  Most guest rooms can be redesigned in a weekend and for less than a thousand dollars -- Cheryll Gillespie.
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Your creative juices are bubbling, you need a project to occupy you and its still too darn cold outside to start the gardening so….what room, what small space can you reinvent to keep your hands busy and your creative juices in check? How about the guest room?
60% of us have a guest room and almost 70% of us use our guest room for storage instead of accommodating company and with Easter, spring, and summer just around the corner, it may be excellent timing to cleanup and ready that guest room.
Let’s head to the guest room, I know, for more than a few months’, this room has been an oversized closet that just happens to have a bed in it. You shut the door on this room months ago and tried to igmore all the junk you have been piling up in there. Be brave, take the first step and let’s look in. Don’t panic just yet; there are ways that we can still create storage in this room without compromising our guests.
Let’s discuss the room before we get to work. Before embarking on any renovation or decorating project it is imperative that you set a budget and have a solid understanding and commitment to the time required for properly completing the project. Most guest rooms can be fully redesigned in a weekend and with a budget between five hundred and a thousand dollars.
What are you currently using the room for? Storage? A home office? An exercise room? If you are currently using your guest room for any of the above then you’ll need to either relocate or accommodate the required activity. Home offices and exercise rooms can be fully functional and serve double duty with the employment of wall beds. I love using wall beds in my extra spaces. They fold up out of the way when not in use. In fact you won’t even know they’re in the room. There are, however, some downsides to having the guest suite serve double duty.
Firstly, you will not have access to the office and will have to temporarily relocate during guest visits. Likewise, you will not have access to your exercise equipment during their stay and you will need to relocate the heavy pieces. Make a decision as to whether or not to keep your office and the exercise equipment in the room, if you have other options then perhaps it will be best to relocate.
Begin by taking every thing out of the room; put back only the basics, the bed, a dresser, night stands and a chair or bench. Look for alternative furniture arrangements, perhaps the bed can be placed on an angle. Remember that even in smaller spaces angles work and often make the room appear larger. You may need only one night stand instead of two. A dresser is not imperative in a guest room although a chair is a nice addition. Try to reorganize all the ‘extra’ stuff that was in the room. Sort, label, and re-store or give away all the junk that you where storing in the room. Some of the storage containers can be moved to the basement while others may need to go into your guest room closet. Use attractive bins that have been clearly labeled and stacked neatly in the closet.
If you are using old or mismatched furniture to furnish the guest suite give the pieces new life with a coat of paint. Traditional suite look marvelous painted in high gloss which is very trendy or alternately you can use white paint. A bench or a chair can be reupholstered in a fabulous new fabric. Add a pair of floor length ready-made drapes (because floor length always looks best in bedroom windows), a new duvet cover, and some throw cushions. Include an extra blanket at the end of the bed and ensure that there’s lots of light. Your guests may enjoy reading so be sure to provide a lamp beside the bed and perhaps a floor lamp near the chair. I always keep a selection of magazines and books in the top drawer of the night stand. On the dresser or night stand include a picture frame. If you have a photo of your guests change out the frame as they come and go.
A water bottle and some lavender essential oil spray (which encourages sleep) are also good additions to the top drawer.
Finally spend a night in your own guest room: How well did you sleep, does any thing need to be added or rearranged? A relaxing, comfortable guest room will not only make your guest more comfortable during there stay with you but will also make the time you spend together more enjoyable.
