Chic hotel-style décor works especially well in guest bedrooms.
If you’re anything like the design team, you’ve absolutely relished the opportunity to stay in a chic hotel room dedicated to your comfort and happiness. Why not give that same boost to your guests?
Luckily for houseguests everywhere, hotel chic is a hot trend in bedroom decor, and we think it works especially well in guest bedrooms. Start the hotel look with tall headboards attached to the wall, upholstered or slip-covered, paired with brass swing-arm lamps bright enough for reading. These lamps keep bedside tables clear, and help create a sleek, elegant look.
We love the contemporary look of dark-toned simple furniture set off by the calming neutral colours on the walls and tone-on-tone carpeting or rugs, especially beside the bed. Consider a reading corner, complete with an upholstered reading chair and ottoman, paired with a good strong light. Leave magazines and other reading material on a side table. If you have space, a table and chair with a desk lamp is useful for any business or writing your guest may have to do. And of course, a chest of drawers and closet space complete with hangers is paramount.
Avoid knick-knacks at all costs. You want clean and uncluttered. Art or photos shouldn’t be too personal, such as family photos or mementos. If the guest bedroom also serves as an office, for example, make sure the space looks uncluttered while your guest is in the space. A fold-away desk looks like a neatly-closed cabinet when it is not in use.
Good hotels try to anticipate the needs of their guests, and so should you. Don’t forget basics such as a lighted clock with alarm, a cup and jug of water, extra blankets, fluffy towels, paper and pen, and tissues. Provide a nightlight near the bathroom and make sure you are stocked up on basic toiletries in case your guest has forgotten some item. And for goodness sakes, do not even consider putting grandma’s lumpy old mattress in the guest room. We’d nail you on the spot for this most discourteous of all design crimes.
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