Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we nowbrcollectively brace ourselves for the next half of the holiday season.brDecember’s holidays tend to be the heavy-weight champions of entertaining. Andbrwhile Thanksgiving seems to center on feasting, Christmas and its fellow winterbrholidays seem to focus more on family time – or so Hallmark leads us tobrbelieve. Regardless, thanks to schools granting extended winter breaks tobrstudents, December marks a time of travel for many. Those that aren’t travelingbrare often on the receiving end, welcoming family and friends into their homebrfor more than an overnight stay. People in the latter circumstance hospitablybrthrow fresh linens on the guest bed and dust a room that remains largely overlookedbrfor the remainder of the year. Yes, it’s time to update those guest bedrooms,brand here is where to startbrbr
KEEP IT COMFORTABLE
Even more so than other bedrooms in the house, the guestbrbedroom is largely used for sleeping. While you kids may use their rooms tobrplay and hangout, guest bedrooms are rarely used for anything other thanbrgetting some shut-eye. This makes the bed the most important part of the room.brThat probably comes as no surprise. And yet, how many times have you been abrguest and slept on a lumpy, old mattress? We're not saying your guest bedroombrneeds a California king Tempur-Pedic. Just make sure guests don't leave withbrcricks in their backs, wishing they had brought an air mattress.
Secondly, make sure the room is comfortable in the sensebrthat it actually feels like home. Skimping on wall décor is noticeable, and canbrhave guests feeling like you stuck them in a storage room. Add a vanity sobrguests can do their makeup when others are in the bathroom. Put a fewbrsucculents or flowers in there to prove that life can and does exist in thebrspare room. Ask yourself, “Is this somewhere I would like to spend time?” Ifbrthe answer is “yes,” mission accomplished.
PLAY WITH PATTERNS
If you find that your guest bedroom is rarely slept in,bruse the vacancy as an opportunity. Here is a space that is normally neitherbrseen nor heard, so feel free to get loud – with colors and patterns, that is.brThink of all of those boundaries you wanted to push with master bedroom décor.brYour spouse may have talked you down, but the guest bedroom is fair game. Andbrthat's perfect, because funky wallpaper is back in! If you want to keep thebrwalls tame and neutral (understandable), play up the bedding. Tasteful pops ofbrcolor will transform a guest bedroom from a sterile, Best Western look-alike tobra chic space that will leave a lasting impression of friends and family. Webrwould advise you to choose only one of the two options at a time. Loud wallsbrand bold bedding could give your guests a headache.