Guess what? After not seeing them for over a year, our daughter and son-in-law are heading to the states in a couple of weeks so we’ll get to spend Thanksgiving with them! This will be the first time the two of them will be spending the night at our cabin, so I’ve been thinking a bit about what I can do to make their all-too-short stay as comfortable as possible.
That means it’s time to make sure the guest room is ready! So let’s get to it…
And no, this isn’t our guest room, but I can dream :).
Bedding and Linens
The single most important item in a guest room is a comfortable mattress. This may seem contradictory to what I just recommended, but when we purchased the mattress for the guest room we looked for the least expensive one we could find, and we bought a feather bed to make it more comfortable, and it works great! And the bonus for us is we’re taking it on the road with us when we go to Florida in ‘BAM‘.
Bottom line: if you wouldn’t be willing to sleep on the mattress, don’t force your guests to either. If you don’t have a dedicated bed for guests, a good quality air mattress can work equally as well.
Bed linens should be simple, good quality (shop stores like HomeGoods for good deals) and ideally fragrance free. As much as you may love the smell of lavender, your guests may not, or worse, they may have allergies, so keep things simple.
I always try to make sure guests have a lightweight blanket. Sometimes certain comforters can feel way too heavy to allow for a comfortable night’s sleep, and I also provide two fluffy bed pillows per person. Lots of people, including myself, like to sit up in bed and read or watch tv, and having that extra pillow really helps.
Don’t go overboard with too many pillows on the bed. Consider using just a couple of decorative pillows so your guests don’t have to remove so many every night, not to mention find a place to put them!
Furniture & Accessories
At least one bedside table is a must, and although most people use their cell phones these days as alarms or to tell time, if you have the space, it’s a nice touch to include an alarm clock on the table.
Your guest room may not have enough space for a chair and ottoman, but if it does this would be a great addition. (Just think about how you feel when you go to a hotel and there’s no place to sit except the bed.)
Definitely include a reading lamp and maybe some magazines or books as well, or better yet, fill a basket with books and magazines that you’ve read and let your guests know they can take them with them when they leave.
A folding luggage rack or a dresser top cleared so they can place their suitcase on it would be a huge plus! Luggage racks are pretty inexpensive, and if you frequently have out-of-town guests, it’s a worthwhile purchase. No one likes having to bend over every time they need something.
In the closet, provide them with space to hang their clothes and some extra hangers. Aren’t these adorable?
These are some other items you might want to include in the bedroom:
Wi-Fi password
Full length mirror or wall mirror
TV with remote control
Pad and pencil
Box of tissues
Waste basket
Tray or dish to hold keys, jewelry or loose change
More ‘Niceties’
Who doesn’t love finding a basket of goodies by their bedside?! How about some fresh fruit, cookies and bottled water? I also make sure napkins and knives are available in the basket for convenience.
If you know your guests like coffee first thing in the morning, you might consider setting up a small coffee station for them so they can enjoy a cup first thing. If you don’t have the ability to do that, think about their sleeping habits and how they coincide with yours. You don’t want your guests fumbling around looking for things if they’re early birds, so let them know where all the coffee paraphernalia is located so they can help themselves.
Tips for Long-Term Guests
My biggest tip here is don’t have long-term guests, because we all know the joke about guests and fish after 3 days, right?
Seriously, if your guests are staying a while and you really want to take the extra step, here are some special items you could have available to them:
An area map
A list of places in the neighborhood they may want/need to visit (24-hour pharmacy, churches, shops).
Information that covers nearby activities or attractions
Games, activity books or toys for kids if applicable
Will they need public transportation? If so, provide the necessary information for them.
If you think you’ll want to ride bikes, borrow a few extras from friends, or in our case, a couple of kayaks/canoes :).
Many gyms provide free week-long passes so if they are gym rats, it’s a great idea to find out if that’s an option.
