Guest Bedroom Ideas for a Cozy and Welcoming Retreat

Setting up a guest room seems like a simple enough task. Just fluff the pillows, give the floor a quick vacuum, and throw down some clean sheets before your visitors arrive. For the most part, it’s not complicated. However, nobody wants to feel like an intruder in someone else’s space, which is why we’ve gathered together some of our favorite guest bedroom ideas. 

We’ve put together a few simple suggestions that will elevate your guests’ experiences and make them feel right at home. Read on to see how you can give your visitors that five-star feeling.

1. Attic or Loft Guest Bedroom Ideas

If you have an attic or loft that you aren’t using for storage, it could be the perfect area to convert into a guest room. No house guest likes the feeling of being in the way or underfoot, so giving them a space to themselves helps. It can give them some much-appreciated separation from the household bustle.

Attic shapes can be awkward, so take care when figuring out the layout. Don’t doom your guests to start their days with migraines by wedging the head of the mattress under the low side of a slanted ceiling. Also, keep the area in front of the stairs or ladder completely free of furniture if you can help it. It might not seem like a big deal to maneuver around it once or twice, but your guests won’t want to worry about it every time they go to their room.

2. Stylish Bed Ideas

While a regular full-size mattress might be your first thought, that isn’t always a possibility, nor a requirement, when furnishing a guest room. A mattress that size simply won’t work if you’re giving a small, underutilized spare bedroom a new purpose. Or, if you’re revamping a recently empty childhood bedroom, you may have to think outside the box when designating a guest bed.

A daybed is a versatile option for a guest bedroom, with bonus points if it comes with built-in storage underneath. You can upgrade twin mattresses with tasteful bedding and chic light fixtures or even push them together to fill the space the way a single, larger mattress would. Putting up a wide upholstered headboard behind the two beds helps to make them feel like one. And of course, you can keep things traditional with a luxurious antique bed, canopy bed, or hanging bed that makes your guests feel like they’re sleeping in a vintage fantasy.

3. Creative Daybed Solutions

We all know how important it is to reserve the bed for sleep only, and there’s no reason for your guests to have to give that up just because they’re away from home. If there’s no room for a couch or armchair, a daybed lets visitors retreat to their own private space. They can kick back during the day without feeling like they’re lying in bed in the middle of the afternoon. A couple of big throw pillows lined up against the wall make for comfortable back support, and a basket right next to the bed will give guests a convenient spot to toss them when it’s time to go to sleep.

Since daybeds so often come with storage space built-in underneath, they’re also a great way to help your guests get organized. No one likes living out of a suitcase if they don’t have to, and a small dresser or closet might not be enough (especially if you have multiple guests). A few pull-out drawers under the bed are great for storing jackets, shoes, or other items that don’t quite belong in a dresser.

4. Space-Saving Bunks

When it comes to childhood bedrooms, it can be difficult to imagine a room with a bunk bed. Luckily, you can upgrade them. Stylish bedding can transform the look of any bunk bed. Look for classy color combinations that add an air of elegance to an otherwise whimsical piece of furniture.

Even if you don’t already have a set of bunk beds for a makeover, consider them. They can be a great option for maximizing space in a small guest bedroom. If you want to be able to comfortably host more than one person at a time, bunk beds allow you to do so without swallowing up the entire room. You can line a bigger room with a few sets of bunk beds, making for the perfect space to host nieces, nephews, and little cousins around the holidays.

5. Inspiring Decor Ideas

While it’s important to create a space where guests feel comfortable, that in no way means you can’t incorporate your own style. Whether the rest of your home is farmhouse, industrial, or mid-century modern, incorporating elements of the overall decor in your guest bedroom will help the room fit in. Plants, candles, and wall art can all work together to create a room that feels neutral but well-loved.

When painting and choosing a color palette, remember that every color evokes a certain emotion. Your guests will most likely want to feel well-rested, so don’t overwhelm them with bright, warm colors that feel jarring in a quiet space. That said, a cheery coral or electric turquoise can energize the room on a smaller scale when used with accents like extra blankets, bedside lamps, or euro shams.

6. Rustic Farmhouse Vibes

Because of its emphasis on warmth and coziness, farmhouse decor can work great in a guestroom. You’ll want to dial it down so visitors don’t feel overwhelmed—maybe find somewhere else to hang your huge moose antler wall mount—but that rustic style can be incorporated through subtler elements.

Stick to warm neutrals like tan or beige. Farmhouse decor leans toward the traditional, so things like sturdy antiques or a wrought iron bed frame will be right at home. Reclaimed materials are also big in farmhouse decor, so keep an eye out for lightly distressed wood furniture. This will strengthen the atmosphere and make the room feel more homey.

7. Gorgeous Granny Flats

If you want to do it big with your guest bedroom, a granny flat is excellent for long-term guests. It can give your guests their own separate space to settle into. Whether you build it into your basement or build a separate tiny house off to the side, visitors can enjoy your company all day without sacrificing any privacy.

You can decorate it similarly to the main house, or you can use it as an excuse to take on a whole different style persona. Go modern with slate gray furniture and sleek metal accents, or fill the space with a vintage vibe through quirky wallpaper, pastel appliances, and ornate brass frames. Add amenities like a TV room, a full kitchen, or an outdoor patio to elevate the experience even more. You’ll make your guests forget they ever left home in the first place.

