to be so fussy about creating perfect guest-room?

[theboatisleaking]

We've just completed extension and for first time ever have a proper guest-room! I'm very excited about making it as comfortable and welcoming as possible but DH thinks I'm going OTT and wants to keep it very simple.

When you're a house-guest, what things make a perfect guest-room? What do you need or wish hosts had provided and what's too much?

It's a small room, just space for a double-bed, plus an open-storage wardrobe (with shelves and rail), also a small chest of drawers. Large window with no blind/curtains as yet (DH thinks no need to cover window but I diasagree!) No ensuite but a bathroom right next door for guests' exclusive use.

So far I've added a bedside lamp, box of tissues and a warm throw. I want to add a tea-tray with travel-kettle, cups, tea, biscuits etc and a TV (we have a spare) but DH thinks this is too much and might make guests feel they're not welcome in kitchen and living room. I also want to add fresh flowers, a bowl of wrapped chocolates (like Lindor) and some books/magazines but he thinks it will make it look cluttered! What do you think? What would you appreciate if you were a guest?

And do you think plain white bedding is best or something colourful (I think white looks a bit clinical and makes guests paranoid about marking it but DH thinks otherwise!)

Any advice/opinions appreciated!

Tv is good because they may be early risers or nightowls and this means they dont have to go downstairs.
Fresh white bedlinen. Extra blanket on thw bottom. Spare double sheet in the wardrobe (incase too warm can swap it with the duvet).
Definetly a window dressing and one that is blackout.
A small clock.
Sockets by the bed on both sides.
Lamps on both sides of the bed.
A "useful" drawer (phone chargers, tissues, sanpro, earplugs, sealed toothbrush, hairdryer).
Fresh towels put in just before arrival.
Couple of bottles of water put in just before arrival.
Vase of fresh flowers put in just before arrival.

Or a really quality vase of artificial flowers.

The key things have been mentioned but just to reinforce, they are:

• bedside light. Nothing worse than having to switch the main light off then stumble around an unfamiliar room in the dark. One either side is ideal - go for cheap from Ikea rather than just one expensive one.

• Bin. Again, v annoying to have to stash snotty tissues, laddered tights etc for later disposal.

• Window coverings of some sort, definitely. Go for blackout blinds as people who like a bit of light can partially roll them up, but for people who only sleep well in a properly dark room, it's not good to be stuck with flimsy light blinds or curtains that mean the room is super bright at 5am on summer Sunday mornings.

Oh and TV unnecessary given that most people as guests would watch something on their phones if up early/late, but the house wifi code would be v helpful for that.

Thanks for great advice guys Lots of really useful suggestions here and things I hadn't thought of, especially full-length mirror, access to plugs, bin, slippers, clock, hairdryer and the basket of mini toiletries. We often get guest forgetting toothbrush so keep spares, but I guess it's less awkward for them if there's a handy basket in bathroom rather than having to ask us. Painkillers, simple meds and sanitary products are good idea too, I'll put some in the shelf in their bathroom so they have easy access. I like the idea of waffle-bedlinen, nice blend of homely and smart.

The strangest request we ever had from a guest (a rather tipsy female friend of mine) was for massage-oil! It was 11pm and they were sleeping in living-room on sofa-bed!

Most of our guests are close friends staying 2-3 nights but also family members (many from overseas who we only see 1x year and would be staying 2-3 weeks at a time). Also occasional colleagues of DH if they need bed for the night eg if they're coming for a conference.

I agree a kettle, TV and tea-tray is a bit too much, I wouldn't want them to think they're not welcome in other rooms! I'm happy for them to use all rooms, just thought they might like a cup of coffee in private at times (eg if DC are making a lot of noise/mess in kitchen first thing).

Lol at the chocolate on white sheet being mistaken for poo incident! I can imagine that happening

The bed has a memory-foam mattress but we need to get new pillows and duvet. Do you think feather or synthetic are best for guestroom? DH thinks feather but I'd be worried someone might be allergic. And with pillows do you think 1 flat & 1 plump pillow per person is enough or is it best to have more? We have lots of space on shelves to store extra bedding so they have selection if needed.

BiddyPop...Test-tube vases that suction to wall sound great, where do you get them?

Yes wifi-code is really good idea, hadn't thought of that!

Absolutely pissing myself at this thread.

Slippers? Robes? Selection of hotel toiletries? Sanitary products?

My guest bedroom currently has an unmade bed, piled high with clean washing waited to be sorted, a TV that doesn't work, a wardrobe that is stuffed full of old coats, clothes waiting to be slimmed into etc.

It doesn't have a kettle.

It does have curtains.

