Hosting family or friends over Christmas and wondering how to make your guest room cosy enough for everyone to actually sleep well? Wonderful… until you suddenly notice the spare bed is a bit sad, the pillows are flat as pancakes and there’s nowhere to put a suitcase.
A little bit of planning turns that slightly apologetic box room into a space guests will genuinely look forward to staying in. These guest room ideas are all about quiet luxury: comfy beds, natural bedding, hotel-style touches and one or two spoiling extras. Nothing over the top – just a room that feels thoughtful, warm and properly welcoming.
Whether you have a generous spare bedroom or you’re dealing with small guest room ideas in a boxy space that usually does three other jobs, here’s how to decorate a guest room so it feels like a tiny boutique hotel at home.
Start with a seriously comfortable bed
Let’s be honest: if the bed’s not comfortable, nothing else really matters. You can have the chicest cushions in the world – if your guest spends the night rolling into a dip in the middle of the mattress, they’ll remember that, not the linen throw.
If a brand-new mattress isn’t on the cards, start with a good topper. It’s the fastest way to hide a multitude of sins, smoothing out lumps and bumps and giving everything a bit more “ahh” when they first lie down. Layer it with crisp cotton or linen sheets, a decent duvet and two pillows per person so they can pick their preferred level of squish.
Fold an extra blanket or quilt at the end of the bed and you’ve quietly solved the “I’m cold but don’t want to rummage in their cupboards” problem in one go. It’s a tiny tweak that instantly makes a guest room feel more considered and cosy.
Cosy, breathable bedding that does the hard work
If you want to quietly upgrade the whole experience, focus on the basics: mattress topper, duvet and pillows. Natural materials like wool and cotton are brilliant in a guest room because they’re breathable and work for hot and cold sleepers. Wool is naturally temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking, so guests stay warm without that clammy, synthetic duvet feeling.
Artisan pick: breathable wool bedding (currently on sale)
We love Piglet in Bed – beautifully made, cosy bedding that instantly lifts any bedroom and gives guests the comfort of natural materials. Their merino and British wool range feels substantial but not heavy, naturally breathable and properly snug for winter stays. I use the merino wool mattress topper myself and I’m adding the duvet and pillows while they’re on sale – a worthwhile upgrade for both the guest room and your own bed.
Piglet in Bed Merino Wool Mattress Topper
A softly cushioned layer from Piglet in Bed that smooths out a tired mattress without feeling overly thick. Filled with 100% merino sheep’s wool and encased in organic cotton, it helps regulate temperature and gives guests that relaxed, hotel-bed feeling as soon as they lie down.
Piglet in Bed British Wool Duvet
Piglet in Bed’s British Wool Duvet is naturally breathable and keeps sleepers comfortably warm without the stuffiness of synthetics. The quilted cotton casing and handy corner loops help it sit neatly inside the cover, and you can choose a lighter or warmer weight to suit how cosy your house runs in winter.
Piglet in Bed Merino Wool Pillow
Cloud-soft but properly supportive, these Piglet in Bed pillows are filled with carded merino wool in an organic cotton cover. They come in different firmness levels, so you can mix soft and firm on the bed – ideal for guests who like a little say in how they sleep, and a simple way to make any bedroom feel more considered.
Choose your guest room style: country cosy or artistic eclectic
Once you’ve sorted the basics – comfy bed, decent bedding, somewhere to put a suitcase – the fun bit is giving the room a bit of personality. I like to think of it as two simple routes: country cosy, or artistic eclectic. You can mix the two of course, but picking one as your main direction stops the room feeling like a jumble sale.
Country cosy guest room
Shop the country cottage guest room
Fern Green & Dusk Blue Gingham Bedding
Rustic Wooden End-of-Bed Bench
Wooden Blanket Ladder
Thistle Hot Water Bottle Cover
Peacock Blue Herringbone Wool Throw
Cottagecore Chickens Art Print
Palo Rattan Bedside Lamp
Prices and availability are correct at the time of writing and may change.
If your heart belongs to old stone cottages, log burners and muddy boots by the back door, lean right into the country look. Keep the base calm and neutral – think soft white walls and simple wool carpet – then layer in cosy, timeless textures:
- gingham linen bedding that looks as if it’s been sun-dried on a washing line
- a rustic wooden end-of-bed bench so guests can open a suitcase or pile extra blankets
- a wooden blanket ladder stacked with throws and a dressing gown
- a knitted hot water bottle cover and soft wool throw for that tucked-up, sleepy-after-a-walk feeling
- a cottage-garden art print and woven rattan bedside lamp to bring in gentle colour and warmth
Together they make the room feel like a tiny country inn: nothing too precious, just warm light, tactile fabrics and simple wooden pieces that will still look good in ten years’ time.