Flowers brighten up any space, and it’s always a thoughtful touch in a guest room, but you might want to find out if your guests have any allergies or breathing problems beforehand. Bonus points if you know their favorite flower and include it.
In the Bathroom
I try to have two towels per person per day. I just picked up some great quality, large bath towels at Job Lot for less than $10 each. Don’t forget to include some hand towels and wash cloths as well. And speaking of which, black washcloths make a great addition to a guest bath. They work great because no one likes to dirty up and stain a pretty white washcloth when removing their makeup.
Pick up some travel size toiletries and place them in a basket. Some things to include…
Soap and body lotion
Shampoo and conditioner
Toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental floss
Hair dryer
Pain reliever
Disposable razors
Feminine products (You can tuck these discreetly away in a drawer or pouch)
Lint roller, sewing kit and safety pins
Bath mat
For additional convenience, it would be nice to include these items in the bathroom:
Bath spray/air freshener
Night light
Unisex robe, XL
Make-up mirror
Sleep in the room for a night
A few weeks ago we had friends stay here for a couple of nights, and we learned the light from our computer (remember, it doubles as our office) was super annoying. No one ever mentioned that before, whether it was because they were being polite or it just didnt bother them we don’t know, but now I’ll make sure to keep that light under wraps.
If you don’t want to sleep in the room for a night, at the very least, go through your bedtime routine in the room/space where your visitors will be staying. I guarantee you’ll find a few things that need tweaking!
Is there a place to charge their phone or laptop?
Is there a place to hang a wet towel or bathrobe?
You don’t want to have to disturb your guests for something you might need, so think about if there’s anything in the guest room that might fall into this category. Is your vacuum stored in the guest room? Maybe you’re like me and your guest room doubles as your office? Remove anything you know you’ll need before your guests arrive.
Think in advance about the quirks of the space, and let your guests know about them.
Do you need an Engineering degree to operate the shower? Do the blinds need to be closed all the way to prevent morning sun waking them too early? Clue them in!
Creating a comfortable guest room doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming, and trust me, your guests will appreciate the effort you went through to make their stay as comfortable and homey as possible.
Do you have any tips for creating a comfortable guest room?
In other news…
Happy Halloween to you! Are you doing anything special, or if you’re reading this Sunday, did you do anything special last night? We’re going to a small Halloween get-together at the clubhouse, and for the first time in a few years we’re wearing costumes. We picked really silly ones, but you’re going to have to wait until next time to find out what they are ;).
I’m also making a chocolate dish to share called Chocolate Lasagna. Maybe you’ve seen it? It’s crushed Oreos, chocolate pudding and whipped cream. Yum, right?! Anyway, gotta go and make it. Enjoy your weekend!
Sharing At
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
I started smiling at the coffee pot in the room…why? Because I was thinking that you’d probably be up way before them, starting some super breakfast ! 🙂 So nice they’ll be home !
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
Doreen, this is a great post. I’m laughing because I have a very similar post planned about guest rooms (or maybe I’m crying because yours is so good!). One thing that you covered that I think is super important is to actually sleep in the room yourself. One time, when my husband had the flu, I slept in the guest room only to find that I did not like the feel of the sheets, so I went out and bought different ones.
Debbie from MountainMama says
I NEED THAT CHOCOLATE LASAGNA RIGHT NOWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vickie says
Wow! So many great ideas for guest bedrooms that never occurred to me! I love the inspiration photos, too.
Stunning photos in your last post!! Our leaves are mostly gone, so it was a treat to see all the color again.
Brenda Kula-Pruitt says
Great ideas! Your guests will thank you. Lovely inspiration photos as well.
Brenda
Kim says
You just be so excited! I wish you the most wonderful time with them and know that they will love their time spent as your guest. Wow, so many great ideas! 🙂
Cyn says
Great post, Doreen! I’m so excited for you that the kids will be home for a visit!
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage says
Doreen,
Enjoy your time with the family. These inspiration pics are beautiful. Have a great Sunday.
