...to ask you about guestrooms?

[Littlewhitedove]

Our two adult children have recently flown the nest so we have two double en suite rooms that are now spare rooms.
What makes a spare room into a lovely guest room? What added extras would make you, as a guest, feel welcomed and wanted?
I have ordered new towels and added some pretty decorative items but I'd really appreciate some other ideas so I can make the rooms feel extra special.
Thanks x

If you’ve got a lot of books at home maybe keep some of them on a shelf in the spare rooms. I like being nosy and looking at people’s books - but I wouldn’t just take one off a shelf in their sitting room. If they were in my guest room I’d feel like they were mine to peruse!

Not my idea - my cousin - cheap slippers (or flip flops) - new for each guest - doesn’t matter how cheap they are, makes you feel as if you were in a posh hotel
if you live in a touristy area - town / attraction maps
east to find plugs - extra points if you add usb charging points - assume each guest will need to plug at least 2 electronic devices
a good mirror
empty drawers or shelfs

Definitely...good idea!

As a minimum:

Spare blanket/hot water bottle/pillow. I hate being cold and uncomfortable when I stay over and it feels rude to ask.

Spare sanitary items in case guest caught short.

Free and accessible plug socket for phone charging.

Sleep mask

Good black out curtains
lamps on the side of the bed

A mirror.

A decent bedside light.

A waste paper basket.

I keep a few books in our guest room and if I have time I choose a few different books from our main bookshelves which I think might appeal to whoever is coming to stay.

I also have a box next to the bed which I keep stocked with things like travel sized shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover, moisturiser, toothpaste, a new toothbrush still in its packaging, some cotton wool pads, nail files, a few plasters and some paracetamol. I've tried to think of things which people might forget, especially things they might need once everyone has turned in for the night and they realise they don't have what they need but don't feel able to come and ask.

We are currently redecorating and once the walls are done we will choose nice new curtains and some pictures for the walls.

Bedside lamp
Mirror
Chair to put clothes on
Books
Tissues
Wifi password
Accessible plug socket

A decent mirror, a bin, some tissues, somewhere to plug things in, and a pen - all things that I've missed when staying in others' houses.

If there's a bathroom for water, a little travel kettle and a basket with tea bags and milk etc.

I love a tea first thing before i get dressed but i also dont love creeping downstairs in my pyjamas to get one first thing.

I love all these ideas...keep them coming. Thank you all.

What happens to the slippers when they have been used once? Discarded into land fill? Not sure about where you’re buying them if they are cheap/what sweatshop they will come from. And why? To feel like you’re in a fancy hotel?

i am pretty sure hotels wash slippers and reuse/package as if they are new. Would be such a massive waste if not

Sleep a couple of nights in the bed just to check the mattress is comfortable.

Absolutely this! We are heading down to SILs for the weekend before Christmas & we're actively looking for inoffensive ways to say we're staying in a hotel rather than attempt to sleep in their ridiculously uncomfortable spare bed!!

I think most of mine have been mentioned here but I also always pop some fresh flowers/greenery on bedside tables and a chocolate on the pillow when guests actually come.

A lovely throw and nice pillows on the bed, a place to sit and get dressed like an armchair, a full length mirror, somewhere to hang clothes, some nice toiletries in the bathroom. Fresh towels, maybe a puzzle book or 2, and a tray with some cups/biscuits/tea making facilities/water. And a card with the WiFi password!

I mean I wouldn't expect any of this if I was staying with family or friends, a blanket on the sofa would do, but they would be what I'd want in a nice B&B so I guess if you wanted to treat your guests like royalty that's the way 😝

Fresh flowers yes.

Chocolate on pillow - NO NO NO! Unbelievably naff.

Fresh flowers, doesn’t have to be an extravagant display just some simple tulips.

You might think so but literally everyone comments really happily on it!

It is a spare bedroom for guests. They will presumably be able to make a cup of tea in your kitchen.

Don't try & turn it into a simulation of an Air BNB, that would just make your guests feel uncomfortable.

No kettles or slippers. I do provide a very old dressing gown just in case.

Decent thickness of pillows. People seem to reserve their old and worn out pillows for guests

Who are these guests?? I think my friends would ask if I was out of my mind if I provided fancy disposable slippers, a tea set in their bedroom, puzzle books and chocolates on the pillows!

We used to have books of short stories in the guest room - if someone is only staying a night, they might not want to get stuck into a book they won't finish before they leave.

New towels - good! (I'm tempted to buy some for the IL's guest room - we've been using the same ones there for over 30 years...)

Why would I want a puzzle book when I have Wordle on my phone?

Do you expect the same guests regularly? When we lived abroad DPiL and DM would come and stay for a week every couple of months (separately not together). We had a huge chest of drawers and we gave them a drawer each so they could leave things at our house and not have to bring toiletries every time.

Somewhere to put a suitcase or other luggage out of the way.

Somewhere to hang a coat/dressing gown.

A drinking glass or bottle and glass set.

Somewhere to sit if there is space eg small chair and table. It's nice to sit and be quiet sometimes especially when being a guest (or is that just the introvert in me 🙂).