Essentials of a Cozy Guest Room

When my husband and I lived in San Diego our guest room served as more of a storage/extra closet/ laundry- folding room. It was used for basically anything but hosting overnight guests, but in our defense we lived just a few miles from the majority of our friends and family. It was very, very rare that we had overnight guests.
When we moved to Hawaii I knew that our guest room would be well used so I wanted to create a comfortable, relaxed and cozy room that our guests could enjoy and feel at home in. Here are my 6 essentials to create a cozy retreat for overnight guests:

1. Luxury Bedding
-Invest in quality bedding, you don’t have to break the bank on bed sheets just make sure you get the best that your budget allows for. I always, always, always buy white sheets…they always look crisp and are super easy to keep clean (thanks bleach!!).

2. Fresh Flowers
– Nothing brightens up a room like fresh flowers or a small potted plant. Place small bouquets throughout the room. Think bedside tables, dresser and even the guest bathroom!

3. A Basket Full of Snacks (& Water!!)
– Stock your guest room with water; sparkling and still and a few snacks for your guests to enjoy. You might tell your guests to make themselves at home and help themselves to the kitchen but the truth is, most people won’t go rummaging through the pantry looking for a snack. Add local treats (like Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts from Hawaii) as well as pretzels and trail mix which make great midnight snacks.

4. A Comfortable Sitting Area
– Adding a chair or a bench to your guest room is a must. Guests need a place to sit while they tie their shoes or to relax with a good book. Either way go for a chair that fits well in the room. My guest room is lacking the extra space for a set of oversized chairs but this simple slipcovered chair adds the perfect touch.

5. T.V.
– Not everyone is into having a T.V. in the bedroom but early rising guest might appreciate laying in bed and watching the news or a movie. Since we don’t have cable in our guest bedroom we hooked-up a Roku to the T.V. so guests can watch Netflix, Hulu or any other streaming service.

6. Fresh Towels and Toiletries
– Stock the guest bathroom with fresh white towels. Again, I only use white towels for the guest bathroom..nothing looks more crisp or cleans up better than white! Make sure to stock the bathroom with extra toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion, and your favorite shampoo/conditioner. Keep an extra hair drier under the sink for your guest to use during their stay!

Do you have any tips or tricks for hosting overnight guests?! I’d love to hear them!!