Guest room furniture ideas - clever ways to kit out your spare bedroom

Often the room that’s left until last to decorate, the guest bedroom has plenty of untapped potential that can be discovered with some smart guest room furniture ideas. 

Start by thinking about what you need to achieve: do your guest bedroom ideas need to multitask? Perhaps you need to be creative with furniture makeover projects, blending various pieces and styles, or making more space available if you are dealing with a small bedroom.

‘Spare rooms can often fall into the dangerous category of being a dumping ground,’ says interior designer Nicky Dobree. ‘Try not to let that happen by having good bedroom storage so your things don’t dominate the guest space.’

Guest furniture room ideas

Before you start plotting your guest room furniture ideas there are a few rules to remember. ‘When I am designing a room for holiday homes, I am careful not to over furnish – lighting, a desk/dressing table, a small chair or stool, a mirror and fresh flowers or a plant are often all you need,’ says Lisa Valentine, owner of holiday let Quay Cottage in Llandeilo.

‘Aside from the comfort of the bed, surface and storage are central when providing for a guest room and making your furniture choices,’ says Danielle LeVaillant, Head of Photography & Film, Cox & Cox. ‘There might not be space for a wardrobe, but guests need to hang their clothes, so consider a standing rail – or at the least a row of hooks behind the door.’

Emily Attwood, Founder Scooms adds: ‘Be sure to leave an empty drawer, space in the wardrobe and some hanging hooks on the door for storage. This will add to making an extended stay much more comfortable for your guests - the only problem is that your guests may never want to leave!’

1. Maximise storage space

In an attic guest bedroom sloping ceilings can make it tricky to fit in hanging space or a wardrobe idea for visitors’ clothes. Swap a bedside table for a chest of drawers, providing lots of lovely drawer space instead. Add a hero table lamp and box or plate for bits and pieces such as jewellery or glasses once taken off – it’s those little touches that show guests how much you care.

‘Something by the side of the bed is key in a guest bedroom, providing a surface for a table lamp as well as a place to stow small items,’ says Danielle LeVaillant.

2. Turn old furniture into a hero piece

Budgets are often stretched thinly when it comes to decorating the spare bedroom, with furniture often ending up here from other rooms in the home, rather than buying new. Make a feature of any salvaged pieces, like a chest of drawers which has a lovely, well-worn patina, using it to set the style for the rest of the room. Try teaming with a floral wallpaper and metal bedsteads dressed with blankets to give a vintage vibe.

If the furniture you are left with in your guest bedroom doesn’t fit the bill, why not try your hand at an upcycled furniture idea? You’ll be amazed at the difference new handles and a coat of furniture paint can make (and guests will also be suitably impressed).

3. Plan in storage

When shopping for guest room furniture, look for pieces that combine bedroom storage ideas and style. Storage beds will allow you to keep clutter at bay – and you can choose from divans to wooden designs, and even day beds with drawers, all deal for stashing spare bed linen out of sight.

Be creative with any bed linen that you can’t tidy away – a rolled-up pillow in a fabric cylinder can become a bolster cushion for a day bed, just tie the two open ends with ribbon or braid.

4. Invest in bespoke

‘More often than not, the spare bedroom will support you with storage that may not be available in the main rooms,’ says Emma Deterding, Founder & Creative Director, Kelling Designs and Kelling Home.  ‘Built-in joinery will make the best use of the space available and allow you to keep the room organised, which is important for when you have guests over, after all you want to provide them with a beautiful and restful sanctuary to sleep in.’

Think about the space around your guest bed, with shelving lined with storage baskets perfect for guests’ essentials if you don’t have much drawer space.

5. Find space for a chair

‘If guests are staying more than two nights, a comfy chair to read a good book is a must,’ says Julia Hands, Founder & CEO of Hand Picked Hotels.  Choose a design without arms if space is tight and avoid the temptation to add too many cushions or throws. Keep it simple with just one hero cushion.

Need a compact bedside table idea? Try a stool, with enough space for a glass of water, something pretty, like a vase with a few stems in, and a mobile phone charger. Take the bedside lamp off the table, with a wall-hung design above.

6. Combine a hobby and guest room

A pale, yet interesting colour scheme, ample storage for craft supplies and a hanging rail as a clothes storage idea make this a multi-functioning guest bedroom. A daybed that opens into a bed provides occasional overnight guest sleep space, while a side table on casters can double as a bedside table, being moved bedside when needed.

Think about what you need from your guest room – if it’s very occasional use for overnight visitors, make it work for you first, then adapt it for guests, rather than having a room with a double bed that you hardly use.

7. Create drama with a statement bed

Make a tiny guest bedroom idea one to remember for guests with a pretty scheme focusing on a four-poster bed – even a single bed can be impactful. Choose white-painted furniture and pale wallpaper and flooring to make a small space feel light and airy, with a mirror placed next to the window wall to help reflect that natural light further.

Combine storage and bedside space with a sturdy wicker chest – you can always add a tray to provide a level surface on top for a lamp if yours is a little undulating.

8. Add luxury with velvet upholstery

Treat guests to a touch of luxe with a velvet upholstered headboard or bed – it’s a great way to make a bedroom look more expensive.  You can get the look for less with a DIY headboard idea for your divan base, some velvet fabric and a staple gun, or splash out on a lovely professional curved design that just screams ‘welcome’. 

Dress the bed with natural bed linens and throws, balancing the more luxe velvet with softer textures. Try a natural scheme with a touch of blush or trending peach as an accent colour.

9. Keep things ship shape with a trunk

Swap a bedside chest for a storage trunk, which when teamed with white, red and blue, lends a crisp nautical touch as a small bedroom idea. A trunk is a great way to quickly banish clutter before guests arrive.

Simple divan beds with upholstered headboards, make the most of this small guest room, thanks to their small footprint. Don’t forget to treat your divan base to a concealing valance – box pleat gives a neat finish.

10. Choose a trundle bed

A pull-out trundle bed can give you the best of both worlds when it comes to utilising your spare room for you and for guests. Try to position your bed where it’s easy to pull the second bed out, while still giving as much floor space around it as you can.

When not in use, the trundle bed allows you to utilise your guest room as a second living space, perhaps a place to where you can escape with a book.

FAQS

Now the boxing day and January sales have kicked off, it's the perfect time to revamp your guest bedroom furniture ideas ready for the new year.