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Essentials For A Guest Room

Getting ready to host overnight guests? Let’s assume you have a bed or air mattress and coverings on all the windows. That’s a great start! This list will help fill in all the little things your guests will want to have on hand for a comfortable night’s sleep. What you won’t find is season-specific decor, extra charging cords, books and other optional extras that your guests might enjoy, but can live without. Instead lets focus is on versatile, key pieces to get your guest space up and running so you’re ready for visitors, no matter when they arrive.



Water Carafe


Needing a glass of water but not knowing where to get one can be frustrating and uncomfortable for guests. And after traveling by car or plane, they probably need to hydrate. Be prepared with a glass carafe filled with water, and add an extra glass if you’ll be hosting a couple.



Coordinated Set Of Bedding


Since your guest bed is probably used far less often than the master bed, there’s no need to go all-out with top-of-the-line bedding, unless you want to. But a good-quality set of sheets and a quilt or duvet in a coordinating hue will make your guests feel well cared for. A neutral palette will look appropriate year-round.



Bedside Lighting


Good lighting is key to making your guest room feel welcoming. At minimum, place a lamp on each bedside table — lamps with three settings are ideal, so guests can adjust the light levels to suit their preference.



Full-Length Mirror


Your guests will appreciate having a simple full-length mirror propped against the wall or attached to the back of the door. If the mirror is in a dark corner of the room, draping a strand of white twinkle lights on it is a quick and inexpensive way to add a warm glow.



Extra Blankets And Pillows


Help your guests out by providing a few extra blankets and pillows so they can get comfortable. This is especially important on chilly winter nights, but if you have central air conditioning, your guests may reach for an extra blanket even in summer.



Wastebasket


This is a small but important detail that will help your guests keep their room neat without making frequent trips to search out garbage cans in other parts of the house. Whatever you opt for, choose an attractive wastebasket that enhances your guest room style.



Extra Toiletries


Have a few spare sample-size toiletries in a drawer? Gather them together in a pretty bowl or basket and add a new toothbrush so guests won’t stress if they forgot something.


Bath Towels


A stack of fluffy white bath towels on the bed is a welcoming touch. Be sure to include a wash cloth, hand towel and bath towel for each person.



Wall Hooks


Unless your guests are staying for a week or more, they probably don’t need an empty dresser to unpack their clothes into. A few sturdy wall hooks will do for hanging damp towels and with the addition of a hanger or two wrinkle-prone outfits.



Coffee And Tea Makings


Considerate guests won’t want to bother you if they get up before you do. Including a little tray with everything they need to make a morning cup makes it clear they are welcome to help themselves.

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Simple Ways To Make Your Bedroom A Serene Spot

When you’ve had an especially trying day, there’s nothing quite so restorative as slipping into a freshly made bed. Sinking into crisp sheets, cozy blankets and fluffed-up pillows soothes the spirit and encourages a restful night’s sleep. Here are a few suggestions to make your bed as delightfully comfortable as possible.


Need A Little Boost? Change The Sheets


Whether your day didn’t go well or you’re feeling a bit under the weather, changing the sheets is like giving yourself a present. Smooth, fresh, clean sheets; lowered lights; and a good book can help your evening end on a brighter note.


Start With The Best Mattress You Can Afford


If you’re in the market for a new mattress, you’ve probably heard the advice to get the best one you can, and with good reason. A mattress with proper support can help you sleep better and wake with fewer kinks in your back.


Add A Mattress Topper to Increase Comfort


Even if you aren’t buying a new bed, adding an ultracomfortable mattress topper can transform the way your bed feels. Try out memory foam, merino wool or a classic feather bed.


Choose Breathable Natural Fibers


Pure Egyptian or Supima cotton, brushed cotton flannel and linen are the best choices; choose the one that feels best on your skin. Be willing to experiment too — you may be surprised to find you prefer the feel of nubby linen over extra-smooth sateen.


Consider A Silk Pillowcase


While silk is too slippery to make for comfortable sheets, pillowcases are another matter entirely! The luxuriously smooth fabric is especially gentle on the skin and hair.


Roll Out A Soft And Fluffy Bedside Rug


When you need to get up to grab a glass of water, make that first step plush and warm by laying a sheepskin or a fluffy shag rug beside the bed. If you want to use a larger rug in the bedroom, choose a large flat-weave one and layer a small, fluffy rug on top.


Prop Up Extra Pillows For Reading In Bed


Big Euro-size square pillows look smart sitting in front of regular, standard-size bed pillows and make sitting up to read in bed more comfortable. Don’t forget to change the shams on your Euro pillows when you change the sheets — regular laundering will keep your bed fresh and dust free.


Devote A Seat To Extra Pillows


A chair in the bedroom is a convenient place for tossing extra pillows before climbing into bed. If you don’t have room for a chair, try to find another nearby spot to keep pillows and extra covers off the floor — perhaps the dresser top or in a basket behind the door.


Go Euro And Skip The Top Sheet


In much of Europe, it’s common to use the duvet cover in place of a top sheet. If you find that your sheets often get tangled around your legs, you may want to consider adopting this method.


Dust And Declutter Your Nightstand


It’s easy to forget about the state of the nightstand, but a quick cleaning can get it spick-and-span in no time. Wipe up those coffee rings, dust the lamp base and clear away the clutter. Your nightstand should be a helpful little spot that holds only what you want close at hand while you’re in bed — your current reading material, a glass of water and perhaps a candle, for instance.


Don’t Forget The Throw


A soft and cuddly throw adds a touch of softness to the foot of the bed, and can come in handy when you’re sitting up in bed to read on a chilly night.

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