Sometimes a guest bedroom can be a bit of an unloved space. A beige place that only springs into action when guests arrive, with all the stuff we haven’t got around to taking to the trash evacuated the night before. But it shouldn’t be a junk room where all the unloved things go.
The place where you host guests should be your chance to shine, your very own showroom with which to razzle dazzle the folks who get to be a guest in your home.
We spoke to Metricon’s ever-ready-to-impress design gurus Felicity Tragardh and Kristina Orban about how to bring the wow to your guest bedroom. “As our cities get bigger, we’re travelling greater distances to catch up with friends and family who are more likely to stay over, so you want to do the right thing by your guests,” Kristina says.
Don’t be shy, have a try
“First things first, if you’re nervous to branch out in the core areas of your home, the guest bedroom is a great space to experiment,” interior design expert Felicity says. “It’s the perfect blank canvas. It’s an opportunity to have a little fun, play around and indulge your artistic tendencies.”
Kristina agrees. “It’s well worth putting the time and effort into making your spare bedroom a beautiful oasis. It’s a space where you can create a home away from home for your guests, a tranquil sanctuary that reflects your personality and style.”
The wall’s your oyster
One of the simplest but boldest ways to make a statement in your guest bedroom is by deploying the biggest canvas of all: your walls.
According to Felicity, wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to turn a wall into a feature. “Wallpaper has always been a staple in interior design because it’s a great way to introduce colour, pattern and even subtle details of tactile texture,” she says. “Wallpaper can work really well to make a statement on a big surface in a more affordable way, adding creativity without investing in expensive artworks.”
Felicity is also a fan of getting out the paintbrushes and adding a dash of colour to a white wall in your guest room. “I love jazzing up feature walls with lime washes or other beautiful paint effects,” she says.
You can read more about why wallpaper might be the answer for a bright, bold and beautiful guest bedroom design here. You can read more about choosing the right colour for your room here. And if you’re worried that you’re not up to professional painter standards but the budget won’t stretch to getting someone in, here’s our step-by-step guide to getting it right.
Let there be light
If you're looking to create a stellar guest bedroom that will impress your guests, one of the key elements to consider is the window treatments. Adding curtains or blinds can create a welcoming and cozy atmosphere that will make your guests feel right at home.
Sheer curtains allow natural light to filter in while providing a degree of privacy. Look for ones that are made of high-quality materials and have a good drape (like these from our friends at Lovelight) and consider layering them with blackout curtains to give your guests the option to block out light and sleep soundly.
Chair of the bored room
Kristina says that investing in a statement chair is another surefire way to bring a bit of character to a guest room and liven things up.
“A beautiful overside arm chair, complete with a luxurious throw rug, would make the perfect comfy reading nook for your guests,” she says. “Another way to wow is by investing in a beautiful bench for the end of the guest bed, which can double up as fresh linen storage.”
And you can pick a piece that would never work elsewhere in your home. “It’s a great space for that white boucle chair that you don’t want kids clambering on,” Felicity says.
Plump up the volume
One of the most cost-effective ways to ensure your guest bedroom stands out is by investing in plenty of cushions and throws.
“A guest bedroom is exactly the place you can go wild with cushions and throws, whether they’re brightly coloured and boldly patterned or pastel toned, because no one’s going to complain to you about having to take them off the bed to get to sleep every night,” Felicity says.
“You can go nuts with as many as you want. The best thing is, because they’re reasonably affordable, you can shake things up regularly and even change the room’s look each season.”
She adds, “When it comes to sheets, invest in top-notch bed linen with a good thread count that feels luxurious when you slip into it, because you’ll want to impress your guests and make sure they sleep well while away from home.”
The world is your gallery
A guest bedroom is a great place to hang some original art or pop up framed photographic prints, perhaps of your own travels. “It helps add that personal touch, whilst also creating a luxury resort vibe within your own home,” Kristina says. “You want your guests to feel as rested as if they’ve just booked into a luxury hotel.”
Even framing is pretty easy these days. You can pick up plenty of shapes and sizes somewhere like Ikea that will do the trick for just about any picture or painting.
Felicity says a guest bedroom is all about dreaming big. “It’s basically about imagining the bedroom you want, as opposed to the one you actually live in. But maybe you’ll be so inspired by designing a dreamy guest bedroom that you’ll want yours to stand out more too?”
If you're needing some more inspo to get those creative cogs turning, head on over to our Image Gallery and explore the hundreds of beautiful bedroom snaps we have on show.