If your taste is less country lane and more cocktail bar, though, you can dial down the rustic touches and switch to cleaner lines and bolder accents – that’s where the City chic guest room comes in.
City chic guest room
Start with a statement black metal bed and scalloped-edged bedding, then add a graphic rug, a sculptural chair and a Klimt-inspired lamp for a hit of colour. The look is grown-up and glamorous, but still cosy – a room where guests can throw their jacket on the open wardrobe, stack books on invisible shelves and feel like they’re staying in a boutique hotel rather than the spare room.
Shop the city chic guest room
Black Pencil Stripe Scalloped Edge Bedding Set
Peacock Bed
Dark Green Leather Club Chair
MOEBE Open Wardrobe – Oak with Black Frame
Black & Off-White Geometric Flatweave Rug
Klimt ‘The Kiss’ Decoupage Table Lamp
Queen Of Hearts Decorative Playing Card Mirror
Invisible Floating Wall-Mounted Metal Bookshelves
Prices and availability are correct at the time of writing and may change.
Which guest room style are you?
So, are you team Country Cottage – all gingham, wool throws and hot-water bottles – or team City Chic, with graphic rugs, metalwork and a hint of drama? Both looks start with the same basics: a comfortable bed, good lighting and somewhere to unpack. It’s the layers you add on top that change the mood.
Whether you’ve gone full country cosy, city chic, or a mix of the two, a few small touches will make any guest room feel like a treat to stay in. These ideas work whatever your style.
Add hotel-style details on the bedside
You don’t need a matching pair of designer tables to make a guest room feel cosy. For guest room furniture, anything solid enough for a lamp, book and drink will do: a small stool, stack of nesting tables or even a slim wall shelf works brilliantly in a tight space.
Aim for a warm, soft lamp rather than anything that could interrogate suspects; guests will want to read, scroll or quietly decompress after everyone else has gone to bed.
Now think about the little touches you appreciate in a good hotel:
- a carafe and glass of water
- a tiny trinket dish for rings and watches
- a spare phone charger already plugged in
If you’ve got an old-school alarm clock hiding in a drawer, bring it out. It looks charming and means they don’t have to sleep with their phone right by their head.
Give guests space for their stuff
Even the loveliest colour palette won’t fix a room if your guest has to live out of a half-open suitcase on the floor. Clearing a bit of space – and making it obvious it’s for them – is one of the kindest ways to make a guest room feel welcoming.
If you have a wardrobe, free up a small section with a handful of decent hangers (wooden if you have them; those wiry dry-cleaning ones are nobody’s friend). No wardrobe? A simple rail or a few sturdy wall hooks will do the job. Add a hook on the back of the door for coats and dressing gowns and you’re already ahead.
A luggage rack, bench or ottoman gives them somewhere to lay a suitcase flat without blocking the whole room. In a tiny space, even a strong side table will work – anything that means they’re not crouched on the floor rummaging for pyjamas.
If the room doubles as your office, try to give them one clear drawer or shelf and a small bit of the desk they can claim. It doesn’t have to be much; it’s the gesture that turns a box room into a proper spare bedroom rather than “the room where Mum’s paperwork lives”.
Winter cosiness: robes, slippers and knits
Christmas visits are all about slow mornings and late-night raids on the leftovers, so having something to throw over pyjamas makes life easier for everyone. A couple of spare dressing gowns on the back of the door, plus soft slippers or slipper socks in a basket, instantly dial up the “hotel at home” feel.
If your house runs cold or you live somewhere properly nippy, go one step further with winter accessories. Leave a warm hat and gloves in the room – ideal for early-morning dog walks, dashes to the corner shop or teenagers sneaking out to sit in the garden with a hot chocolate.
A hot-water bottle slipped into the bed before they turn in, or a discreet heated throw folded at the foot, is peak mum-energy. It costs pennies but makes you look like you have your life far more together than you probably feel.
Tiny luxuries that feel like a hotel stay
If you’re wondering what to put in a guest room beyond the obvious bed and lamp, start with a small tray of sensible bits. You don’t need a trolley of miniatures; just think of everything a tired guest might be annoyed to have forgotten and put it all in one place:
- travel-sized shampoo and conditioner
- a decent bar of soap or pump handwash
- cotton pads and cotton buds
- spare toothbrush and toothpaste
- lip balm and hand cream
Pop in a packet of panadol and a box of tissues and you’ve basically covered every “Do you happen to have…?” conversation before it happens.
