How to Prepare a Guest Room for Holiday Visitors: 7 Simple Steps
When family or friends come to stay over the holidays, the guest room is the one space in the house that is entirely theirs. It is also the room most of us ignore for the rest of the year. It collects the exercise bike, the gift wrap, the boxes nobody has unpacked and a bed nobody has slept in since last winter.
A comfortable guest room does not need new furniture or a big budget. It needs a clear surface or two, a bed that is actually comfortable, good light and a few thoughtful extras. These seven steps will get the room ready in an afternoon or two.
1. Sleep in the Room Yourself First
The quickest way to find out what is wrong with a guest room is to spend a night in it. You will notice things you would miss during a quick tidy: a streetlight shining through a gap in the curtains, a radiator that clanks at 3 a.m., a mattress that dips in the middle, or a lamp you can't reach from the bed.
If a full night is not practical, at least lie down on the bed, switch off the overhead light and look around. Can you turn on a light without getting up? Is there somewhere to put a phone and a glass of water? Does the door close properly? Make a short list and fix those things first, before you think about decorating.
2. Make the Bed With Fresh, Layered Bedding
Bedding that has been sitting in a closet all year can smell musty, even if it was clean when you put it away. Wash the sheets, pillowcases and duvet cover a few days before your guests arrive and make the bed as soon as everything is completely dry. Check the pillows too. If they are flat or stained, follow the care label to wash them, or replace them.
Layers are kinder than one heavy comforter, because everyone sleeps differently. A fitted sheet, a flat sheet, a lighter blanket and a duvet or quilt let guests adjust during the night without having to ask. Leave an extra throw folded at the foot of the bed or over a chair.
Pillows matter more than most hosts think. If you can, offer two kinds, one firmer and one softer, so side sleepers and back sleepers can both get comfortable.
3. Clear Space for Their Things
Nothing makes a guest feel more like they are in the way than living out of a suitcase on the floor because every drawer is full. Empty at least one drawer or shelf, and clear a section of the closet rail. Add a handful of matching hangers so coats and holiday outfits can be hung up right away.
If the guest room is also your office, storage room or gift-wrapping station, box up anything you will not need during the visit and move it somewhere else for now. Clear the nightstand and the top of the dresser too. Guests need a flat spot for glasses, a book, jewelry and a phone, and they will not want to move your things to make room.
A place for the suitcase helps a lot. A folding luggage rack is ideal, but a bench, a sturdy chair or a cleared corner next to the dresser works just as well.
4. Get the Lighting Right
A single ceiling light is not enough for a bedroom. Guests need a lamp they can switch on and off from the bed, ideally with a warm bulb that is still bright enough to read by. If two people will share the bed, a lamp on each side saves an awkward reach across.
Think about the trip to the bathroom in the dark, too. A small plug-in night light in the hallway or bathroom helps someone find their way in a house they don't know. Then check the window. Streetlights, car headlights and early sunrises can wake light sleepers, and thin curtains do little to stop them. Blackout curtains or a simple blackout liner behind the existing curtains are an inexpensive fix.
5. Set a Comfortable Temperature
Spare rooms are often the coldest rooms in the house, especially if the heating has been turned down or the vents closed for months. Open the vents or turn the radiator back on a day or two before guests arrive so the room has time to warm up properly.
Don't overdo it, though. The Sleep Foundation suggests a bedroom temperature of around 65°F (about 18°C) for most people, and many of us sleep better in a slightly cool room with a warm blanket than in a hot one. Show your guests how to adjust the thermostat or radiator, and leave an extra blanket within reach. A small fan is welcome for anyone who runs warm.
While you are at it, test the smoke alarm nearest the guest room. It only takes a moment and it is easy to forget in a room that has not been used for a while.
6. Put Out Fresh Towels and a Few Small Extras
Set out a clean set of towels for each guest: a bath towel, a hand towel and a washcloth. Fold them on the end of the bed or on a chair where they are easy to spot, so nobody has to search through your linen closet.
A few small extras make a big difference:
- A water carafe or bottle and a glass on the nightstand.
- A phone charger and an outlet they can reach from the bed. Chargers are one of the things guests forget most often.
- A small card with the Wi-Fi name and password.
- A basket with a few travel-size toiletries, such as toothpaste, a spare toothbrush and shampoo, in case something was left behind.
- A box of tissues and a wastebasket.
7. Add a Light Touch of Holiday Decor
A guest room does not need a full Christmas makeover, but a few seasonal touches make it feel connected to the rest of the house. A small wreath on the door, a short garland along the headboard or window, a festive throw pillow or a bowl of pinecones on the dresser is plenty.
Keep safety in mind. Battery-operated LED candles and string lights give a similar cozy glow without an open flame next to someone who might fall asleep. Keep cords tidy and out of the walking path, and avoid anything that could be knocked off a shelf in the dark. If a guest has allergies or is sensitive to fragrance, skip scented candles and strong room sprays.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Leaving the room full of storage. Guests should not have to sleep next to stacks of boxes or a pile of unwrapped presents. If something has to stay, keep it neat and covered.
- Too many decorative pillows. If they have to be moved to a chair every night, keep two and put the rest away.
- Ignoring the window. Thin curtains are fine for a room nobody sleeps in, but not for a guest who wants to rest after a long trip.
- No mirror. A mirror in the room, even a simple one on the back of the door, means guests don't have to wait for the bathroom to get ready.
- Leaving it to the last minute. Washing bedding and clearing out a storage room take longer than you expect, especially in a busy December.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I prepare the guest room?
Start clearing the room about a week before guests arrive, so you have time to find a new home for anything stored there. Wash the bedding and make the bed two or three days ahead, and add towels and the finishing touches the day before.
What if I don't have a guest room?
Most of these steps also work for a sofa bed or an air mattress in the living room or office. Give your guest a basket or a cleared shelf for their things, a lamp they can reach, a door they can close if possible, and towels of their own.
What is the most important thing to get right?
A comfortable bed with clean bedding. Guests will forgive a plain room or a bare wall, but not a sagging mattress or a pillow that smells of the closet. If your budget is tight, a mattress topper and new pillows usually do more for your guests than anything decorative.
More Home Ideas
- Pre-Holiday Cleaning: 7 Spots to Clean Before Guests Arrive
- Christmas Decor Ideas Bedroom: Cozy & Chic Looks
- Christmas Entryway Decor: 5 Ideas for a Warm Holiday Welcome
- Winter Home Checklist: 7 Things to Check Before the Holidays
A little preparation now means your guests can settle in, sleep well and feel at home from the moment they arrive. Happy decorating!
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