Creating a cozy retreat: Tips for your guest room design
Don’t stress over any last-minute guests — here is everything you need to get your guest bedroom ready in no time.
Start with the bed
A guest room lives or dies by its bed. Before you think about cushions or lamps, make sure the mattress is one you would be happy to sleep on yourself — if it has been in the spare room for a decade, it is probably past its best.
A queen suits most guests and most rooms. If the room is narrow, a long single leaves far more floor space and still fits an adult comfortably.
- Read the checklist
Guest room checklist
- See the sizes
Mattress size guide
Layer the bedding
Guests run hot and cold in ways you cannot predict, so give them options. A light quilt with a folded blanket at the foot of the bed covers both without anyone having to ask.
Two pillow firmnesses is the other easy win — one soft, one firm, so a side sleeper and a back sleeper are both looked after.
“The best guest rooms are the ones where nobody has to ask for anything. Everything they need is already within reach of the bed.”
Which size fits the room?
Little touches that matter
A bedside lamp your guest can reach without getting up, a clear surface for a phone and a glass of water, and somewhere to put a suitcase that is not the floor. That is most of it.
Leave the wardrobe half empty and put a few spare hangers in it. It takes a minute and it is the thing guests mention afterwards.
Common questions
Every seven to ten years, the same as any other mattress. A spare gets less use, but the materials still break down.
For a night or two, yes. If someone stays with you several times a year, a proper bed will be far kinder to them.
Two full sets per bed, so one can be in the wash while the other is on the bed, plus a spare blanket.
About Amy Smith
Sleep Consultant
Amy has spent a decade helping people work out what actually keeps them awake. She writes about bedrooms, bedding and the small changes that make the biggest difference to a night's sleep.