Kris
Jemma says
Doreen,
Lovely post, filled with beautiful pictures, plus great and helpful tips.
So timely too with the Holidays upon us!
I just know you must be over the moon with joy that your daughter and husband will be here for Thanksgiving!
xo
Jemma
Donna says
Wonderful post with lots of pictures full of good ideas! So happy your kids will be with you for Thanksgiving. We stayed with a daughter and her family a couple of years ago and she had borrowed a bed from her sister. Not only was it a double but the mattress was so bad that we folded up like a taco when we got in bed. Oh yeah, always sleep in your guest room before the guests do. Looking forward to your Thanksgiving posts!
Doreen says
Oh…I know exactly what you mean about the bed Donna! I’ve slept in those one too many times, and my body has a hard time recovering lol.
We won’t be spending Thanksgiving at our home btw. Most likely it will be at our sil’s family’s place in NY. They will only be here for two days the weekend prior to turkey day. (I guess I didn’t make that clear in my post.)
I appreciate your visit and comment! Have a great week!
Cindi says
Wow, I’ve looked at each of the photos over and over again.
You are a true hostess.
You should open a Bed and Breakfast. It would be Heaven to visit you.
Obviously you have a love of white like I do. Every image is gorgeous.
I think I like the room with the fuzzy footstools and desk the best.
After much thought, although I’d want my own room to be white, I’d probably prefer to stay in a guest room with a fabric that I wouldn’t worry about messing up or getting dirty.
When I stayed at my sisters home for 3 weeks (while work was being done on my home and all my pets were being boarded) I enjoyed sleeping in the bed she had layered with so many feather mattresses and such that I felt like the princess and the pea.
Although when she poked her head in the door to see if I was comfy and set for the night I did have one request. I asked if her old dog could come in and stay with me! She laughed and he came in and curled up on the end of the bed and I spent like a baby!
LOL!
(I’m excited to see your Halloween costumes!)
XOXO
Doreen says
Oh, that’s so sweet Cindi! Good thing her dog was flexible 🙂
I think my favorite room is the first one, although it’s really hard to decide. I love white too, but you’d never know it from looking at my house!
And don’t be fooled by this post. I give my guests stained towels and stale cereal for breakfast ;).
xxx
DMO says
Don’t believe her….she is the hostess with the mostess.
tammy j says
i’m like cindi… I kept going back and forth enjoying the pictures… thinking of which i’d like to stay in!
and I loved her comment! she finally got to sleep … after the family doggy came to the bed! LOLOL. but of course!!!
the only thing I might add to all these fabulous ideas…
a couple of ziplock baggies…
in case they enjoy the fruit from the lovely fruit basket. they could then just put the peels and seeds or core in those…
wash their hands and brush their teeth and never have to leave the room til morning!
loved this post!
and cindi’s right. you could own a B&B for sure! XOXO♥
Doreen says
That’s a great idea Tammy! I’ve gone back and forth about making the room ‘TOO comfortable’ for our daughter and sail though…I want them to have a reason to come out! lol
Mary-In the boondocks says
Doreen happy Halloween to you too! This is an excellent post. The best advice you are giving us is to test the bedroom. This is brilliant thinking because we really do not know what it is like from the other perspective. Thanks for all the beautifully inspiring photos.
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
Some of your pictures I already had pinned, so I guess we have the same tastes. I have a big box in my office/guest room where I keep leaflets about the area where I live so guest can have a look and then tell me what they’d like to visit while here.
Jane says
This is such a great post, Doreen…very down to earth when so many guest room ideas are over the top and foo foo! The pics are great, too, most of the rooms aren’t huge which is pretty much the norm and I really like each and every style.
