1. Pick a style and run with it

A guest room should follow your home style, albeit a scaled-back version, but it should feel like a part of the rest of the home.

Start by picking a guest room design style and colour palette. From there, you can bring every detail back to that look to keep the space feeling cohesive and intentional.

To create a whisper of luxury, style a hotel-like bedroom with neutral tones, symmetrical layouts and tasteful artwork.

Bring energy to the space with a playful mix of colours and patterns like hot pink, vanilla and cherry red with checkerboard for an eclectic look. Or lean into the dreamy vibe with powdery pinks, greens, blues and creams with rustic furniture for a shabby chic style.

2. Focus on the floor plan  

The way you lay out your room can make all the difference, especially when space is limited. Small guest bedroom ideas include using ottoman beds to make the space go further, or bunk beds to cater for multiple people.

Sometimes guests can be a couple, friends, or children, so sleeping arrangements need to be adaptable. A large divan beds is the perfect solution, thanks to an adjustable frame to create twin beds or a double bed.

3. A good night's sleep

The bed is arguably the most important element of any bedroom, guest or not, because everyone wants a good night’s sleep.

For small guest rooms, incorporating more than just somewhere to sleep can make a space feel cramped. But with sofa beds, you get two in one. Your guests can relax on the sofa to watch a film, have a nap or read a good book, and with a few quick adjustments, it becomes their bed for the night.

Investing in a high-quality sofa bed and luxurious bedding can make the sofa bed more comfortable.

Sofa beds can also make a guest room multipurpose. When there are no overnight guests, the room can be used as a games space, library or cinema room, which can become a guest room when needed.

Bed type aside, the way you dress the bed is what matters the most. From selecting the comfiest mattress to adorning it with cushions, blankets and throws, every detail matters.

5. Room for activities

A guest room isn’t just used to sleep, and it’s important to give guests a private space to reset when they need it.

Adding various seating, like sofas and chairs depending on the space available, creates a space to unwind away from the bed. You can also bring in dressing tables for getting ready, and desks for hobbies or browsing on a laptop.

Nine times out of ten, your guests will have luggage, no matter how long they’re staying. Consider this when designing the room to avoid creating clutter.

Foldable luggage racks, or subtle storage nooks, can be perfect for keeping luggage out of the way. But also give them a place to unpack because let’s face it, no one enjoys living out of a suitcase for too long, so add wardrobes and functional nightstands for them to use.

7. Bringing in plant life  

Rejuvenate the space with potted plants and fresh flowers to make the room feel welcoming and energised.

Scatter small succulents and blossoming plants on window sills, shelves, and nightstands, or hang them in baskets from the ceiling. For rooms with plenty of floor space, add large leafy plants in corners, by lamps or furniture.

If looking after plants isn’t your thing, buy fresh flowers whenever a guest stays over and put them in beautiful vases by the bed or window, pick their favourite flower or colours to really welcome them in.

8. Light up the room

Lighting changes a room dramatically. Integrating multiple lighting options gives your guests the flexibility to choose what type of setting they want. Hang pendant lights in the centre of the ceiling or on either side of a double bed to create a light that fills the room.

Pop a lamp in the room corner, or behind a sofa for a cosier space, and for dreamy lighting, layer string lights, candles, and soft lamps to create a warm, relaxing feel.

9. Accessorising the space

Once the functional elements are in place, it’s time to accessorise.

Find an art style that complements your design choices, and hang them on the walls. Get creative with a gallery wall with varying colours, shapes and sizes of frames. Rounded and asymmetrical mirrors can add contrast, or you could prop a large standing one by a wardrobe for a place to try on outfits.

Scatter trinkets around the room like bookends, jewellery dishes, pictures and clocks for that homely style.

If you’re someone who loves to decorate with the seasons, find festive bedding, cushions and accessories for Christmas, Halloween, and other special occasions.