds, to allow guests control over who can see in through the windows.
Create Storage Space
Storage space in a guest room has two main benefits. The first is more room for you to store clutter, like seasonal decorations or photo albums. Your guest, whether they’re staying for a night or a year, will also appreciate the opportunity to stow away clothes and toiletries. Add floating shelves for a simple and modern look, and choose a bed frame with storage space underneath. Encourage guests to hang up clothes by providing empty hangers in the closet.
Provide Entertainment
A guest is essentially a stranger in someone else’s home, no matter how well they know the family. Be aware that your visitor may have a different sleep schedule than you, perhaps staying up late watching TV or getting up with the sun. Either way, offer a way for them to stay busy with an entertainment stand. Beyond the TV, be sure to provide access to movies and shows, whether it be through cable, Netflix or DVDs.
Add a Coffee Cart
Who doesn’t love coffee? Guests will enjoy the inclusion of a coffee cart in their room, as they can get a head start on their day at any time without having to worry about waking the family. Plus, the added convenience of beverages just feet away means your guests can enjoy their cup of joe while watching the morning news or Saturday cartoons.
Install New Lighting
Nobody likes staying in a dark room. If your guest space is crawling with shadows, consider how you can make it more inviting with wall and ceiling lights. Take away the drab, ordinary fixtures and replace them with something unique, akin to an art piece. If you have an existing feature you love, spruce up the design with an intricate ceiling medallion.
Clear the Clutter
Guests don’t want to stay in your storage space. Packed among the artificial Christmas tree and stacks of brown cardboard boxes, they’ll feel as if they’ve merely been stowed away, an inconvenience in your home. Make guests feel welcome and wanted by clearing away the clutter. Clean and organized — the room should look like it was waiting for your guest’s arrival.
Include Special Touches
A clutter-free room is ideal, but a bare one can be unwelcoming, too. Don’t forget to include a few extra touches, such as decor or photos, to make the room feel connected to the rest of your home. Don’t go overboard — it shouldn’t be your private second bedroom. You can add a piece of interesting art or include a small clock on the bedside table — items that make the room feel lived in.
Add Extra Blankets
You can never predict the needs of your guests, and some will feel too uncomfortable to seek you out with requests. Try to consider their needs before they arrive by adding extra blankets in the room. Whether at the foot of the bed or folded on the top shelf of the closet, visitors will know they can quickly grab one if they’re feeling chilly at night or want to prop up their pillows.
Use Fresh Flowers
Take any guest space to the next level by adding a vase or two of beautiful, fresh-cut flowers. Such a small gesture will make your visitors feel welcome and thought of. Choose flowers that will last the longest after being cut, such as peonies, calla lilies, chrysanthemums and alstroemeria. You can also create a permanent guest room fixture with indoor plants like cacti and succulents.
The Best Tricks for Your Small Guest Space
Creating a guest space that is friendly and welcoming is easy to do. There’s no need for a costly renovation or extensive changes. Instead, think about the small things that turn an ordinary room into a luxury getaway.
AUTHOR: KACEY BRADLEY
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Guides for Brides, Hotel Online and more!
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