Getting a guest bedroom ready for Christmas
Christmas is one of the few times of the year when the guest bedroom needs to work hard for your home.
That space that's spent much of the time doubling up as an office, nearly-clean-clothes station or, frankly, just a dumping ground suddenly needs to become a comfortable and welcoming place for overnight guests.
The thing is, if you want to spruce up your guest room with some festive cheer, you don’t need to completely redecorate or fill it with decorations that you’ll duly pack away again in January. A few thoughtful changes can make the room feel festive during the Christmas period and cosy and comfy all year round.
Here are a few Christmas bedroom ideas to help you transform a room that’s often overlooked but actually has a lot of festive potential.
1. Start by reclaiming the spare bedroom!
Before you add anything Christmassy, remove the clutter that has inevitably built up here as the year has gone on.
Clear the bedside table, empty at least one drawer and make some hanging space in the wardrobe. If the room has become more of a storage area than a stylish retreat, use baskets, boxes or a blanket box to hide away all those items that don't need to be on display.
Guests will have somewhere to put their things, and decluttering at least one room ahead of the Christmas rush will feel incredibly fulfilling!
2. Give the bed the full hotel treatment
You don't necessarily need to buy Christmas-specific bedding to make a guest bedroom feel special.
Spare bed ideas can include making it up with fresh linen and layer it with throws, cushions and blankets. Rich greens, deep reds, warm neutrals, checks and textured fabrics can introduce a seasonal feel without committing to kitschy designs that are covered in reindeer and snowflakes – and they offer a more sustainable way to lean into Christmas cheer, because they won’t look out of place during the colder months, and they will take up little storage space when they need to be packed away during warmer temperatures.
Also, everyone feels the cold differently, so add an extra folded blanket at the bottom of the bed, just in case your guest feels the chill.
3. Create a proper bedside setup
Think about what you typically reach for when you’re staying away from home, and make sure your bedside tables provide enough space for these essentials. Add a lamp so no one has to navigate an unfamiliar room in the dark. It’s also handy to make sure there's a plug socket or extension lead nearby for charging devices overnight.
A small carafe or reusable bottle of water and a glass are thoughtful additions, too.
If you're buying furniture for a guest room, consider a bedside cabinet with drawers. It gives visitors somewhere to put smaller belongings while providing useful storage for spare bedding, chargers and other essentials once Christmas is over.
You might like: Our sturdy Duchy Acacia XL 3 Drawer Bedside Table
4. Turn leftover Christmas decor into bedroom accessories
Before buying new Christmas decorations, take another look at what you already own. Arrange a few spare baubles in a bowl or glass vase, even if they have seen better days. Tie leftover ribbons around drawer handles, a vase or folded towels, or use a short length of garland to garnish a mirror or headboard.
Even Christmas cards can be repurposed. Display some of your favourites from previous years on ribbon or prop the most attractive designs you can find on a chest of drawers.
5. Create a miniature Christmas tree
They may look lovely, but full-sized trees are a pain to resurrect each year. Keep things simple by adding a small potted tree, a vase of evergreen cuttings or even a few interesting bare branches to your guest bedroom’s design. For extra pizzazz, you could decorate it with a smattering of lightweight ornaments, dried orange slices or decorations made from brightly coloured paper.
The added benefit is, natural elements like branches or foliage can be composted afterwards. Plus, a living potted plant can potentially be cared for and brought back out next Christmas.
6. Make the room smell like Christmas – naturally
Shun artificial room sprays in favour of dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, pine cones or sprigs of rosemary and evergreen, arranged in a spare bowl that’s likely to be lurking in one of your kitchen cupboards. You could even create reusable fabric sachets filled with dried festive ingredients – these will look and smell just as good next year.
Don’t go over the top, though. Your guests may be sensitive to strong scents, and their comfort is the most important thing.
7. Build a little guest welcome station
Get rid of any awkwardness by providing some of the things that your guests might otherwise have to ask you for. For example, you could use a small tray, basket or section of a chest of drawers to create a welcome station with all the basics like clean towels, the Wi-Fi password, tissues and spare toiletries. You could add a couple of chocolates, biscuits or another festive treat if you really want to come across as the host with the most.
There's no need to buy miniature toiletries especially for the occasion. Unopened products you already have can work just as well, or you could buy reusable glass containers so they can be cleaned and refilled for future visitors.
8. Give old textiles a festive second life
If you have a scarf, blanket or piece of fabric in a Christmassy colour, use it as part of your bedroom styling.
A tartan scarf can become a temporary runner across a chest of drawers; fabric remnants can be turned into reusable bows; and even your old Christmas jumpers can even be transformed into cushion covers if you're willing to get crafty.
If you really want to buy something new, our home accessories range has got you covered.
You might like: Our tactile Rossendale Throw in Blush
9. Create a dedicated place for luggage
One of the easiest ways to make your guests feel totally at home is to give them enough space for all their belongings, so they never feel like they’re living out of an open suitcase.
If there's room, leave a clear area where luggage can be stored without blocking walkways or squeezing the square footage. Blanket boxes can be particularly useful in a guest bedroom, as it will provide everyday storage for spare bedding while creating an extra surface when visitors arrive.
Our bedroom furniture collection includes blanket boxes in oak, washed oak and painted finishes, making them an easy piece to coordinate with different bedroom styles.
10. Don't forget the practical details
The prettiest guest bedroom won't feel like a home from home if your visitors are freezing cold all night long or can't work out how to turn the lamp on.
Before they arrive, spend a night in the room yourself. Experiencing the space for yourself is one of the easiest ways to spot things you might have overlooked.
Check the mattress and pillows are comfortable, the curtains provide enough privacy, the lamps work, and the room is warm enough. Make sure guests know how to adjust the heating and consider leaving spare pillows and blankets somewhere obvious.
It's also worth checking that your furniture doesn't obstruct doors, drawers or walkways.
11. Add some entertainment for quieter moments
Christmas can be busy, and guests may appreciate having somewhere to escape to!
Leave a few books or magazines on the bedside table or fill a small basket with playing cards and travel-sized games. For younger guests, you could create a children's Christmas basket with books, colouring pencils and puzzles – this will last for years if it’s well looked after.
There’s no need to buy tonnes of entertainment new, either. Just borrow items from elsewhere in the house.
Our biggest piece of advice? Think beyond Christmas
A comfortable bed, useful bedside storage, a chest of drawers, somewhere to hang clothes and good lighting will make the bedroom more welcoming at Christmas – but they'll also make it much more useful whenever friends or family stay throughout the year.
If space is an issue, think vertically and choose your furniture carefully. Tallboy chests, slim wardrobes and bedside tables with built-in storage can increase capacity without unnecessarily filling the floor, while a blanket box can provide storage and an additional surface in one.
Spend a little time creating a guest bedroom they'll want to return to
Getting a guest bedroom ready for Christmas doesn't require a huge budget, a complete makeover or boxes of brand-new decorations. You simply need to focus on creating a comfortable, practical space and then look at what you already own for the finishing touches.
Repurposing decorations, textiles and natural materials can introduce plenty of festive character without unnecessary waste, and choosing reusable accessories means next year's transformation will take a matter of minutes.
If you want guest room ideas ready for Christmas and you need help kitting out the space, take a look at the incredible range of bedroom furniture from Roseland Furniture, or contact us directly for advice.
