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Having guests stay over is not only exciting, but there is something very satisfying about being able to provide your visitors with an enjoyable and comfortable stay in your home. If you are looking to invite your friends over any time soon, or if searching through homes for sale has got you excited about transforming a spare room, here are four simple but effective tips for designing the perfect getaway space for your guests.
Create a Comfortable Place to Stay

A crucial aspect of a guest room is comfort. You want your guests to feel at home as much as possible and allowing them the opportunity to sleep soundly is one of the best ways to do so. If a new mattress doesn’t quite fit your current budget, consider looking into a mattress topper to add a little extra comfort. A quality mattress topper paired with the right bed sheets can work wonders! Remember to be mindful of the weather when choosing the appropriate bedding. Flannel, cotton, and fleece sheets are better options for the winter to provide extra warmth, and lighter, airy linen sheets are best for the summer.
To really accommodate different personal preferences, consider leaving an electric fan or a portable space heater in the room. Also, providing extra sheets and a variety of pillow types to choose from will ensure that your guests get a good night’s rest.
Provide Enough Space
Your guests are going to need enough room for their belongings and to store their travel bags and luggage. If they are staying for a longer period of time, being able to unpack their clothes and having enough closet or drawer space will help them feel more settled in your home. The best way to ensure that they have enough space is to clear the drawers and wardrobes of any extra clothing items you may be keeping there.

If your rental has limited storage space, aim to leave at least one or two drawers empty and make enough room on your clothing rack to hang a few other items of clothing. It’s also important to declutter any visible shelf and remember that, when it comes to designing a guest room, less is more. The fewer your personal items, the more space for your guests to actually use.
Make it Practical
An important detail when planning out the design of a guest bedroom is functionality. While the thought of decorating a guest room might seem like the perfect opportunity to express your creative side and go wild with interesting decorations, it’s important to keep your guests’ needs in mind first.
Oftentimes, the excitement of traveling somewhere can result in forgetting to pack certain essential items. Providing extra toiletries such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, and bath items will be greatly appreciated by your visitors. Everyday items like blow dryers, irons, and even an alarm clock may also be of good use to your guests.

If your guest is looking to do a little work while they are staying over, consider arranging an area in the room for them to do so. Including a power strip and a paper with the Wi-Fi information to meet all of their electronic needs would be another appreciated feature.
A good way to understand what your guests are going to need is to think about times you’ve stayed overnight at a hotel or at someone else’s house and ask yourself: what basic necessities did they offer that you appreciated? What do you wish they had? Incorporate those items into your guest room.
Offer Unexpected Luxuries
Once you’ve handled all the necessities a guest should have, you may want to go the extra mile and pamper your visitors a little. A welcome basket filled with goodies is a nice surprise anyone would love to have. Putting together a collection of face masks to help them relax at the end of the night, a city guide if they’re visiting from out of town, or a couple of light snacks makes for a nice gift for your guests. House slippers and a robe may also be a nice touch to add to the room for extra comfort.

Leaving a couple of reading materials on the side table or even providing a television in the room can help entertain your guests if they happen to stay up when everyone else has gone to bed or if they find themselves alone in your home for a certain period of time.
If you’d like to know whether or not your guests are going to love it, try the room out for a night and put yourself in their shoes! Though creating the perfect guest room requires paying attention to the little things, you’d be surprised at how big of an impact it makes in the end. Whether you’re looking to invite guests over to your vacation home by the lake or in one of those Toronto condos, these tips will help your visitors feel welcome in any space.
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Mihaela Buzec
Mihaela Buzec is a senior writer, researcher, and online content developer for RentCafe, where she has over 7 years of experience writing about the real estate industry. She authors important resources such as the statistics pages describing generational patterns and renter's guides that help renters in their journey. Her work has appeared in publications such as Apartment Therapy, Indy Star, and Investopedia.
Mihaela is a published researcher and activates within academia as well. She holds a BA in English and German Language and Literature, an MA in Current Linguistics, and a PhD in neurolinguistics.
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