8. Thoughtful Guestroom Design

Setting up a guest room seems like a simple enough task. Just fluff the pillows, give the floor a quick vacuum, and throw down some clean sheets before your visitors arrive. For the most part, it’s not complicated. However, nobody wants to feel like an intruder in someone else’s space.

We’ve put together a few simple guest bedroom ideas that will elevate your guests’ experiences and make them feel right at home. Read on to see how you can give your visitors that five-star feeling.

9. Functional and Versatile

Considering how I’m writing this article in my own guest bedroom, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this option. Using guest rooms for other purposes is a great way to make the most of every square foot in your home. Diversify the room with furnishings that provide value to your guests. But, they should also look relatively unobtrusive and easy to put away.

For example, a desk and a comfortable, adjustable computer chair will help your guests settle in if they’re staying for a long time or have urgent work to attend to. They’ll also let you use the room as a home office separate from the rest of the household bustle. Installing a projector above a daybed makes for a cozy room to curl up in and watch a good movie when not housing a visitor.

10. Incorporating Murphy Beds

If you don’t have overnight guests often, it might feel like a waste to devote an entire room to them. A Murphy bed is a great way to maintain the possibility of a guest room without committing full-time. Since a Murphy bed spends most of the time stowed in the upright position, the room can serve as a reading nook, music room, gym, or whatever else you may need.

Murphy beds come in a variety of frames, colors, and sizes, so you should have no problem finding one that looks tailor-made to fit your space. Some come with rods on the front, perfect for hanging jackets or tapestries, and others have shelves and cupboards built right in. Liven them up with plants, books, and framed photos, and your cozy spare room can become the perfect guest room in the blink of an eye (or the flip of a bed).

11. Elegant and Serene Ideas

A neutral color scheme is a great way to ensure that your guests are comfortable and feel right at home. You should decorate the room to suit your tastes. After all, it is a part of your home, even if you don’t spend much time there. But, dialing back any loud patterns or bold color contrasts will help your visitors settle into the space.

Light off-whites, beiges, greys, and tans make the space feel cozy and airy, or you could throw in a black or dark gray for an accent. If your neutral guest room still seems to be falling flat, add some plants. They’ll bring a fresh, earthy vibe to the room, making it feel comfortable and lived-in. After all, someone must be watering them! Low-maintenance greenery like ZZ plants, snake plants, and succulents are all pretty hardy. They’ll allow you some leeway in case you don’t remember to check up on them quite as often as you should.

12. Creating a Cozy Seating Area

A seating area is just the feature to take your guest room from good to great. It adds a touch of luxury to your visitors’ stay, and it has the bonus of making the room a nice place to relax when you’re not hosting.

An armchair in the corner between a side table and a small bookshelf can make for a cozy reading nook, especially with a big window behind it. Looking to seat more people? Slide a couch against a wall or at the foot of the bed to accommodate more guests. Footstools, throw blankets, and a stack of interesting coffee table books will work together to create a comfortable space. So comfortable, in fact, that you might have a problem getting guests to leave.

13. Captivating Statement Walls

While you want guests to find their room restful and soothing, that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. A statement wall is a great way to add personality without overwhelming the space. It adds visual interest without taking up floor or dresser space, which your visitors will appreciate as they settle into the room.

An accent wall featuring a bold color combo or strikingly patterned wallpaper will liven up what was once a boring, empty wall. Choose your favorite color and paint one wall. Whether it’s the slate gray bed sheets or the cobalt blue alarm clock, look for wallpaper that ties in with that favorite color. Coordinating colors like this keeps the room cohesive without making things overly matchy-matchy.

14. Fresh and Airy

An all-white bedroom is chic, timeless, and luxurious—what better way to emulate a five-star hotel than by laying down some crisp, pure white linens? Look for uniquely textured decor to add visual interest without compromising the serenity of the color scheme. Weathered wood closet doors or a white jacquard duvet cover to keep things interesting without introducing new colors that interrupt the gaze.

If you want that all-white aesthetic without going totally pigment-free, incorporate accents in the same color family. Accentuate wood flooring with wood furniture, tan curtains, or a pale orange rug. Pair green wall art with an emerald green armchair and a surfeit of plants in ceramic pots. You can break up a snow-white room without jarring the eye as long as you keep the color palette relatively un-busy.

FAQs

How do I make my guest bedroom comfortable?

Nobody wants to be overly aware of the fact that they’re staying in someone else’s house. Keep your guest room free of clutter. Provide an empty closet or dresser so visitors don’t have to hang their clothes next to yours. Minimalist decor can serve as something of a blank slate for your guests.

What should every guest bedroom have?

Fresh towels, clean bedding, and mini versions of toiletries are all guest room essentials. Convenient power outlets can also be a huge benefit to the room. You might not be able to move them around, but keeping them in mind when arranging furniture can make a world of difference.

What color should I paint my guest bedroom?

Since most of the time that your guests spend in their room is for resting, stick to calm, restful color palettes. Warm tones and bright colors are generally more energizing, so your best bet would be a light neutral or a muted shade of blue or green.