The holidays are almost here. If you’re lucky enough to have a guest room, chances are good that you’ll be hosting someone there this holiday season. Of course, you want your guests to be comfortable. Here’s how to treat your guests like they’re staying at a Boutique Hotel with just enough conveniences to indulge their inner 5 class traveller but not enough space for them to move in! It’s all about the bedroom, having a nice retreat from the chaos is really what every guest craves.
create an inviting nightstand
Just like at a hotel guests want a place to rest their water glass at night, place a book and even plug in their cell phone. Too often people select nightstands that are too small for the scale of their bed and often too short. It’s important that your guest can easily reach their personal items when sitting in bed without having to bend over. Add in some festive touches and perhaps add an alarm clock and water glass and glass set.
have a light for reading
Unless your guest passes out from one too many glasses of mulled wine, they will likely want to read before going to sleep at night. Whether it be on an electronic device or a book. Make sure you have enough pillows and either a standard table lamp or an articulated reading light. Don’t rely on overhead lighting. You also want your guest to be able to turn that light out without stepping out of bed, just like in a fancy hotel.
indulge in a comfortable mattress
The one area you should never cheap out on is the mattress. The benefits and importance of a good night’s sleep cannot be underestimated – you will want a well-rested guest the next morning. Look at Canadian companies like ENDY (endy.com) that offer the perfect balance of comfort and support with their foam mattresses and pillows at affordable prices that ships free directly to your door. No added hassle of going to the store, this bestselling mattress comes rolled up in box the size of a hockey bag and can be easily transported even to your cottage. No more sore backs and cranky mother-in-law!
block the light
Drapery and window treatments are often overlooked all together in a guest room. A good night’s sleep can be interrupted by city lights or early sunrise and again you want your guests WELL RESTED! As a designer, I like to layer window treatments, one layer for privacy and the other for darkness. There is no one size fits all solution, but an easy option is a roller blind for privacy and fully closing blackout drapery to really block the pesky sunlight.
Keep these tips in mind when designing an inviting retreat for holiday guests. Invest in quality and plan for function and your guests will be well rested and happy during their stay. Just don’t leave them too much room in the closet or they may never want to leave!
Rebecca Hay, is the Principal Designer of Rebecca Hay Designs Inc. This Toronto award winning boutique design firm for over decade has been offering complete design & renovation services for residential, commercial and vacation properties. Known and celebrated for her design work and appearances on various acclaimed HGTV shows, Rebecca and her team design classic livable spaces that reflect their owner’s personality. Servicing clientele throughout Canada. RebeccaHayDesigns.com