It’s that time of year when you have the opportunity to make somebody’s life wonderful, even if for a few days. When designing a bedroom for friends or family, there are some considerations you might want to keep in mind. Guest bedrooms are interesting because they get less traction than other spaces in the house, especially if they are dedicated guest rooms. As such, they do offer an opportunity to approach the design a little differently. These are my thoughts regarding some ways to think about how to design dedicated guest rooms.

BOLD DESIGN

This is an opportunity to go bold or with a design you fear might be overwhelming if you lived in it every day. This doesn’t mean excessive. It just means a little bolder. Because it’s usually used as a temporary space, you can approach it in the with a different mindset.

Think of how you design a powder room or how designers approach a boutique hotel space. Being transient spaces, these are all perfect for more bold fun and lively design. They can take a slightly stronger scheme. That’s the fun part…. The challenge is that whatever you do, you probably want to think of a very universal design, something that will please many. What if your young nephew or niece is visiting? What if it’s a friend from abroad? Or your parents? Create a space that will make guests enjoy being in there and feel that they are privileged to be in such a space. So how do you create a bolder space that can please many?

1. Choose a design that is very simple and traditional but lively in colors or that has a large–or even oversized–pattern.

   

   
   
2. Choose a combination of colors that will bring joy and fun, even if it is something you wouldn’t want to live in every day. Something different for your guests to enjoy in small bursts.

   

   
   

   

   
   
3. Choose design elements for your guest bedroom that are universally appealing: animals fit the bill. A cool tiger print, but not in the traditional safari colors. Dogs are also great because they’re so universally loved. And prints that inspire some sort of fantasy, or whimsical designs.

   

   
   

And what do you do if your guest room doubles as a home office? I’d say, navigate the design in a similar way to the above and try to create a layout which allows you to be in this fresh environment with the desk hopefully facing away from the strongest design elements. This way, you will be in the space without tiring of it.

LIGHTING & STORAGE

Make sure your guests have decent lighting, especially at the bedside. Feeling like they have good lighting as they sit in bed to end their day, is a huge sign of care. And maybe even more so is making sure they have quick and easy access to a light switch. This way they can find their way to a bathroom or closet if they need to get up in the middle if the night. Remember, it’s not their home and it is possible that they feel disoriented, especially the first night.

PLAYFUL DETAILS

You can add fun, and inexpensive decor to make the space inviting and amusing for your guests.

CARE

A little card with some information that will help a guest feel at ease can be easy and very appreciated. It can include information like the wifi password, where to find towels or extra tissue for the bathroom and other items they may have forgotten. Even though this is not interior design strictly speaking, it is part of your hosting design. Details of this sort convey that thoughtfulness and care for your guests we’re aiming for. A little treat on the nightstand on the first night can be a great idea too!

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