Setting up a guest room for Christmas

The Toronto Star has a good post on setting up a guest room for Christmas but it’s applicable for any guest room anytime

The ideal situation, provided you have the space, is to be able to provide guests with a room and a bathroom so they feel as though they checked into “Hotel Chez Toi.” Setting up the guest room isn’t so difficult and some good general rules will help ensure happy guests.

The first place to start is a decent mattress. It doesn’t have to be a new top-of-the-line model, but comfort is the primary focus of the room and its main function is sleep. If that is out of the budget then even a good quality inflatable is better than a used mattress.

The next thing to address is the bedding. Decent cotton sateen is a great choice for both the beauty and comfort. The super cheap polyester blends featuring a threat count of one hundred seem to be designed for exfoliation more than for sleep. Cotton sateen will iron well, and be comfortable for any guest without breaking the bank. Add to that a down duvet for some extra luxury as well as warmth. Find a selection of pillows, where at least two of them are feather down wrap, and you have all the ingredients for a good bed. In fact these are the important elements for any bedroom. I think it is nice to have a couple of extra pillows in the closet along with a blanket for those that find it too cold or too hot while they sleep. The extra pillows can be used for the kids or for those that just want more pillows.

The next element is window coverings. I clearly recall staying with friends in Arizona who provided me with a lovely room, comfortable bed but sheers on the window. At five every morning the sun poured in like a theatrical spotlight searching for my face. Who wants to pray for the end of the vacation just so that you can get a good sleep? Make sure that your window coverings are complete with a black-out lining.

From the point of view of aesthetics, it is important to use gender neutral fabrics in both the bedding and the draperies. Solid colours or tone on tone in neutrals like greys or browns will work well for both sexes. If you are looking to be a little trendier, perhaps play with plaids on the drapers or bedding. The ideal situation is to use neutrals and spice that up with throw cushions for pops of colour.

A couple of night-side tables are important provided you have the space. A lamp beside the bed is great for a late-night read or to navigate the room without the overhead light. The drawers allow for some storage of medications that need to be kept out of reach or anything private your guest may require. It’s also really nice to provide a small jug of water and a glass on the bedside table along with an alarm clock. With the remaining room on the table, place some fresh florals and perhaps some evergreen sprigs for that holiday feeling. In the closet, leave them with a few hangers so that they can unpack suits or dresses. Another great thing to do is to provide an extra bathrobe and slippers in the event that they forgot that detail or didn’t want to pack it.