My tripadvisor reviews are poor to middling

We have people to stay a couple of times a month. After my encounter with starkers bog trotting cousin there are two huge white towelling robes hanging on the back of the door. The room is equipped the same as our own, has black out curtains, bin, good bedside/overhead lighting, mirror, extension thing with four empty sockets, radio alarm, a decent plant plus a little posy of flowers even if it's just something from the garden, tin of biscuits in case of late night munchies, good stock of wooden hangers,bottles of water or at least glasses for a drink from the bathroom, box of tissues. There's a drawer with stuff like hairdryer, pen, paper, stamps, new toothbrushes, other stuff is in the bathroom which they can help themselves to. Samples and chocolates on the pillow is too B&B. The bed has a down duvet, feather pillows with a couple of synthetic ones and an extra blanket available in the bottom of the wardrobe, pIain high count cotton linen and a couple of feather cushions. Stack of bath sheets on the chair. There's a full bookcase in the room, but if I think of something the visitor might particularly enjoy I leave it on the bedside table. Above all make sure the room warm but not overly so, clean, and avoid smelly freshener/ wick things.

This thread is genius - the detail provided is hilarious but its also very useful!!

I like a clean room with fresh bedding and a bin.

I have a little frame on the chest of drawers with the Wifi password printed on pretty paper and lettering. Saves people having to keep asking.

What everyone else said plus an ability to control my temperature. I tend to find other people's houses too hot at night, so a way to turn the radiator down or open the window would be appreciated. And I dare say there are people who'd love an extra blanket etc.

Mine has:

Super king sized bed
Recliner chair in the corner
Dressing table with hair grips, clips, round brush, hairdryer, curling tongs, crumpets and straighteners in the drawer (my old hairdryer and straighteners, and curling tongs and crimpers that are never used so it's a good place to store them)
En suite with red towels and red poo-candles (worst thing as a guest for me is worrying about toilet smells)
Cupboard in bathroom with new toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, every factor of sun cream from 8-50 and one of everything i have in my own bathroom cupboard
Throws and spare pillows in the wardrobe
Empty drawers
Hanging space with hangers
Tv with full satellite package
DVD player
iPhone dock
An extension next to the dressing table for any devices needed
Bathrobes
Beach towels

I put out water and glasses too.

The bathroom cupboard usually get pilfered in the meantime when we run out of something.

Our guests are usually 10
Days minimum though as were overseas, and they've used leave allowance and spent loads on flight to be come to visit. I provide full toiletries and hair implements as usually our visitors use kgs of their luggage bringing me my Amazon shopping, so I save them the weight

The other spare room is for occaisonal drunken guests who crash at the last minute. That usually has packets of biscuits in the drawer for late night munchies for the usual suspect who stays over who lives on sugar

TheBoat, I don't actually have those test tube vases, but I have seen them a good few times in interior shops and lusted after them (mostly for my room admittedly). I did see a magazine feature (possibly February's Red - I don't get many) about a flower arranging professional who had beatle vases stuck on the wall for individual blooms, but that would be going too far for me.

BTW, our guest room was an au pair bedroom for 4 years, so it also has a chair, small table and the wardrobe for guests is a standalone one, as the built in one is full of my out of season and yet to slim back into stuff. Before the APs, guests didn't really have hanging space. (We also have lots of maps and guidebooks, again due to APs, but they stay in that room on the shelf and some guests since have found them useful). And there is a pile of clutter in the corner that sometimes builds up, and I try to get it hidden away again/sorted out when guests are due but don't always manage that (PILs mostly see that - sorry to them).

Clean room, fresh linen, curtains, bin, mirror, lamp - they're the basics. Anything after that has evolved over time, as I've had cast offs too good to throw out, and we've gathered bits for other reasons (eg DGPs funerals) that were handy for guest use too. But clean and a welcome from the hosts are the most important things.

I don't like the idea of a kettle, way too B&B

I say go for it. Get a Corby trouser press and a TV with a subscription to the ahem... one-handed exercise channels and notices telling you that all damages will be paid for.

But joking aside if I stayed in at a friend's house and the room had I think a kettle would scream the unspoken message 'stay the fuck in your room and don't bother me'

Curtain, clean bedding, reading light, lock depending on bedroon location, and your welcome. They are coming to see you, not your spare room!

Would avoid anything that smacks of hotel, boutique b&b etc etc.... I speak as someone who grew up in a pretty tourist area, my mum did regular, very nice b and b... It was amazing the number of far-flung family friends/relatives suddenly got in touch when the weather improved... For free stays naturally... 'We just thought how nice it would be to catch up' wouldnt hear anything from them otherwise .. At least two of these couples expected my mum to wait on them and to give them a full break fast...