Creating A Relaxing Guest Room On A Budget
Your home’s guest room is not only a room for your visitors to sleep in–it should be a retreat for them to unwind. Putting together such a stylish space is a project that you can do without spending a fortune.
Using your guest room for another purpose such as an office or a craft room is an economical way to get the most out of one area in your home. If you use the room for another purpose, organization is the key to being able to quickly turn it into a guest retreat. Storing items in labeled baskets and using closet organizers is a couple of ways to separate the two functions of the room.
How to Decorate on a Budget:
1. Check out local estate sales, consignment shops and antique stores for bargain furniture, art and accessories. These vintage items were often made of high-quality materials and can lend warmth and nostalgia to a space.
2. Use furniture that works double-duty such as a small desk that can also serve as a bedside table. Add a small chair or bench and this makes an ideal spot for your guests to jot down notes or write postcards and letters. Be sure to stock the desk with stamps and note cards for your guests to use.
3. Think like a top-notch hotel and anticipate your guest’s every need. Place items they may have forgotten to pack such as shampoo, magazines and books throughout the room. A basket of travel-sized shampoo and soaps is a great way to save money and provide visitors with needed items.
Below are some inexpensive items that will make your guests feel at ease and their stay in your home more pleasurable. Stock up throughout the year as you encounter sales so that you are always prepared.
- scented candles
- an alarm clock
- extra toothbrushes
- an extra blanket
- soft robes & fluffy slippers
- a cd player and cds
- local area maps
Whether they are relatives or friends, your guests should feel that that they can escape to your guest room and take a pleasurable break. With some savvy planning and shopping, you can create such a space and not break your budget.
Patrice Munden, Interior Designer