I am going to put more thought into the lakehouse guest rooms this spring and that’s another reason I liked reading this. They had been pretty much the same as they were when they were the rooms my kids had growing up…sort of neutral. I’ll finally be rid of ugly carpet and wallpaper so it will be fun. I like your idea on using the feather tops on the mattresses, those are comfy. I like those hangers (Our home is your home)…so cute! I’ve thought of baskets with toiletries but I think most of our guests at the lake are too laid back for that. I put flowers in the rooms but hold back on snacks, etc., I like everyone to really feel they are at home and can wander into the kitchen any time they want. We always have fruit and baked items available 24/7. I also encourage guests to feel free to get up early and make a hot breakfast for all of us!! 😉
Sounds like your party was fun, I want to hear all about it! And finally, hurray that Sarissa and husband are coming home! I would be doing cartwheels! 🙂
Jane x
Doreen says
I hear you about the baskets and food Jane. I go back and forth between making things ‘too’ comfy and wonder if it just keeps guests from coming out of the room!
Stacey@Poofing the Pillows says
We have lots of guests and we love it! I’m working on a guest room right now for the One Room Challenge. Sleeping in the room is a great idea. I learned a few things when I did that.
Stacey@Poofing the Pillows says
Doreen, I just read this post again and remembered something. My MIL has a loud ticking clock in the room we sleep in. I have taken the battery out of it time and time again. That kind of goes along with little lights in the room that might not bother one person but keeps another awake.
DMO says
Househoney is one in a million and thinks of everything. We had a lovely stay in that guest room and if you are lucky enough to be invited you will too! BTW the bed is comfortable. Loved the fruit for a midnight snack. Slept like a log and was nice an dark so we did not get up early. Thanks Doreen for some great ideas too.
Doreen says
Awwwww…thanks so much for your lovely comment my friend. You know it’s always our pleasure to have you! xxx
Cecilia says
The tip to sleep in the room is a good one! We did that and promptly got a new mattress for the bed! Love all your suggestions. How exciting your daughter and son-in-law will be here for Thanksgiving! I bet you are thrilled!
Can’t wait to see your costumes. Have a great week.
Hugs
Cecilia
Cindy says
Love all your inspiration and I’m excited for you to have your daughter there for Thanksgiving, exciting. Love your inspiration and the dessert sounds YUMMY!
Cindy
Sandi Magle says
What a nice post—I know what you mean about the pillows. My world traveler nephew, pitches them everywhere, after a 30+ hour flight…and layovers, he is too cross-eyed to deal with pillows. I add an extra covering to the windows for world travelers as their body-clock is all screwed up. LOTS of Water/juice available. And I make a place for the electronics…for the younger set…they simply can’t deal with life w/o their electronics, comp/ phone etc. Super post, will file it, under entertaining. AND have a wonderful visit with your kids! Sandi
Emily says
Hi Doreen, These are all wonderful tips and it’s always a good idea to refresh the guest room when we have guests coming to visit. I have started to refresh a guest room here so this was all very interesting. Although I’m not changing the entire room I am adding new bedding, going from summer to Autumn/Winter. I’ve found the linens now I just need to find the time. I enjoyed all of your dreamy photos. I know you are looking forward to being with your family at the cabin.
Happy week………….
Poppy says
So many amazing tips here, Doreen. You’ve thought of everything! I think the best piece of advice is for the host(ess) to sleep in the guest room themselves. I love the third pic from the top – it reminds me of Cath Kidston’s pretty and nostalgic cottage-y style.
Cathy, 1929 Charmer Cottage says
Lovely rooms and we can all dream…So glad they’ll be coming home and you can spend time with them..
gigi says
I loved this post! So many great ideas. And those hangers are way too adorable! I need those! I love the idea of black washclothes for taking off makeup. That never occurred to me! Great idea. I also love the idea of setting up a mini coffee maker in the room. Our coffee maker (in our kitchen) is kinda complicated, so that would be super nice to have in the guest room. I think I’m going to have to steal that idea from you! Plus, if you get one of those capsule machines, you could put out hot chocolate and teas for at night too. Tempting! Who doesn’t love to get in bed with hot chocolate! What a great post! Thank you!