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With Christmas on the horizon, chances are that you’ll be thinking ahead to hosting overnight guests for the festive season. For an enjoyable and comfortable stay, there are a number of things that you can do to create the perfect guest room within your home.

A well-planned guest room meets them with a bed that fits the space, plus bedding that suits any sleeper. The ideal guest room is light and quiet at night, and contains a few practical touches.

Start with the room itself

Before you invest in anything new, empty and measure the room. Think about the space you have and how it can be used. If you need to choose a new bed, pick a size that leaves a clear walkway and allows for other activities in the room (such as hanging up clothes or a make-up area).

Measure the length and width of the guest room space, noting the door swing, radiators, sockets and window. Aim for about 60 cm of clear floor on the side where your guest gets in and out of bed.

In a box room, the way the door opens often decides where the bed can go, so mark the spot where you will place the bed with masking tape before you commit. If the room doubles as an office or craft space, try and switch up items (you can make a desk into a nice dressing table via the styling) and concentrate on making the bed the focus when your guests first enter the room.

Choosing the mattress size and feel

A medium-feel mattress suits most guests. A small double (120 x 190 cm) is a practical size for solo guests where a single feels too narrow and a double takes too much floor space. Choose a double (135 x 190 cm) for couples on a short visit, a king (150 x 200 cm) if couples stay for longer (and the room has space), or a single (90 x 190 cm) for children or very narrow rooms.

For mattress firmness, a ‘medium’ mattress usually means a firmness that is neither very soft nor very firm (usually labelled medium, medium-firm or medium-soft). A small double mattress is a sensible all-round choice for a spare room that mostly hosts one guest, giving them noticeably more room than a single.

Size comparisons:

Measure the bed frame as well as the mattress, because frames add a few centimetres on every side. Also check how the mattress is delivered: a rolled mattress is far easier to carry up narrow stairs.

Bedding and extras that finish the bed

A few well-chosen layers make the bed ready for any guest, with each being easy to store and quick to swap between visits:

Mattress protector, so the bed stays fresh between stays
One soft and one firm pillow, so guests can choose
Mid-tog duvet that suits most seasons
Folded throw at the foot of the bed
Spare sheet set, ready to change in minutes

Cotton and linen both suit a bed that is washed regularly, and both are easy to care for.

Light, sound and storage details guests notice

Blackout curtains or lined blinds, because summer daylight arrives early
A lamp within reach of the pillow, plus a nightlight for the walk to the bathroom
A rug and heavy curtains to soften noise from the rest of the house
An empty drawer and a few spare hangers, so guests can unpack
A bedside surface with a charging cable, and a luggage rack or sturdy stool for cases

Pro Tip: Leave a card with the wifi password and where to find spare towels.

A trial night before guests arrive

Sleeping in the room yourself is the quickest way to spot harsh light, a draught or a creaking floorboard. Then run through a few quick checks:

Note anything that disturbed your sleep.
Open and close the curtains at the time your guests will wake.
Test every lamp and the charger.
Set out fresh towels and a glass of water.

A guest room worth coming back to

A good guest room comes down to a few decisions: a bed that fits the space, simple bedding and small details that save a guest from having to ask. If you are still comparing bed sizes before you order, My Next Mattress is a handy place to start. Get the basics right, and your guests will feel looked after and already be planning their next stay.

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