Creating a comfortable guest room. What to put in it to make it more homey for people

[Epcotmgm]

I'm redoing two empty rooms and turning into a guest room. Figure I need a queen bed, twin for the other, side tables, dresser, hangers and?? It will be used a ton in the next six months. Extra pillows and blankets in a closet? A teen family member will also be staying for a month during the summer. Should I put a small computer desk in the room? The room has its own bathroom that I plan on getting various shampoos and soaps. What do you keep in your guest room. Instead of a twin or fullin the smaller room, should I get one of those ikea sofa beds that are just chairs that turn into twins?

 

[DonnaL]

I have a wicker chair and small side table/reading lamp in my guest room and a small TV (which I sometimes use when hubby is watching sports on our big family room TV) I also like a low chest or folding luggage rack for a suitcase/overnight bag instead of needing to reach to floor to get something out. I have a lower chest (which I also use to store extra blankets, pillows inside). I also prefer a daybed with a pull/out/pop-up trundle underneath, rather than a queen bed. That way it can be utilized as two twins or pushed together for a size comparable to king size (when I do this I use a king mattress pad and sheets over both mattresses) With the daybed, the room becomes more like a sitting room when not in use as a guest room. Also, the daybed takes up far less room than a queen. Don't really think a dresser is necessary unless you want it to store linens, etc. I use the chest I have for that purpose and it serves as a low "coffee table" in front of the daybed when not in use to hold an overnight bag or suitcase. When being utilized for that, I simply put it against a wall to allow room for either the pop-up trundle or room in front of the bed. Also, never hurts to have a small night light in the guest room....so guests won't go "bump in the night" in an unfamiliar room! Oh...almost forgot I also have a small three shelf bookcase and just put any paperbacks I've already read on the bookcase.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Beyond furniture:

A power strip or outlet space for charging phones,ipads etc.
A good light to read by.
A few medicines in the bathroom (tylenol, tummy stuff etc)
A very small frig for bottle water, drinks etc.
A few magazines, or snacks in a basket for short term guest.

 

[lady9]

I also keep a basket with lotions, powder, travel size toothpaste, extra toothbrushes, a few current magazines, and some snacks like packages of cheese and crackers, raisins, individually packaged cookies, etc. I make sure there are disposable dixie cups in the bathroom as well as plenty of towels that are for guest use only. Our guest room also doubles as the room where we keep our books so there is plenty of reading material. I also have a low chest for a suitcase and chair with lamp nearby.

 

[HM]

Our guest room has a queen bed, dresser, tv, dvd player, alarm clock, chair and two side tables with lamps. There is a basket of old magazines as well. We keep the bath stocked with hotel shampoos and soaps, a nightlight, and towels.

 

[Angeni11]

We have an Ikea daybed that pulls out to make a queen bed. I like that it doesn't take up a lot of space but pulls out to fit 2 people and has storage underneath for the linens and other stuff.

 

[wiigirl]

We have an Ikea daybed that pulls out to make a queen bed. I like that it doesn't take up a lot of space but pulls out to fit 2 people and has storage underneath for the linens and other stuff.

We do to...love it!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

new tooth brushes and some ibuprofen

 

[Pixieflip]

Things I always like to have that I miss when I use my inlaws' guest room...

• tissues
• fresh bottle(s) of water
• tv

I know the tv is controversial in the bedroom, but I'm used to it at home and when I stay somewhere, it's nice to have the option to watch what I want and not share it with them, or catch up on local news or weather....I don't know, I just feel disconnected without it because I'm used to it. Maybe that's me.

 

[kkwis2]

Things I always like to have that I miss when I use my inlaws' guest room...

• tissues
• fresh bottle(s) of water
• tv

I know the tv is controversial in the bedroom, but I'm used to it at home and when I stay somewhere, it's nice to have the option to watch what I want and not share it with them, or catch up on local news or weather....I don't know, I just feel disconnected without it because I'm used to it. Maybe that's me.

I totally agree with the list above. These are exactly the things I miss when I stay at my in-laws' house. Why don't they ever have tissues ~ especially bad when my son's allergies act up while we're there!!

I also agree with the tv. I also like to choose what I'd like to watch at bedtime, so having a tv in the room is nice.

 

[lauradis]

sounds nice can i come spend night i need quick vacation..