If the bathroom is along the hall, stack their towels in the room with a clear “these are yours” note. A simple basket with a bath sheet, hand towel and flannel looks sweet and stops any towel-toing and fro-ing. Slip a hairdryer in the wardrobe or bedside drawer and mention it when you show them around – people rarely like to ask.
This sort of thing is exactly how to make a guest room feel welcoming: most of it costs very little, but it makes guests feel properly looked after.
Make a multi-use room pull its weight
Most of us don’t have a spare room just sitting there waiting for Christmas. The guest bed often shares with a home office, craft room or box room that usually does all the heavy lifting.
If that’s you, lean into flexible furniture. A smart daybed or sofa bed can be layered up with cushions the rest of the year, then dressed with crisp white bedding and a throw when guests arrive. Wall-mounted shelves or picture ledges work brilliantly as floating bedside tables – just enough for a lamp, book and glass of water without stealing precious floor space.
Before guests arrive, do a quick “how to decorate a guest room” sweep:
- clear paperwork into one lidded box
- corral cables in a basket
- hide anything obviously work-ish
A simple portable room divider, like a curtain, screen or even a clothes rail with a throw over it can block off a desk if you don’t want them staring at your to-do list.
Good window coverings make the biggest difference in a small guest room. Blackout blinds or lined curtains mean your visitors won’t be woken at 5am by winter sun or streetlights. Add earplugs to the toiletry tray if your household gets lively early; it’s a small kindness in noisy homes.
Christmas touches – keep them gentle
The temptation with a Christmas guest room is to go full Santa’s grotto. Fun in theory, slightly overwhelming in reality. A few restrained festive touches feel calmer – and they won’t date the room once the decorations come down.
Try a simple paper star in the window, a stem of eucalyptus or rosemary in a bud vase on the bedside, and maybe a small wreath or garland over the headboard. If you’re feeling extra, lay a sprig of greenery on the folded towels or tuck it under the ribbon on the hot-water bottle.
Scent is lovely, but tread lightly. A pine, orange or woodsmoke candle or diffuser is enough; you don’t want anything so strong it gives them a headache. If you leave a candle, pop a box of matches next to it and gently remind them to blow it out at bedtime.
What to put in a guest room: quick checklist
Short on time and just want a list? Here’s a quick checklist of what to put in a guest room to make it feel cosy and welcoming:
- comfortable mattress or topper and a breathable duvet
- two pillows per person (one softer, one firmer)
- bedside table, soft lamp and phone charger
- space to hang clothes plus a hook for coats and dressing gowns
- somewhere for a suitcase – bench, ottoman or luggage rack
- towels, basic toiletries and a hairdryer
- extra blanket or quilt for chilly nights
- water by the bed and easy access to tea and coffee
- one or two Christmas touches – a sprig of greenery, a small wreath, a candle
Tick most of those off and your guest room decor is already doing more than many hotel rooms.
The only downside to a well-styled guest room? Your visitors may never want to leave.
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Guest room FAQs
How do I make a small guest room cosy?
For a small guest room, keep furniture slim and multifunctional. Swap bulky bedside tables for wall shelves, choose a daybed or sofa bed instead of a huge frame, and use wall hooks instead of extra wardrobes. Then concentrate on comfort: a good mattress topper, soft bedding, one great lamp and a couple of well-chosen cushions. Clear surfaces and tidy storage matter more than fancy paint colours when you’re short on space.
What should I put in a guest room for Christmas?
For Christmas, focus on extra warmth and tiny luxuries. Add a thicker duvet or extra blanket, a hot-water bottle, and slippers or slipper socks. Include festive touches that are easy to remove in January – a small wreath, paper star, or a sprig of greenery on the bedside. A little tray with snacks, chocolates or mince pies, plus a handwritten note with the Wi-Fi code and breakfast plans, will make the room feel properly welcoming.
How to decorate a guest room so it suits everyone?
Keep the base calm and neutral, then layer personality with textiles and art. Soft whites, warm beiges and gentle greens work for almost everyone. Add texture with linen bedding, a wool throw and a rug underfoot. Artwork, cushions and bedside accessories are where you can be a bit braver. If you’re torn between styles, err on the side of “small boutique hotel” rather than “big themed statement wall” – it’s easier to live with and appeals to more guests.
In my own house, the ideal guest weekend ends with everyone rolling out of that cosy room to something delicious – banana–spinach pancakes on a school day, or ciabatta French toast with raspberries when we’re feeling fancy. Whatever “special breakfast” looks like for you, that combination of a comfortable bed, thoughtful details and something good to eat in the morning is what really makes a guest room feel cosy, welcoming and worth coming back to – at Christmas and all year round.