Transform your spare room into a guest room: a practical guide

When planning the colours, furniture and lighting for your guest bedroom, think about what you look for when staying with friends, in a hotel or holiday rental.

Step into your guest’s shoes and consider the thoughtful details that elevate their stay, cosy touches, practical comforts and a warm atmosphere that makes them feel instantly at ease.

Set a calming tone with soft pastels, like sage, blush or muted blue, or easy-going neutrals, like beige, warm grey or taupe. These offer flexibility and pair well with natural textures, like wood and linen. Then have fun layering in colour - a patterned cushion here, a textured throw there and a striking piece of wall art to lift the space.

Got a roomy guest bedroom? Lean into the cosy vibe with a moody feature wall in a deeper shade of navy or forest green. Echo the shade through cushions, lamps or a rug and you’ll have a space that feels effortlessly stylish and inviting.

Look for furniture that makes your guest bedroom super comfortable and easy to get around.

For an elegant boutique hotel feel, make a large bed, neatly stacked with a line of pillows and cushions and finished with a throw, the centre piece of your room. If you plan on having a young family to stay, consider a double bed with a trundle bed underneath or add a sofa bed to the room, if you have the space. 

Place bedside tables either side of your bed, so your guests have a place to perch a glass of water and a book. Then finish off the room with a wardrobe with a mix of shelves and hanging space.

So it doesn’t feel cluttered, make sure that your furniture is proportionate to the size of your room.

To make your guest room feel particularly bright and enticing, optimise the amount of light coming through your windows by ensuring curtains and blinds can be pulled right back when not in use. If your room is overlooked add layered, lightweight sheer curtains or wooden shutters to diffuse daylight, while maintaining privacy.

If your guest room is in your loft, a well-positioned roof window will provide an abundance of natural light and fresh air. VELUX accessories, such as roller shutters, soft interior blinds and insect screens will give you even more control of your roof windows.

Wondering which accessories to choose? Read our dedicated article: VELUX blinds: Which blinds are right for your home?

When it comes to artificial lighting, install soft, adjustable lighting that can change the brightness of your room to suit your guests' needs.

Bedside lamps with a warm toned bulb will create an extra cosy feel as night draws in.

Renovating a guest bedroom is easier to manage when you break it down into clear steps. Planning ahead helps avoid delays and ensures the space is ready when you need it. 

These strategies will help you set a balanced budget for your guest bedroom:

• Set your priorities: identify your guest room essentials.
  • Prioritise essentials like wall and floor décor, natural light and ventilation, a comfortable bed, and ample storage for clothes. These must-haves should take up the bulk of your budget.
  • Extras like a built-in sound system or luxury fabrics are lovely touches, but they’re by no means essential. Focus on the basics first and see what’s left in the budget afterwards.
• Make renovation choices that add value to your home
  • Some improvements are more than just nice-to-haves - they can add real value to your home. An en-suite bathroom, for example, or better insulation might feel like a stretch of your budget at first. But the payoff is worth it: not only do they make your home more comfortable day to day, they’re also likely to boost your asking price when you decide to sell.
• Estimate the costs for each aspect of your renovation, include materials, furniture and labour. Get multiple quotes to help you accurately assess your costs.
• As always, build in a 15-20% margin to cover the unexpected.

This detailed guest room renovation guide will help you to effectively manage your guest room design.

Specify start and end dates for each phase of your project; this will help you maintain control and track the progress of your work.

Include time for:

• Seeking design inspiration, redecoration, ordering and taking delivery of items.
• If you’re doing the work yourself, plan out how long you expect each stage to take you, from the prep to the decor to putting together furniture. If you’re using contractors, ask them for an outline schedule of their work.

A detailed timetable will help you to anticipate everyone’s needs and avoid unexpected events.

Next, set interim milestones for when you hope to reach specific objectives; this will help you track the works progress and manage tasks efficiently. For example:

• Set a date to finish painting the walls.
• Schedule a date for the delivery and installation of furniture.
• Set a deadline for installing and new electrics or lighting.

When renovating your guest bedroom, consider the pros and cons of doing the work yourself compared to hiring professionals. Each approach has its own merits and can fit different budgets and skill sets.

If you love a bit of DIY and enjoy getting creative, tackling your guest room makeover yourself can be both cost-effective and hugely satisfying. Rolling up your sleeves, picking up a paintbrush, or adding personal touches lets you put your own stamp on the space. 

Plus, you can work at your own pace, tweak things as you go, and put your passion into making the room feel like a welcoming retreat for your guests.

Hiring professional tradespeople offers several benefits, in particular:

• Technical expertise: a tradesperson offers specialised technical skills and valuable experience to provide a high-quality result.
• Efficiency: professionals can often complete projects more quickly and efficiently.
• Guarantee: renovation companies may offer warranties on their work, giving you peace of mind just in case there are future problems.

Choosing professional assistance is ideal for complex projects or when time is a major constraint.

Here are some tips for finding the best materials, while supporting sustainable practices.

For an environmentally-friendly guest bedroom, choose sustainable and natural materials. Here are some suggestions for incorporating sustainable practices into your renovation project:

• Recycled materials: Use products made from recycled materials, such as recovered wood or recycled metal, to reduce your carbon footprint. These preserve natural resources and add a unique and authentic touch to your decor.
• Certified wood: Opt for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood, which guarantees responsible and sustainable forest management, helps to protect forest ecosystems and promotes biodiversity.
• Environmentally friendly paints: Select paints with low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) to minimise the impact on your indoor air quality and create a healthier environment for you and your guests.
• Energy-efficient devices: Install energy-efficient devices, such as LED light bulbs and smart thermostats, to reduce energy consumption in your guest room.

Sustainable living starts at home: small choices make a big difference for the planet and make your space a happier, healthier place to be.

Little tech upgrades can make a big difference in your guest room. Smart bulbs let visitors set the perfect lighting, while a smart thermostat keeps the temperature just right. 

And don’t forget USB sockets by the bedside - a simple touch that makes staying connected a breeze.  

And, for a light-filled and well-ventilated guest bedroom, install VELUX automated windows. Upgrade with a VELUX ACTIVE kit to enjoy humidity, temperature and CO₂ sensors. This allows your roof windows, blinds and shutters open and close automatically based on the weather conditions and indoor air quality.

Finishing touches personalise your guest bedroom and create a welcoming and warm atmosphere.

Decorative elements add character and warmth to your space.

Choose artwork that reflects your personal style and adds colour to your scheme and place a few family photos around the room to evoke memories.

Add a houseplant to bring the outdoors in and improve indoor air quality.

High-quality textiles give your guest bedroom an additional layer of comfort and indulgence.

For the bed, opt for soft cotton sheets, a linen duvet cover, plumped up pillows, tactile scatter cushions and a fluffy throw at the foot.

Choose blackout blinds to keep light out and ensure your guests privacy.