The following article was published in the
Vermont Home Style Magazine in October 2004
and written by Annette Besaw

The Guest Room – Let Your Guests Feel Like a Million

If you are lucky enough to have an extra room in the house why not decorate it to be a guest room? Because the guest room is usually away from the main stay of the house, you can be imaginative when decorating. Make it soothing and spa like or fun and creative. If you have always wanted to use one special color, here is your chance. Use plush fabrics and restful shades and include all those special details that your guests will always remember.

If you have ever been to a bed & breakfast or a luxury hotel, you will know how it feels to be pampered. When you are decorating your guest room, take these past visits in mind. The finest details make all the difference.

MUST- HAVES
Items that are a must include a waste basket, tissues, a nightlight, and a clock with an alarm, as well as plenty of space in a closet and at least one drawer in a bureau for each guest to store their clothes.

BATH TIME
Plush towels and wash cloths will make your guest feel right at home. But don’t forget to give them a handy place to hang the towels if they don’t have an adjacent bath near by.

On your next visit to a hotel or a B & B, save all those little toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, soaps, oils, lotions, etc. and place them in a basket next to the sink, tub or on a dresser.

RESTFUL SLEEP
Use only high thread count for sheets on the bed for a comfortable feel. The higher the count the better. Have at least 2 comfy pillows, but be careful with feather pillows because some people are allergic. A comforter at the end of the bed will be greatly appreciated on those cold winter nights.

LIGHTING
Be sure there is ample lighting for reading next to the bed and at the writing desk. Think about choosing room darkening window treatments for those late morning sleep-ins. Mini blinds or pull down shades can always be hidden behind most window treatments.

DETAILED TOUCHES
When decorating think of all your senses. A thick terry cloth robe and slippers can make you feel like curling up with a book. Don’t forget your taste buds, fruit, nuts, crackers, and that special bottle of wine chilling in an ice bucket will lift anyone’s spirits and be there for that mid night snack. A small refrigerator for juices and sodas will save your guest from going to the kitchen in the middle of the night. Accessories like baskets can be used for those best seller books and recent magazines stored next to the bed. Note pads, pens and envelopes will help your guest feel right at home and let them know you have considered every detail.

Be careful when using scents in a room. A scented candle may smell good to you but not to someone else. It would be better to use fresh flowers for that perfect touch.

A vanity is a plus if your guest wants to freshen up before greeting you for breakfast. A telephone is a great convenience especially if it is a portable one. A TV will be appreciated but remember to supply a current program schedule also. A luggage rack makes dealing with suitcases an easy chore. If you have antiques use them, it will remind your guest of the past.

WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
Small space doesn’t mean small comfort. With today’s high housing costs many homeowners are using their guest room for sewing, the home office or entertainment such as a TV, an exercise or a play room, etc. If your space is small, make your furniture work double duty for you. For example a Murphy bed can save foot space and a twin bed can serve as a couch during the day. A desk can be also a sewing table and a footstool can be used for storing items like fabric or books inside.

Be warned your guest may never want to leave, but they will always remember those special touches. Test out the space yourself by moving in for a weekend. But be careful, when you get your guest room just the way you like it, you may change your mind and move in permanently yourself. It will make you feel like a million bucks.

A. B. Transformations – Annette Besaw
Interior Design and Professional Organizer
802-879-8353