The Christmas season is all about bringing friends and family together. Hosting guests successfully during Christmas requires some thought and preparation. To ensure your visitors feel welcome and at home, it’s worth putting some consideration into simple finishing touches without causing more stress to the host!
It is actually easy to transform a space into a warm and welcoming retreat.
Here are our tips for creating a guest room that’s both serene and comforting.
1. Start with Comfort: The Guest Bedding
Nothing says “welcome” like a cosy, well-appointed bed: both elegant and supremely comfortable. First, invest in high-quality bedding to provide your guests with the ultimate sleep experience. If you’re looking to go the extra mile, consider personalising the bedding with monogrammed initials – a subtle touch of elegance.
For a sumptuous and inviting bed, build additional layers of comfort with extra pillows, ideally with one soft and one firmer, with plump decorative cushions and a throw or two. Aim for cosy luxurious textures in warm colours or snowy whites for a sense of occasion.
Provide your guests with some soft, fluffy white towels to make them feel extra special - white is the colour of ‘chic’ when it comes to towels. Fold them beautifully on the bed, as an instant nod to relaxation.
2. Create a Sense of Arrival: Layers of Scents
Evoke instant relaxation and a sense of welcome with a room filled with an exquisite scent. Curate the scents around the house, with your preferred signature scent for the entrance and drawing rooms, and a softer more natural scent in the kitchen, while a stronger diffuser will be perfect in the powder rooms. A scented candle will be perfect for a guest room so your guests can manage the scent individually (unless they like a drink – or three – and you think that a diffuser in their bathroom will be safer!). Winter diffusers or scented candles in evocative scents such a forest, pine, berries, eucalyptus will perfectly complement the house’s decoration.
Place a small vase of fresh fir sprigs or eucalyptus on the bedside table for a natural, understated scent – toning in with the seasonal décor.
3. Personalize your Space: Thoughtful Accessories
Small details make a big difference. Create a nurturing haven with these thoughtful additions:
Lighting: Ensure you have soft side lamps, switched on just before your guests go to bed.
Robes: Hang soft, luxurious robes at the back of their door, to make your guests feel pampered.
Extra Throws: Place an extra blanket in a basket near the bed for chilly nights.
A Welcome Tray: Include essentials like bottled water, with some pretty glasses and a small dish of festive chocolates.
For the Bathroom: Treat your guests to some of your favourite products, from shower gel to body oil or even a relaxing mask. Do not forget to include toothpaste, aspirin and a nice scent … in case they have forgotten theirs or simply want to try yours!
4. Create a Nurturing Space to Unwind
With very little effort on your part, your guest bedroom could feel like a mini sanctuary.
If space allows, include a small armchair or a bench at the foot of the bed for a place to relax. Some carefully curated books or magazines – perhaps a Christmas-themed novel or a lifestyle magazine – adds a personal touch specifically if you ensure the books and magazines are chosen with the taste of your guest in mind.
By adding finishing touches that combine comfort, practicality, and a touch of festive charm, you can create a guest bedroom that your friends and family will remember. So why not get started and get your home ready in good time for your guests’ arrival so that you can enjoy a stress-free Christmas?
This Christmas, let your home be a haven of warmth, joy, and celebratory cheer!
