‘Tis the season to extend some hospitality to members of the family that you barely know and only see once or twice a year. Since everyone's wallets are noticeably lighter at the moment, offering your guest bedroom is more in the spirit of the season instead of seeing your beloved second cousin having to resort to some sketchy motel in a bad part of town. Then you realize that the guest room hasn't seen a living soul — or a vacuum for that matter — for almost a year. You likely have little time and little money to invest in turning that dusty, musty spare room into a festive guest oasis. Try these quick, easy and inexpensive ways to spruce up a guest room for the holidays.
1. Clean Out Those Cobwebs
Since this is Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa) and not Halloween, all that dust and those cobwebs in the corners will have to go. It'll amaze you how great a room can look — and smell — after a thorough cleaning.
2. Prep the Bed.
Guests should feel totally comfortable. One of the most important things to preparing your guest room is to make sure the bed has clean sheets and a fresh blanket. Make sure the bed looks nicely made and the pillows are fluffed. Does it look like a good place for a nap? If so, you can check this off your list.
3. Guest Room Essentials
Once the bed is prepped and ready to go, you need to make sure that the room will offer your guest(s) the basic necessities. Things like a nightstand or end table beside the bed, a bedside lamp, a dresser or armoire, access to at least one outlet, and a chair are standard. If your room doesn't already have all these things, try borrowing them from another room in your house.
Take a cue from hotels and place a couple of bottles of water on the nightstand. Place a couple of neatly folded towels at the end of the bed, too. Double-check that the bathroom has toilet paper — especially an extra roll in a place that they’ll see so they don’t have to hunt through your cabinets.
4. Get Festive
Now that you've covered the basics, it's time to add some festivity. Since lighting can add so much to a space, we love the idea of placing a couple of pillar candles in a seasonal scent around the room (in a safe place, of course!). Don’t forget to leave matches out so your guest can light the candles if they want to. String lights could be wrapped around bedposts or put up along the edge of the ceiling. Add a festive throw to the bed in case your guests need a little extra warmth.
Need more inspiration for your home? Check out Modernize.com a website dedicated to helping you create your dream home.
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written by: Jane Blanchard
