When guests feel well cared for, it sets the stage for a harmonious visit. Whether you have a dedicated guest room or a multi-purpose space that doubles as a home office or laundry area, there are plenty of simple, thoughtful ways to offer a warm welcome.
For overnight stays, focus on comfort and convenience—think cozy bedding, bedside chargers, and space for a bag. For longer visits, putting in extra effort is worthwhile. No matter how close you are, having a dedicated space where guests can relax allows everyone some breathing room.
If preparing feels overwhelming, remember that cleaning and decluttering will lead to a more peaceful stay for all. Frequent hosts might invest more in guest amenities, while occasional hosts can keep it simple. Choose from these expert tips—just a few considerate touches can make a big difference for both guests and hosts.
Test the Room Yourself
Follow the lead of top hotels and spend a night in your guest room, living out of an overnight bag. It’s the best way to spot what’s missing or needs changing before guests arrive.
Declutter
If you have a spare room, it’s likely become a storage area. Make time for a thorough clear-out before guests come.
Interior designers Zoë Starreveld and Alex Forbes advise, “Clear away visual noise, empty bedside drawers, and keep surfaces clear to create intentional space for your guests.” Set out bags for rubbish, recycling, charity donations, and items to be relocated elsewhere in the house. If you’re short on time, you can always move things to the loft or shed—or, as a last resort, drape a throw over neatly boxed clutter.
Clean Thoroughly
We often notice mess in others’ homes that we overlook in our own. Get the whole household involved and give the guest areas—especially the bedroom and bathroom—a deep clean.
Add Character
A small vase, jug, or even a jam jar with greenery, flowers, or berries can bring life to the room without getting in the way. For the decor, interior designer Tanya Selway suggests treating the spare room “as a little escape: less guest room, more boutique retreat. Give it personality with layered textures, a few unexpected vintage pieces, and hints of travel or leisure. It should feel like a place where guests can exhale.”
Focus on the Bed
If you need new bed linen, there are many options from retailers like Piglet in Bed, M&S, Dunelm, La Redoute, and H&M Home. Choose colors that complement the room or stick with classic white. When washing linens for guests, using extra fabric softener can make everything smell fresh and clean.
Ensure your duvet and pillows are comfortable—Soak & Sleep offers a wide range if you need to restock. A cozy throw, like Habitat’s velvet bedspread (£50), adds a nice touch. While cushions on the bed can seem fussy, they provide daytime comfort if there’s no chair in the room. For affordable options, try La Redoute, H&M Home, or Dunelm, while independent brands like Nkuku and Palava offer beautiful choices.Sustainable Designs
Peace and Quiet
To ensure your guests get a great night’s sleep, consider adding blackout linings to your bedroom curtains. Dunelm’s blackout pencil pleat linings (£12–£40) are easy to attach to existing curtain hooks. If that’s too much hassle, provide a sleep mask. You might have some left over from a flight, or you can buy silk ones like Alaska Bear’s twin-strap mask with a nose baffle (£15.99 from Amazon).
If noise from the neighbourhood or early-rising children might be a problem, raid your flight kit again for earplugs, or explore options from Happy Ears. You could also offer a simple white noise machine, such as the Hushing mini (£19.99), which can be very effective at masking intermittent sounds.
Good Lighting
It’s poor hospitality to leave guests fumbling in the dark after turning off the main light. Bedside lamps are essential. You can borrow lamps from elsewhere in the house or find an affordable option. Dunelm has plenty of sturdy, budget-friendly choices, like the Hera table lamp (£6). If you have a larger budget, try the Spool table lamp (£91) from Där Lighting.
Starreveld Forbes recommends a handy portable light, such as the Ferm Living Arum (£169) from Earl of East, and advises: “Light the room with intention. Low-level lighting makes a huge difference, so always turn on at least one lamp before guests arrive. It makes the room feel welcoming.”
Chargers on Hand
Another bedside essential is access to a power outlet. A generously long phone charger cable shows you’ve thought of everything. If there isn’t a socket on each side of the bed, provide an extension lead—Amazon and eBay offer a wide choice of sockets and lengths. Ikea has a great range of multi-USB port chargers, like the Småhagel (£6). Pair it with colourful Lillhult and Sittbrunn charger cables (from £1.50) and even cute little Havskål USB anchors (£3) to keep cables tidy.
Carafe and Glasses
Make sure guests have a glass of water at bedtime. If you’re hosting for a festive evening, place water in the room in advance. A carafe and glasses add a lovely touch. You can pick up a stylish Nardo olive green set from the Futon Company (£16) or, for something fancier, a Nine Milk carafe set (£40–£49) from twentytwentyone.
Also, provide a vanity mirror, ideally placed in good natural light. If you don’t have one, Dunelm’s Elements dressing table mirror (£20) is a fun design. If you can spare a hairdryer, guests will appreciate it and won’t need to knock on your door while you’re getting dressed.
Neat and Tidy
To help keep things organized, provide a container for cosmetics and perhaps a pot for makeup brushes. Any nice little dish or tableware will work—empty candle jars are great too. A trinket tray by the bed is also useful. Oliver Bonas has a great selection, including a set of two Sun Swirl trinket dishes (£14.50). Similarly, a wastepaper bin helps keep things tidy. Zara Home’s cylindrical metal wastepaper basket (£69.99) is a chic option.
