I'm an interior designer – and this is how I style an inviting guest bedroom

Guest bedrooms tend to be a little neglected when we update our interiors through the seasons. 

With Easter fast approaching, a time when you may be welcoming friends and family to stay, I have rounded up my top tips on how to style and decorate a guest bedroom to be practical, welcoming and a little luxurious – minus the effort and expense! 

1. Declutter your guest room

Guest bedroom ideas need to feel refined yet relaxing, welcoming and not overly fussy. Decluttering and rethinking bedroom storage ideas will keep clutter to a minimum. 

Pay particular attention to luxurious textiles, the right lighting and thoughtful touches – for me, these are the most important components to a serene guest bedroom. 

2. Layer fabrics for comfort

When it comes to layering textiles, my motto is ‘more is more’. Layering different textures, fabrics and materials, not only provides visual interest, but they also bring a sense of luxury and comfort to a guest bedroom. 

That is not to say you must layer multiple patterns and colors if that’s not to your taste. You can still build your soft furnishings in neutral, earthy tones, using interesting textures and natural materials to really bring the scheme to life. 

3. Let rugs inspire a new color scheme

A rug is a great starting point when creating your guest bedroom scheme. Bedroom rug ideas are my go-to quick fix for elevating any room – not only do they add color and texture, but they are also a practical choice if you need to soften hardwood floors and bring warmth underfoot. 

In the colder months, opt for a deeper pile rug, and as we approach Spring you may want to switch this out for a woven wool or jute rug – as natural insulators these materials work well all year round too. 

A rug also provides the base for your bedroom color ideas – identify your favorite colors in the rug and carry these through your soft furnishings, lampshades and art work for a calm and cohesive finished look.

4. Style up the bed

The bed is a crucial part of any guest bedroom. An abundance of cushions and coordinating throws are, in my opinion, key to making a guest bedroom feel inviting and sumptuous. 

I love to layer bedspreads – one with a textural design and subtle colors and another in bolder tones and vivid patterns, such as a Kantha or Suzani. 

Try styling the bed with two pairs of matching cushions – opt for stronger tones in either a larger-scale print or block color at the back and then use smaller-scale prints and softer tones in front. Don’t be scared to use pattern in a guest room – florals, geometrics and stripes work wonderfully together if color is used in a clever way. 

5. Limit the color scheme

Choose two core accent color ideas in varying shades and introduce a third accent color which features more than once in a room – here the pink in our Piazza Block Printed Cushions coordinates with the Ziggurat Rug, bringing unity to this blue and green scheme.

6. Use lighting purposefully

Designing a guest bedroom is all about creating restful moments. Getting the bedroom lighting ideas right is key to achieving this and for creating a welcoming ambience. 

Bedrooms need soft light for bedtime, task lighting for reading and also brighter light options. Different light layers can be achieved using light from different sources – wall lights, bedside lamps and perhaps wall mounted task lights. 

Bedside lighting ideas are particularly important in a guest bedroom – not only do they serve purpose in providing a warm glow, but they are also great tools for bringing a scheme seamlessly together. 

I often coordinate my lampshades to the prints and colors used throughout the room – try a statement lampshade for a fun pop of color. For a more pared back look, opt for a matching pair of lamp bases and lampshades – this will create balance in the bedroom. 

Or if your taste is more eclectic, choose mismatched lamps and lampshades but be sure to coordinate your colors to create visual harmony. In this room, I have chosen to coordinate the Rattan Lamp base to the Rattan Headboard, giving the interior a rustic, artisanal finish. 

7. Add thoughtful finishing touches

Thoughtful, final touches are important in guest bedrooms which may have a tendency to feel a little cold and empty, owing to the fact that they aren't filled with personal ephemera. 

Practical additions such as a carafe of water, and considerate accessories will help the room feel lived in and make your guests feel at home. Use decorative pieces to inject personality into your guest bedroom – well chosen magazines, a scented candle or interesting sculptures. 

I always love to complete a guest bedroom with a vase of fresh, garden flowers on a nightstand – they always bring the outside in with a wonderful, natural scent – known to have a calming effect.

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