Designing Your Guestroom

Your guest room is unlikely to be the most used part of your home unless, of course, you have guests all year round.

Whether you frequently entertain guests or not; a guestroom is a great addition to your home. It also presents a great opportunity to try out new decorating ideas. And if you like some of these ideas, you can implement them in other parts of the home. Here are a few ways to decorate your guest room.

Buy a great bed

In a spare bedroom, the focal point is more likely to be the bed. Make it great. If your bedroom has hardwood flooring, you should invest in a country brass bed. Sleigh beds, trundle beds and canopy beds are all great choices for your guestroom.

If you just bought a new home, you probably can't spend a lot of money on furnishings.  That said, you must still splurge on good bed linens. Bedding is perhaps the most prominent design element in a bed room. A classic bed with luxurious linens will instantly make your spare bedroom attractive and inviting.

Choose an attractive color palette

Watercolor palettes tend to work well for spare bedrooms because they provide ample opportunities for experimenting. Country coastal designs and patterns are quite popular right now. Make sure that your color palette includes natural beach colors and muted shades. Peaches and pinks that remind you of seashells and sky blues will lend a soothing touch to your spare bedroom. You may also add a touch of yellow to create the feel of a sunset. Choose a white palette for your walls and furniture. They will allow the colorful linens to instantly grab attention.

Furnish the room well

If your guest room is spacious, there is ample scope for furnishing. Your guest may prefer to have breakfast in the bedroom. In that case, a table and one or two stools are a must.

As a great host/hostess you will definitely want to invite your guests to join you for tea or coffee. However, you must still consider adding a coffee maker in your spare bedroom. You should also provide a comfortable chair.

If your guest enjoys reading, a lamp, a chair and a table will be highly appreciated. Think about what people might like and add those elements.

Provide entertainment

Provide all possible forms of entertainment. Your guest room should have a television, stereo, DVD player and radio. You should also have a nice collection of DVDs, MP3s, and a cable connection.

Include a small bookcase. While choosing books for your guestroom library, look for both classic and new titles. You don't know what your guest will enjoy reading.

A well-designed guest room will make your guests comfortable when they spend time under your roof. It is also a great place to showcase your taste and hospitality.

While designing your spare bedroom, forget about your personal preferences. Remember that a guestroom is not the right place to experiment with those garish colors and patterns that you secretly admire. Instead, opt for colors and patterns that will appeal to a wider audience. Neutral shades are ideal for this.