Essentials for Making your Guest Room Ready for the Holidays
We don’t have a designated guest room in our house, but rather a guest room-slash-office with a murphy bed. It is really a small space and even more so with the bed flipped down. But that does not mean it’s not a comfortable space! With the holidays just around the corner, I thought that I would put together a list of essentials to make your guest room comfortable and welcoming for your guests!
This post is sponsored by Wayfair, but all opinions are my own.
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I completed my guest room/ office space last year and I’ve had a few family members and guests come to stay since then, and I’ve realized that there are a few things I could do to make the space a bit more comfortable. So I partnered with Wayfair and put together a little list of everything I did to make the room more inviting and comfortable for my overnight guests!
Whenever I am getting ready for holiday guests, Wayfair is my go-to source. They have fast shipping, and a huge selection of items in every price range. Whenever I can’t decide, I lean towards products that are “Wayfair Verified”. This means that Wayfair has carefully inspected the item for quality and price, and that buyers have consistently given it a good review. I feel like you can’t go wrong choosing a verified item!
Here are a few tips for your to get your space ready for Holiday entertaining!
Charging Station
Our Murphy bed has a plug in behind the bed, but it’s hard to see back there and even harder to reach. Because there are built ins next to the murphy bed, this is the only outlet on this wall.
In order for my guests to be able to access this better, I decided to add an outlet to the headboard area. The one I chose from Wayfair also has USB ports so that it’s easy to use to plug in devices at night. I love the idea of installing a USB charger in a nightstand (or in my case, right into my Murphy Bed’s headboard) to make it easy for my guests to charge their devices.
All I did was drill a hole in my headboard to secure the charging port, and plug it in to the outlet that is hidden behind the bed! This would also be a great addition to any nightstand.
I also included an extra phone charger on the nightstand in case my guests forgot theirs.
Towels
No one wants to go asking for towels from their hosts, so why not include them right in the room for your guests? I got a fluffy new set of fresh towels from Wayfair that I will leave out in the room so no one has to ask when they need them.
The set I got includes a bath towel, hand towel and facecloth for two, and I love the little black trim detail. I usually just place them on the foot of the bed so that guests see them right away.
Bottles of Water or Carafe
I like to leave water in the room for my guests so don’t have to stumble around in the dark in a strange kitchen if they wake up in the middle of the night feeling parched. You can simple leave out a bottle of water, but I took it a step further and added this cute water carafe that my sister made to the nightstand.
The carafe lid is also the drinking glass, so I can fill this up with ice water and pop the lid on, and it feels a lot more welcoming than a plastic water bottle. Plus, it’s a cute styling piece or vase when not being used for guests! If you don’t have a sister who can make you one of these, I found this cute vintage style one on Wayfair!
Comfortable Bedding
There is nothing more inviting than a cozy bed, am I right? The key to a cozy bed is layers.
I like to start with a great set of comfortable sheets and fresh linens. I recently got a new set of sheets for my guest bed that adds just a little pop of pattern, and they are so soft too!
Along with soft sheets, I like to add a few different layers to the bed so people can choose how little or how much bedding they would like. I usually layer a duvet with a lighter quilt. That way people can use either one, or both, depending on how hot or cold they sleep. I always add a decorative pillow too, you want the bedding to feel really luxe!
I also bought a couple of new sleeping pillows for our guest bed. Nothing ruins a good night’s sleep more than a bad pillow! I snagged a couple of these on Wayfair after reading all of the glowing reviews! I also love that these are Wayfair Verified, which means it has been carefully inspected by Wayfair staff and the price is good! I liked that these ones were good for all types of sleepers.
I love the idea of adding a cute festive pillow like this one to give the room a little holiday magic!
Bedside Table
Because my Murphy Bed is built into a bookcase, we have a bit of a bedside table issue. On one side, we actually have a slide out shelf that acts as a nightstand for guests, which is pretty handy!
On the other side, however, there is nothing there. To combat this, I brought in one of my small cocktail tables to act as a bedside table. Just a little spot for someone to put their book or their glasses or other essential items.
I have two of these tables and they normally live in my theatre room, but they are so light and portable that I find myself moving them all over the house! If you don’t have space for a full size nightstand, this works great!
Wifi Password
I like to include a little framed picture with my home’s network name and Wifi Password, so guest know that they are welcome to use it. Those little extra touches are a great way to make guests feel at home.
Storage
If you have a closet in your guest space, clearing out a little room for your guests and including a few extra hangers to use is a nice idea. Include a luggage rack like this one from Wayfair in your closet gives your guests an alternative to leaving their luggage on the floor.
In our guest room we don’t have a closet, but I do leave a couple of drawers empty in my built in for their use. I also have some wall hooks that I leave empty so they can hang a couple of things during their stay.
Clock
I think it’s nice to include a clock in the space, preferably an alarm clock. Although a lot of people use their phones these days, it’s nice for your guests to just roll over and see the time rather than having to search around for their phones.
I grabbed this one from Wayfair because it can be battery powered or plug in. The bonus part is that if this is plugged in, it can be used as a wireless phone charger too! So my guests can move it to the headboard and plug it in to the charging station I installed if they need a charger. I love that this one is very minimal and adds a touch of warmth with the wood tones.
But First…. Coffee
Before they retire for the night, make sure you’re guests know that they are welcome to make themselves a little hot drink whenever they like. Show them where the coffee and tea are and if needed, some directions on how to use your coffee maker. Your guests will appreciate you going the extra mile, and will feel comfortable if they get up before you and want to make themselves a hot drink!
Tissues and Toiletries
Make sure you have a tissue box out and full! If you really want to go the extra mile, you can make a little gift basket of a few extra toiletries in case they forget.
In the bathroom that they are using, make sure to have all the things they might need in the shower. I have body wash, shampoo and conditioner in some cute bottles I decanted shampoo into.
NO ONE wants to have to ask you for a spare roll. Make sure that you have plenty of extra toilet paper available and that it’s in an obvious location in the guest bathroom. We have a small basket next to the toilet that you really can’t miss!
Bedside Lamp
A bedside lamp or two is essential! Because of the way my murphy bed is built into a bookcase, I didn’t have a space to plug one in. The last time my mother in law stayed here she asked to borrow a lamp to read, so I needed to find a solution before the upcoming Holiday Season.
I ended up getting this cute wireless one I can put it on the slide out bookcase or the side table, and I make sure to have it charged and ready for guests to use.
Blinds or Curtains
Make sure you don’t have a naked window! Your guests need their privacy and ability to control light. If you have blackout curtains or blackout shades, that is ideal! I have blinds on my window but they are not blackout, so that is in the list to upgrade next for a perfect guest room!
The Extras
If you have the room for it and really want to create a welcoming atmosphere, consider fresh flowers, snack baskets, or a TV with streaming services. Those little extra touches will really make a guest feel welcome and give your room the feel of a luxury hotel!
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I hope this gives you a few ideas for making your guest room inviting and guest ready, with the holidays approaching! I’ve linked below all the extra little guest room essentials from Wayfair. Just a few thoughtful touches and my small guest bedroom has become so welcoming and I feel much more ready for Holiday Entertaining!
(Click directly on the photo for each link!)
Absolutely love everything about this room and how you’ve mixed the colors and patterns! I’m guessing the natural fiber rug isn’t Wayfair but would love to know where you found it. Looking to redo our guest room to two twins for grandkids and guests and this is all right up my alley. Love the colors with the blue-you’re so good at that and are much braver than I am!
Thank you!