How to Design a Guest Room Like a Hotel Room

Make a guest room elegant or cozy with soft lighting and fresh flowers.

Your guests don't have to believe they're at the Ritz Carlton, but if you design your guest room like a hotel room, there's built-in luxury to be had. Focus on details to make a guest room inviting and to make those guests feel treasured.

Things You'll Need

• Towels
• Candles
• Fresh flowers
• Clean sheets and towels
• Selection of reading material

Instructions

1. Design some low lighting into your guest room. Candles add ambience to the most mundane surroundings. If open flame is not your friend, think small, pretty night lights or add a small Tiffany style lamp to the end table. Add some bedside reading lamps so your guests can read in bed.

2. The best hotel rooms offer fresh flowers in a pretty vase as a focal point in the interior design. Adding a small dish of potpourri can delight yet another sense. An attractive bowl of either hard candies or individually wrapped chocolates is another nice touch.

3. Adding a basket of lotions, shampoos and conditioners, a toothbrush and toothpaste to a guest room is thoughtful. Laying out towels on the bed and placing reading material on the bedside stand will make your guests know you consider them special.

4. Add pamphlets about local attractions. If your newspaper has a weekender section, drop it on the bed along with a map of local attractions.

5. If you have a TV in the room and you know your guests' viewing habits, a handwritten menu of channels will make them feel at home.

Tips & Warnings

• A fun touch to any guestroom is a guest book for signatures, dates and remarks. You can add a photo or two that you've snapped during the visit.

• Following the tips in this article could result in guests who never leave!

References

• Martha Stewart: Preparing for Guests
• Real Simple: Houseguest Prep Checklist
• Better Homes and Gardens: Guest Bedroom Ideas