Holiday hosting can be stressful, but preparing the guest room shouldn’t be. A few simple touches can infuse that sparse extra bedroom with festivity and charm. “If you create the space once and do it well, you shouldn’t have to spend time every time a guest is coming,” says interior designer Laura Yeager Smith. She shares five tips sure to enchant your guests this holiday season.
Layer up.Transform the bed into a cushy oasis for your guests by layering soft and firm pillows, lightweight blankets and a down comforter over 400-thread-count cotton sheets. Varied bedding allows your guest to customize their experience. “I think layers are really inviting,” Yeager Smith says. “It shows guests that you’ve considered their needs — and it looks pretty on the bed.”
Close the curtains.
The more natural light allowed into the room, the better, but let guests set their own bedtimes with curtains or shutters they can close. “My go-to for window treatments is drapery panels,” Yeager Smith says. “It adds a softness to the space.”
Keep it festive.
Bring the holidays into the room with a seasonal touch. Fill a vase with twigs or leaves in the fall and pine branches in the winter. “If it’s around the holidays, maybe put something like a wreath in the room, or a throw that has more seasonal colors,” Yeager Smith says. “It’s nice to have those hues woven within the space.”
Supply snacks.
Don’t force your hungry guests to scrounge through your kitchen cupboards in the middle of the night. Leave a pitcher of water, some glasses and a few prepackaged snacks (avoiding anything too messy) on a table or bench in the room. “Extra points for local flair,” Yeager Smith says. “CLE-based goodies give guests a true taste of the town.”
Make some space.
No space for a dedicated guest room? Double-duty the home office or den by adding a sleeper sofa or air mattress that’s ready to go whenever a guest arrives. Alternately, move one of the kids to another part of the house for the duration of the visit. “When a guest arrives, show them their space,” Yeager Smith says. “Show them the place you prepared for them to use so they are comfortable.”