I wouldnt put to many personal soaps in bathroom uless you know what she likes

 

[bearloch]

ear plugs, and q-tips are always forgotten and nice! also maybe if they will be visiting local area some info on what to see,

pad of scrap paper and pen

scissors and stain remover stick

some mints, if you have the space in there and are able a nice chair for reading and tv more comfy than the bed in my opion!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I have a wicker chair and small side table/reading lamp in my guest room and a small TV (which I sometimes use when hubby is watching sports on our big family room TV) I also like a low chest or folding luggage rack for a suitcase/overnight bag instead of needing to reach to floor to get something out. I have a lower chest (which I also use to store extra blankets, pillows inside). I also prefer a daybed with a pull/out/pop-up trundle underneath, rather than a queen bed. That way it can be utilized as two twins or pushed together for a size comparable to king size (when I do this I use a king mattress pad and sheets over both mattresses) With the daybed, the room becomes more like a sitting room when not in use as a guest room. Also, the daybed takes up far less room than a queen. Don't really think a dresser is necessary unless you want it to store linens, etc. I use the chest I have for that purpose and it serves as a low "coffee table" in front of the daybed when not in use to hold an overnight bag or suitcase. When being utilized for that, I simply put it against a wall to allow room for either the pop-up trundle or room in front of the bed. Also, never hurts to have a small night light in the guest room....so guests won't go "bump in the night" in an unfamiliar room! Oh...almost forgot I also have a small three shelf bookcase and just put any paperbacks I've already read on the bookcase.

OMgoodness! I have been racking my brain how to fit my craft/sewing space in the same room that is our guest room. A day bed vs the queen is perfect!

 

[Handbag Lady]

A bedside light with a switch that is easy to find in the dark so when your overnight guest accidentally bumps the bedside table and spills the gorgeous flowers in a vase also filled to the top with water all over the place.

Don't ask me how I know.


I apologized profusely and yet husband was still embarrassed.

 

[Patience]

I had never heard of a pop up trundle bed so I googled it. That looks like something I will want when our oldest daughter finishes college. Her room is big with a big walk in closet so I plan to move our youngest to her room in a few more years and then I can turn my youngest daughter's current room into a guest room. It's only a little smaller than her older sister's room but it does not have a walk in closet. I think a day bed with a pop up trundle and a comfy chair with a reading light will be perfect in there. I also like the idea of using a chest as a coffee table in front of the trundle.

Regarding tv's in guest rooms, I like them too because they allow the guest to watch the shows they like without having to ask their host.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We don't have a guest room.

When we did I kept it very simple and didn't provide extras because I didn't want people staying very long.

But if you like having guests, I would put a small desk in the room for them. Most people travel with laptops nowadays and would like to have a place to use for it.

 

[Q-man]

Are you sure you want a comfortable guest room?

I'm from the uncomfortable bed, neon paint, and garishly clashing linens school of don't stay too long.

 

[MEM]

We just converted a room on the third floor of our home to a guest room for a friend who will be staying with us for a few months. The budget is tight but we added the following to the room:

double bed - still looking for a headboard at yard sales
new sheets and pillows
new dust-mite sack for the mattress
computer desk and chair
new window air conditioner
the room does not have a closet so we added one of those free-standing
vinyl wardrobes that look like a giant garment bag
two bureaus - DH lined all the drawers
mirror
bookcases filled with a range of fiction
end table with lamp
stereo and speakers
ice bucket so she can have a cold bottle of water when she wants it
array of sample toiletries (Disney H2O), dental supplies, eye shade, earplugs,
large ottoman at the foot of the bed to sit on while dressing
she brought a travel alarm clock but that would be something to include
I added some Command hooks on the door for her towel and jacket

 

[pjlla]

Without taking the time to read all of the replies, here is my list of things I would like in a guest room.....

electric alarm clock that can be read in the dark, nightlight (not for me, but the kids), extra pillow and blanket, spare toothbrush/toothpaste, shades that keep out the sun, Advil, bedside lamp (I want to read in bed and I don't want to have to get out of bed to turn out the light), easy access to an outlet so I can charge my phone/iPad, a note card with the wi-fi access code and maybe some local numbers??.

That's it for now................P

 

[Epcotmgm]

This is perfect! Thank you all for the ideas. I will check out ikea and really take a look around this time.