Essential Items to Include in Your Guest Room

by Corcoran McEnearney

Anthony Wilder Design/Build – Wilderworks bedroom designed by Sydney Levy, photo by John Cole

Holiday guests will be knocking on your front door before you know it! To ensure that your guest room is well-equipped for the season, you’ll want to take some time in the coming weeks to make it as cozy and welcoming as possible using these tips from DMV designers.

Incorporate plush touches

Make your at-home guest room feel like a fancy getaway by weaving in soft accents. “We like to design guest bedrooms that feel like a hotel with plush and luxurious bed linens, soft rugs, and warm tones,” says Sydney Levy, a designer with Anthony Wilder Design/Build.

Anthony Wilder Design/Build – Wilderworks bedroom designed by Sydney Levy, photo by John Cole

Treat your visitors to some small items

Take your guest’s experience to the next level by treating them to a small basket of essentials. “I recommend having a beautiful box filled with snacks, mints, small water bottles and sparkling water,” says Sallie Lord, the founder of GreyHunt Interiors. “It will look stunning on a dresser or desk and also lets your guest know you care about how they feel during their stay.”

Other nice touches include a magazine (set out a regional one to get guests into the hometown spirit), a small stack of books, and of course, fresh flowers.

Design by GreyHunt Interiors, photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Supply plenty of towels

When in doubt, opt for more towels rather than less in the guest room. Lord recommends setting out extra clean, fluffy towels as well as a robe, if possible.

Write down the wifi password

Most people will prefer to log onto your home’s wifi rather than burning through data on their phone, and those who do need to sneak a few emails on their laptop will also want access to your login info. Write it down and place it on the bedside table so that it’s easy to reference at all times.

Hide personal effects

If you use your guest room as an office or home gym when you don’t have visitors, make sure to tuck away your file folders and hand weights to create a serene space for guests to unwind. No one wants to be reminded of their to-do list or workout regimen while trying to relax during the holidays!

Sarah Lyon Headshot

Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9