10 spare bedroom ideas to make your guests comfy!

1. Brighten up the walls with décor

Just because it’s ‘spare’, doesn’t mean it should be an afterthought! If you’re planning a complete redo of your guest bedroom, start with deciding on a colour scheme for your paint or wallpaper.

Light pastel colours work well for spare rooms as it lightens the room and gives the illusion of space – this is especially useful as guest bedrooms are often on the smaller side. Shades like pale blue, green or even pink are effective and versatile, letting you accessorise with bedding and accessories to your heart’s content.

For a splash of personality, make a feature wall with some bold wallpaper which picks up the colour of your paint. The wall behind the bed is a great place for the wallpaper to go.

Don’t forget to swot up on your painting technique with our guide to painting walls and ceilings, and learn all there is to know about wallpaper with our guide to applying wallpaper.

2. Make the most of your space

Spare rooms aren’t always the biggest, so having a bed set up all the time may not be the best use of your space.

Instead, look at using a sofa bed or day bed. That way, your floor space is freed up and you can use the guest bedroom for various other things when people aren’t staying: a reading nook, yoga studio, arts & crafts studio, a den for the kids… the list goes on.

3. Make use of clever storage

Chances are that your spare room is used as an extra storage room most of the year. Because of this, it’s important to make the most of the storage space in your spare bedroom so your guests don’t feel like they’re surrounded by your stuff when they do stay!

If you can, make the most of the space under the bed with some underbed storage boxes with lids. These are ideal for spare bedding, towels or out-of-season clothing. You could make your storage space go even further by using vacuum bags to store those items you don’t need on a regular basis.

If you’re running out of storage space, why not hide your bits and bobs in plain sight with ottoman storage? Whether it’s a storage stool which sits in the corner, or a padded storage box at the end of the bed, this stylish storage is comfy and good looking in equal measure.

4. Add some greenery

Popping and indoor plant or two in your guest bedroom really livens the place up. A simple potted plant on a shelf or on the windowsill provides some colour and is a lovely decoration.

We’d recommend something small and low maintenance like a snake plant or a succulent, so it doesn’t take up too much space.

If you’re after more houseplant inspiration, you can read our blog on the top 10 best indoor plants!

5. Soften the lighting

Make your spare room as calm and cosy as possible by including a couple of different lighting options. Bedside lamps can soften the glow of the main light, or you could look at wall lights if space is limited and there’s no room for two bedside tables.

String lights add a fun dimension to your lighting, and can be used as a softer lighting to make your guest room even more inviting.

6. Grab some comfy bedding

It goes without saying that you want your guests to be comfortable, and a good set of bedding is probably the most important thing.

Though you may use different tog duvets for the main bedroom, having multiple duvets for the spare bed takes up quite a bit of space – especially if it’s only used a handful of times a year. Instead, grab a year-round 10.5 tog duvet and switch the bedding between light and breezy cotton and fleece, depending on the time of year.

Different pillows suit different sleep patterns, so it’s worth providing two so that your guests can remove one if needed.

And why not make it stylish? From block colours to geometric patterns and ornate designs, let some personality shine through with your duvet covers.

To learn more, check out our guide to duvets and pillows.

7. Have some layers handy

Help your guests to feel comfortable and well cared-for by providing some blankets and throws in colder seasons. You can simply fold these and pop them next to the bed or under the bed for your guests to use if they get chilly.

8. Keep your guests watered

There’s nothing worse than waking up in unfamiliar surroundings when you’re really thirsty, trying to navigate stairs and furniture without waking anyone and not knowing where the glasses are.

Save your guests from having to wander around during the night by simply providing some water in your guest bedroom. A small jug of water and two glasses is a nice touch, or you can keep things simple with two water bottles which you can pop on the bedside tables.

9. Give them somewhere for their stuff

Whether your guests are with you for one night or a whole week, having their own space to pop their clothes and belongings is very important. If you have a wardrobe in your spare bedroom, make some space before guests arrive by moving your stuff elsewhere.

A good space-saving option if you don’t want to put a wardrobe in the guest room would be a simple clothes rail – these are lightweight and many come with built-in shelves and hooks for more options, which are perfect for short stays.

10. Add some stunning scents

Up the zen in your spare room with some beautiful aromas! Nothing too strong – a simple diffuser or room spray can work wonders.