'Tis the season that family and friends arrive to visit.
We can hardly wait to have them spend a few days with us in our home, to catch up, to have some laughs, reminisce about the good old days and make new memories. We love these folks and we want to make them feel as comfortable and as welcome in our home as possible, so let’s tweak the guest room before they arrive.
If your guest room needs a major overhaul, good thing I got you rolling with a couple weeks to spare.
Start from the top and work your way down: does the ceiling need paint? If it’s a flat ceiling, how about painting it a metallic silver or gold or even applying a wall tattoo? Or try hanging patterned wallpaper or tin panels to create visual drama on the room’s fifth wall.
If your guests are flying in from a different time zone, take it from someone who travels a lot: we spend a lot of time analyzing ceilings as we lie awake trying to shake off jet-lag.
Next, hang a new light fixture. There are so many fabulous and reasonably priced fixtures available today. Try a chandelier or a funky modern hanging light instead of a boring ceiling hugger.
Depending on the style of the fixture, you may wish to mount it with a ceiling medallion. You can buy these at your favorite do-it centre for less than $60.
Paint the medallion a funky colour, such as high-gloss eggplant, black or red (whatever works best with your decor; I just want us to be more creative than white or brown). Be sure to install it with a dimmer switch. A room is very welcoming when the light is dimmed.
Don’t worry, this is not a giant or outrageously expensive project. Depending on the current state of the room and your budget, you’re looking at between $200 and $1,500.
So, depending on what you did on the ceiling, next step is taking care of your walls and windows.
In a bedroom, it’s generally best to keep all four walls the same colour, texture or pattern. Incorporate luxurious linens, velvets and satins in soothing neutral shades to give the room a sense of refined opulence.
Hang some drapery panels, which always make a space feel cozy and warm. And don’t skimp. Many folks are afraid to expand the window by hanging the drapery past the window frame; I often go wall to wall with my bedroom drapery.
Finally, we get to the bed, the main feature and focal point of the room. Make sure you have a headboard. If not, create one, even if that means repainting an old one or placing two pieces of metal art at the head of the bed.
I’ve found designer dream headboards at second-hand and recycled furniture stores for less than $20. Remember those old, ornate plastic headboards? They look amazing spray-painted in high-gloss black or purple.
Now it’s time to dress the bed — and keep it simple. If it’s time for new linen, buy good-quality linens in a natural colour: white, beige or grey. Put an extra blanket at the end of the bed in case anyone gets chilly.
Place a good reading light and a few good books on the nightstand. Some folks, like me, need to read a little before they can fall asleep.
I also leave a carafe of water, some glasses and a bowl of fresh apples or pears in the room in case anyone gets hungry in the night and doesn’t feel comfortable trekking to the kitchen.
Have fun with the decorating and wear your hotelier hat: make sure there’s a place to set the suitcase, hooks to hang things up, and a robe and slippers handy. A fresh stack of towels and washcloths, either here or in the bathroom, is another nice touch.
Now, I think you are ready for your guests. Have a great visit!
Cheryll Gillespie is an internationally celebrated, award-winning designer with a passion for travel. Visit her website at cheryllgillespie.com.
