12 Guest Room Design Ideas for Your Rental Home

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Updated on July 20th, 2022

If you’ve ever spent the night at a friend’s house, you know how crucial a comfortable guest room is. The comfort level of the guest room can make or break any visit, and if you’re hosting guests, you want their stay to be memorable for all the right reasons. Whether you’re renting a house in Nashville or Austin, you can implement these guest room design ideas to ensure an enjoyable experience for your guests. 

bedroom with painting above the bed

1. Remember that comfort is central to any guest room experience

The ultimate differentiator is noticing how well we slept or if we slept at all. The bedding, high-thread-count fresh linens, and comfortable, dream-inducing pillows you sink into after a long day become the deciding factor. And all of it matters, including the scent of the pillowcase covers. Avoid overpowering scents that give you a headache and stick with odorless or something light, like a fresh, breezy summer day. If the goal is to wake up refreshed and well-rested, then quality materials are key to achieving that. Your guests will thank you and may even come back. – Belle Vue

2. Provide easy access to lights and include a chair or bench

  1. Always have a chair in the corner or a bench at the end of the bed.
  2. Blackout lining for drapery is a must!
  3. Have your nicest linens and pillows on your guest bed – they’ll want to come back!
  4. Have easy access to a light on the bedside table.
  5. Test trial a night in your guest room to see what else you may need! – Blue Print

3. Incorporate some personality in your guest room design

A guest room is a space you can take some creative chances with, as it’s not a room you’ll be using every day. Feel free to inject guest rooms with some whimsy by using gorgeous wallpaper or a more bold color choice on the walls as long as it matches the mood you’d like to set for your guests. – Lincoln Home & Design

4. Use shades in your guest room to manage lighting

Offer your guests light control in their environment through window coverings and layered lighting techniques. Guest rooms should include bedside or wall-mounted lamps, overhead lighting, and a nightlight. Using blackout window shades with decorative drapery panels to remove light gaps will ensure a peaceful dream-inducing sleeping environment. – SPRUCED

5. Include a storage bench in your guest room

A storage bench is fantastic for storing sheets and towels, and it doubles as a coffee table by placing a tray on top. Add some flowers, and it’s ready to welcome a couple of cocktails for guests. – Splendor Styling

6. Have the essentials on hand when designing a guest room

Plan guest bedrooms with five key points in mind:

  1. Provide a comfortable bed and bedding.
  2. Plan an ergonomic space to place a suitcase. 
  3. Help guests stay connected by checking if the room’s wi-fi signal and password are available. 
  4. If space allows, plan a cool workspace corner.
  5. Most importantly, ensure guests have privacy by using solid doors, blackout and sheer curtains, and wall insulation. Always remember to give a local touch to a guest room, whether a painting or sculpture from a local artist or an exciting framed picture of the town. – Casa Alta Design

7. Treat your guest room as if it were your own

Design your guest room as if it’s your own primary bedroom, and treat your guests like they’re staying in a hotel room. Have water bottles on the side table, small candles, and warm towels rolled on a tray. Double up on the duvet cover inserts for that extra fluffy look and feel to the bed. Create a soothing atmosphere with a calming color palette and soft accent lighting. – BDesign’D

8. Decorate your guest room with antiques and repurposed items

To create a one-of-a-kind look for your guests while doing something positive for the environment, we encourage people to shop estate sales and antique shops for interesting furnishings and architectural materials. If what you find doesn’t quite fit with your design scheme, think creatively about how they could be repurposed or refinished to become the perfect piece. For example, you can use old door casings to create a beautiful chair rail. – Harmony Interiors

lamp on a nightstand

9. Be mindful of the lighting in your guest room

Don’t overlook the lighting. It may seem obvious, but so many guest spaces lack soft task lighting – it’s a minor detail that makes a huge difference to how cozy and warm your guest space feels. – Emmerson & Fifteenth

10. Draw inspiration from luxury hotels for your guest room design

Want to wow your guests? Think luxurious hotel room amenities. Add a gorgeous credenza with room to place a mini fridge inside and fill it with refreshments and snacks. Your guests will love the bold, fun, and thoughtful idea. – Habitation Furnishing + Design

11. Be bold with your guest room design

The guest room is usually the graveyard of leftover furniture, but it can be a great place to go bold with your guest room design. Play around with colors, patterns, and a hint of the unexpected. There are design risks you can take here that you can’t in other parts of your home that you live in every day. – Flourish Spaces

12. Use fresh scents to set the atmosphere in the guest room

Always keep fresh flowers on the bedside table, a bottle of water, and a scented candle that is very clean and light in fragrance to set the ambiance. Make sure your guest has body wash, shampoo, conditioner, hand wash, and lotion that smells clean and luxurious. – Carolyn Siden Interiors

 

Chibuzo is part of the content marketing team and enjoys writing about local insights and home improvement. His dream home is a Mediterranean-style house with a large kitchen and plenty of windows.
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