The guest bedroom – or ‘spare’ – isn’t necessarily the most well-kept room of the house. And if you have guests staying this Christmas, what you need are some spare guest room ideas, pronto.
If you’re lucky enough to have one, a spare room is probably either a dumping ground or used as extra storage space most of the year – meaning a mad dash to clear the clutter when visitors are booked in over Christmas. (Relax, we’ve all got our guilty spare room secrets!).
While the rest of the house may be decked out to festive perfection, all too often, spare bedrooms are a bit of a – to put it politely – decor disaster.
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Spare guest room ideas for Christmas
But take heart: you still have time to ‘Save The Spare’ and banish its dingy decor and oodles of clutter, so you can welcome visitors to their own sparkling seasonal sanctuary.
Transforming the spare room, with a little effort and a dash of creative flair, will pay dividends. A smart space, where guests can retreat in comfort, is especially helpful during the Christmas holidays, when everyone crammed into one space can send tension levels soaring. Not only that, but you might fall in love with the room and end up using it more throughout the year – an added bonus.
There’s just time, if you move fast, to perform a Christmas miracle and transform a neglected spare room into a space that’s inviting and stylish. Give it a little TLC, splurge on new bedding and perhaps a few fun – or luxury – little extras here and there, and you’ll have it looking (almost) as fabulous as a boutique hotel room, but with homely touches too.
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7 spare guest room ideas to try
Follow these simple steps to styling and decorating the spare room in time for Christmas.
1. Add a mattress topper for a comfy bed
“Many people have no idea how comfortable their spare bed is, so I always suggest you ‘road test’ it to discover any lumps or bumps or comfort issues,” says Helen Johnson, from The Fine Bedding Company (finebedding.co.uk).
“A new mattress enhancer or topper may be all that’s needed, which is cheaper than replacing a mattress but can mimic a new bed feel. Next, check care labels on filled duvets and pillows to see if they can be machine-washed at home. Feather and down duvets and those without guidance labels need to be professionally cleaned.
“Finally, give pillows and duvets a good shake before dressing the bed,” she adds, “to even out the filling and return their plumpness.”
2. Introduce hotel chic to the spare room
Spoil your guests with a luxe look inspired by boutique hotels. With just a touch of glam, they’ll really feel they have their own private sanctuary.
Colour is key for this theme. Soft champagne, golden hues and pale blush pinks are a fabulous contemporary option for walls and bed linen.
Boost the ‘wow’ factor with an upholstered headboard or on-trend brass and copper accessories, and layer up with faux fur or velvet throws and cushions.
As a final flourish, add a hotel-style basket of ‘essentials’ – toothbrushes, mini toiletries and a phone charger – to make visitors feel really cared for.
It’s the little things in life that count, and kitting out a room with a few practical items – like a mirror, a side table, or an extra chair – can make all the difference. Guests will feel comfortable and cared for, almost like being at a hotel.
“A pile of clean towels (preferably that have been given 10 minutes in the tumble dryer on the day guests arrive, so they’re fluffed up and fresh) tied up with ribbon will help create an inviting atmosphere,” advises Johnson.
“Fill a ‘just in case’ basket with essentials, like mini-toiletries, a toothbrush, hairbrush, shower cap – things that are all to easy to forget in the rush of packing presents and clothes. Provide a spare mobile phone charger and your home Wi-Fi code written on a postcard as well.”
3. Create a feature wall with wallpaper
“Adding a feature wall is an affordable and easy update that will certainly deliver a boutique feel,” says Alex Whitecroft from iwantwallpaper.co.uk.
“Wallpapering just one wall is often easier and quicker than people think – it can definitely be done in a day, and there’s no need to worry about patterns not lining up at corners. Less paper also means less money.
“Guest rooms need to make people feel welcome and appeal to varied tastes, so choosing wallpapers that won’t overpower an overall design scheme is good advice.”
Metallics are an opulent choice, he notes, while a neutral colour scheme is unisex, and pale tones open up a space visually and will allow any additional festive touches, from cushions to decorations, to star.
4. Check radiators work and windows open
“Under-bed storage allows for lots of extra space in a bedroom, and a storage pouffe is another solution. Make sure they contain spare blankets or extra throws, as people can feel colder in other people’s homes, and don’t forget spare pillows,” says Sue Brodie, head of creative design at holiday homes specialists Willerby (willerby.com), who also advises checking that the room’s windows can open and testing radiators to ensure they work.
“All rooms, no matter what size, should have a focal point, as this anchors the space – normally the bed in a spare room,” she adds. “Use colour or pattern behind the bed, so that it’s not distracting or sleep disturbing, and minimise the clutter for a serene and balanced space.”
5. Add festive decorations
Don’t leave out the spare room when you ‘deck the halls’. Instead, spare guest room ideas should include that festive joy with Christmas-themed decor, to make your visitors’ stay even more special.
Take it traditional with a jolly red and green colour scheme in seasonal-design bed linen, and embellish decorative details, such as a wreath or table-top tree. Top it off with some fairy lights strung around the bedhead or a mirror.
Don’t just let them dream of a white Christmas, guarantee it by decorating a window with Snowflake Window Stickers, part of a festive range from Purlfrost (from £8.47 for a small 30x30cm sticker).
A festive scented candle or fragrance diffuser is a lovely last detail. Favourite scents for this time of year radiate comfort and warmth, so choose from musky evergreens and warm cedar wood, to the festive spice of cinnamon.
You don’t need to go overboard (in fact, subtle is key!). Fill lanterns with Christmas lights, or drape a string of them around a mirror, and pop a miniature tree in a pot on a side table. Cover a few magazines or books in Christmas wrapping paper, and hang a collection of baubles from a door handle or on a cupboard.
6. Add a touch of luxury as a spare guest room idea
“If a room isn’t regularly used make sure it’s well aired and add a room fragrance candle or diffuser,” advises Johnson.
“A new lamp, cushion or rug can be all that’s needed to give a room a lift and provide a touch of luxury. It’s all about making people feel they have a sanctuary where they can retreat and relax as well as sleep.”
7. Create a spare room rustic vibe
Creating chic country style requires just a lick or two of paint and swags of foliage, faux or real and is a great spare guest room idea. The appeal of this look lies in its charming simplicity, so opt for a calm, neutral colour scheme in shades of grey, chalky whites or taupe.
Updating the wall behind the bed or chimney breast could be all that’s needed. Dulux has a suitably moody grey shade: Warm Pewter, Matt Emulsion (£18 for 2.5L), or keep it fresh with their sparkling Pure Brilliant White Silk Emulsion (£17 for 5L).
Keep to the same muted palette for bed linen. The White Company’s Kingston Ben Linen range, in a subtle white or soft grey check, comes in a soft cotton, brushed to create a cosy flannel effect. It starts at £10 for a pillow case and £65 for a duvet cover.
A few more woodland details – a vase of branches, sprayed white or silver, and a basket of pine cones – will add to the atmosphere.