Keep Cosy
It’s unpleasant to feel cold in someone else’s home, so provide throws and blankets in both the living room and bedroom. Hot-water bottles are a thoughtful gesture—dress them up with a stylish cover like the Forte wool cover (£52) from Toast. A heated throw can be moved around the house and even draped over the bed on cold nights. Dreamland’s are among the best, including a Cosy Up faux fur warming throw (£109.99) in a gorgeous terracotta tone.
Create Surfaces
Many guest bedrooms and bathrooms fall short in this area. Guests need somewhere to place their belongings.When guests arrive, help them settle in by offering a spot to unpack or place their toiletries. “Set up the room like a hotel—include a small chair, stool, or bench to rest a bag on or lay out clothes,” suggests Starreveld Forbes. They recommend the X Collagerie shiny and matte side table from Zara Home (£129.99) or the Rylee nesting bedside table from West Elm (£399). For tighter spaces, the Futon Company offers great small-space furniture, like the Hale narrow bedside table (£40), which is only 24cm wide.
Somewhere for clothes
If a wardrobe isn’t possible, Gemma Tucker of Balance Interior Design recommends “adding a clothes rail with wooden hangers—it’s an easy and affordable touch. If there’s room, include a small chest of drawers for items like underwear and cosmetics.” She suggests the elegant black iron clothes rail from Design Vintage (available in three sizes, from £245). For a more contemporary look, try the compact Turner single clothes rail from Habitat (£50). If space is very limited, a rack of hooks on the back of a door or wall will work. Nordic Nest has a great selection, including the Relief hook rack (£134), which pairs well with a set of 10 hangers from Argos Home (£9).
Scent the room
“Set the mood before your guests arrive by lighting a scented candle. Opt for rich, woody notes in cooler seasons and lighter, fresh fig scents as the weather warms. True Grace offers a great selection,” advises Tucker. A pleasant-smelling bathroom is also essential. Ailsa MacConnell of Studio Mac says, “For me, it’s all about creating a beautiful scent so guests relax and feel comfortable. The Sweet Pea reed diffuser from St Eval (£33.99) is my absolute go-to, and many friends and family comment on it after staying.”
Home entertainment
If you have a small TV and streaming stick, consider placing them in the guest room to avoid conflicts over the main television. A digital radio or Bluetooth speaker also lets guests entertain themselves. A curated selection of books from your own shelves is always a nice touch—short-story collections are a good option. Antonia Winkler von Stiernhielm of Studio Anton likes to add “a slim magazine rack with a few well-chosen titles, as it shows care and makes the room feel personal.” She suggests a rattan magazine holder from Uru Home (£85), or the stylish Stackers garnet magazine rack from John Lewis (£40).
Tea and biscuits
If space allows, it’s lovely to provide guests with tea or coffee. Use a tray with a small kettle, like the John Lewis Anyday (£20), and perhaps a nice tin of biscuits. Amazon sells a selection of small, insulated milk bottles.
Boost the bathroom too
Make sure to provide your best towels. La Redoute and Dunelm are great places to restock. Declutter the bathroom to free up space, offer an empty candle jar or nice mug as a toothbrush holder, and consider creating a basket with some of your favourite spa treats for guests to enjoy. Winkler von Stiernhielm also suggests “a freshly laundered linen robe on the back of the door, because comfort should feel thoughtfully planned. I always use white sheets and robes so they feel like a luxury hotel.” The White Company’s long lightweight waffle robe (£65) is perfect.
After the guests go
Selway shares this thought: “Your spare room doesn’t have to sit idle between visits. Add a turntable and records, or create a reading nook, so it becomes a space you enjoy too. It should be a little retreat that reflects your interests while still welcoming guests.”
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Sprucing Up Your Spare Room
Q1 What does sprucing up a spare room really mean
A It means making small thoughtful changes to make the room feel more welcoming comfortable and intentionally prepared for guests rather than just an empty or cluttered storage space
Q2 Why should I bother dimming the lights
A Soft dim lighting creates a calm relaxing atmosphere the moment a guest enters Its much cozier and less harsh than a single bright overhead light
Q3 What exactly is a trinket tray and what do I put on it
A A trinket tray is a small decorative dish or bowl placed on a nightstand or dresser It gives guests a dedicated spot to empty their pocketsthink for keys jewelry loose change or a watchso these small items dont get lost
Q4 Do I need to buy new towels for this
A Not necessarily Your best towels means the clean presentable and soft towels you already own Avoid using old frayed or thin towels The goal is to show youve put in a little extra thought
Q5 I dont have a dimmer switch What are some easy alternatives
A You can use a table lamp with a warm bulb a floor lamp or even string lights Smart bulbs that you can dim with an app or a remote are another great option that doesnt require rewiring
Q6 What if my spare room is tiny or doubles as an officestorage
A Focus on clearing a dedicated surface for the trinket tray Neatly tuck away work or storage items The simple act of laying out fresh towels on the bed or a chair still makes a big difference
Q7 Are there other quick lowcost touches I can add
A Absolutely Consider adding a carafe of water with a glass a phone charger fresh flowers or a plant and ensuring theres empty space in the closet or a few free hangers
Q8 Whats the biggest benefit of doing this
