A guestroom should rival a luxury hotel suite or a well-appointed bo utique hotel room – it should be comforting and welcoming with all of the expected amenities. Your guests, especially those who have travelled from long distances, will especially be looking for a retreat, a place to call their own for a little while that doesn’t disturb the rest of the house.

Cyndie Jerome, interior decorator and owner of Cyndie Jerome Design, says a guest bedroom is a temporary ‘home’ for your visitors so above all else it should be warm, welcoming and accommodating. 
“Creating a little luxurious escape for your guests can be achieved by simply offering the little things that speak volumes,” she says.  “Plush bedding, a selection of bath and hand towels, a bedside table with a reading light, an occasional chair and a vase with some fresh blooms all add to this ambiance.”
Designing the guestroom, no matter its size, requires a bit of pre-planning and consideration. Keeping the overall design concept simple is key, say Lidia van Zyl and Kristy-Lynn Banman of La Moquette Home Design.
La Moquette opened its doors four years ago, and has since become a one-stop design shop, carrying everything from Martha Stewart Signature furniture to beautiful home décor and gifts. Our full design services cover all the details from cad space planning to lovely custom draperies.
“Only keep things that are either beautiful or functional or maybe both. Although kept to a minimum your guest should still be comfortable.” 
Colour is especially powerful as it creates the overall feeling of the room.
“Colour sets the stage as the most important element in the room,” add the experts from La moquette. “We feel lighter colours with warm undertones are best to offer both a clean, fresh, and inviting feel, while remaining versatile. We absolutely love Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White CC-40, Natural Linen CC-90, Edgecomb Gray HC-173, Stonington Gray HC-170.”
Jerome says choosing an all-white design is also very chique and allows for lots of play with colourful accessories.
Summer might see you adding a hot bright coloured blanket and throw cushions, while the fall you might change it up with chocolate brown and spicy reds and oranges. 
Once the design of the room is completed, the décor needs to be well chosen with a few essential items. Regardless of the size of the guestroom, a feeling of personal space can be created with the right pieces. 
“Make sure you have a bedside clock, lamps, a simple glass or pewter vase, and perhaps a basket with little indulgences and items you guest may have forgotten,” say van Zyl and Banman.
Add a fabulous piece of art, to complete the look.     
Its best to keep the furnishings to what is necessary and give the space and your guests ample breathing room, says Jerome, who’s company provides full-service decorating and design creating timeless and beautiful interiors with a focus on residential projects. 
“A dresser with a couple of empty drawers, a section of the closet with a few hangers and a soft upholstered chair are thoughtful touches that  add to the comfort factor,” she says.
The mattress will be the most frequently used furniture item in the room, so it should be comfortable and of good quality. Invest in an appealing mattress cover and pillow-top – it instantly gives the mattress a luxurious feel and the added height offers additional padding for comfort. Cover it with beautiful, high-quality matching linens. 
“In terms of bedding configuration, try keep in mind who your guests are likely to be. Given that this isn’t always possible, twins allow for maximum versatility and can be pushed together when  necessary while a queen is more comfortable from a sheer size point of view,” says Jerome.
“If the space allows, combine the two with a beautifully appointed queen and a coordinating daybed that can do double duty as a loveseat.” Van Zyl and Banman say the bed should be extremely comfortable with good quality linens and a selection of pillows for your guest to choose from. Proper window treatment is a must and will be much appreciated for guests who have travelled long distances and are trying to catch up on needed sleep. Guests should be able to control the light in the room so use blackout drapery or blinds.  La Moquette suggests a storage bench or ottoman at the foot of the bed or by the window is great for storing extra pillows and acts as a place to lay baggage and personal  feel to the room, and a mirror, whether hung behind a door or free standing is a must.
Those guests adjusting to different time zones or even those who are night owls will be grateful for their own personal television. The recommended maximum size for a guest room is 30 inches. 
A small desk, with or without drawers, is a thoughtful idea. If space doesn’t permit, re-utilize the room’s closet space to create a personal office setting. 
If the guestroom has an ensuite, then the room’s décor should carry into it, creating one harmonious look.
Homeowners should always provide freshly washed, high-quality towels and face towels. Toiletries like a hair dryer, curling iron, shampoo, soaps, scented candles and bath salts should be staples of the guest’s ensuite

Revitalizing a Dull Guestroom
To update an existing guest suite, replace the headboard and footboard with an upholstered micro-fabric version. An upholstered headboard in a guest room is a great look, says van Zyl and Banman.
“It can be neutral to give you versatility with your bedding or it can offer you the ability to express yourself with a bold pattern.” La Moquette is offering a DIY upholstered headboard workshop in October, those interested can email
lamoq@bellnet.ca for more information. 
Another fairly easy and inexpensive way to instantly refresh a guestroom or any bedroom is changing the hardware on case pieces like dressers, buffets and night tables.
A fresh coat of paint is also a dramatic method to revive a room. The greatest volume of any room is its walls, so make the most of it with an eyepleasing neutral tone and one that still complements the room’s existing accessories.
“Fresh flowers are a must,” say van Zyl and Banman. “They offer a lovely soft scent, and really show guests they are welcome.”
They say if you are working with existing furniture, and have neutral bedding, you can add a few punchy pillows, and a lovely throw to freshen the look of a room.
If you really want to go that extra mile, consider a lovely decanter with chilled water on a tray, so guests can help themselves. 
 “We absolutely love a nice linen spray, just a hint of fresh lavender! La Moquette carries a lovely line of products from France that will really show your guests you care.”
Jerome suggests changing accessories and artwork to make a dramatic change to any space.
“Don’t forget the high impact an exciting  new wall colour can inject into a tired space,” she says. 
“If your guest room does double duty when not welcoming friends and family, be sure to remove all the clutter that suggests it is something other than a fabulous, guest bedroom well before they arrive.”