The Happy Turtle: Guest Post: Creating the Ultimate Guest Room

Hello friends,

Let's give a warm welcome to Jane Blanchard who is guest posting today for the Happy Turtle.

Jane works for Modernize.com, a new home design, decorating, and remodeling website.

She has written for sites like The Huffington Post, About.com and Apartment Therapy.

With more people just staying at hotels these days, the art of preparing a proper guest room is practically lost. It's not as simple as making the bed or fluffing the pillows anymore. You must make the visitor feel special and comfortable with thoughtful items and arrangements within the space. Create the ultimate guest room with these bright ideas next time someone knocks on your door.

Offer Ample Cabinet Space

Even if your guest is only staying one night, they’ll want to have some privacy for their personal items. Clean out and line a sturdy cabinet or dresser. The cabinet interior should be free of all items, encouraging guests to "move in" temporarily. Definitely add some decorations on the cabinet's top surface, but still allow ample space for guests to lay down certain items. Keys, phones and other small items get lost easily if there's no clean surface to store them on.

Via Zillow Digs

Lay out the Ground Rules

Emergencies can happen at any time, even when guests are just visiting for the night. Provide a safety list in the guest room with all emergency exits clearly marked. Even provide some local emergency numbers in case of any issues. On a more casual subject, also include the home's WiFi password with this information. With today's technology relying heavily on Internet access, it's courteous to offer the password so the visitor doesn't have to use their data plan to check email and other accounts.

Provide Easy Access to Linens

Although this host added several pillows to the bed, you don't have to create such an ornate display. Add one or two pillows to the guest bed while storing away two other pillows in an adjacent closet. Point out these pillows and blankets when the guest sets their personal items in the room. They'll feel more at home if they know where these essentials are located. You don't want your visitors to be cold at midnight without extra supplies.

Via Zillow Digs

Install a Small Refrigerator

If you really want to create the ultimate guest room, install a small refrigerator. Although it may seem like overkill, this thoughtful convenience is appreciated by nearly everyone. Fill it with bottled water, juices and other goodies. The kitchen could be just down the hall, but finding fresh water in the middle of the night could be a chore for some visitors. For seniors in particular, cold food and drinks within reach are true luxuries.

Act like a Hotel

You can't get anymore convenient than this glass cabinet. Visitors will always be in need of certain items, including tissues, toilet paper and even toothpaste. Add all the essential toiletries to a basket or a cabinet like this one. Visitors see the items immediately, making them feel like they're at home. As a good host, you want to avoid making people feel embarrassed about asking for more toilet paper, for example. Offering your home to a person creates a bond that helps them feel more comfortable visiting another time.