10 Must-Haves for the Ultimate Guest Room

Create a five-star experience for your out-of-towners.

Your holiday guests might not be traversing over the river and through the woods, but they’re still making a valiant effort to visit you. Whether it’s a friend from college or an entire branch of your family tree, show them just how much you appreciate their travels by making their stay extra comfortable. Here are ten easy ways to upgrade your guest bedroom and create the ultimate home-away-from-home for your company.

Lavender Room Spray

Lavender-scented candles add a calming fragrance to any room, but guests might be hesitant about an open flame in somebody else’s home. Lavender room spray offers the same aromatherapeutic benefits without the safety hazard. Leave a bottle on the nightstand to encourage your guests to indulge in the soothing scent as they drift off to sleep.

Lots of Layers

Comforter sets create a cozy, cohesive look, but go the extra mile for your guests and add a soft quilt underneath. Those who are always chilly will appreciate the double layer, while those who get hot easily can use this lighter blanket instead of the heavy comforter.

A Variety of Pillows

Have you ever spent the night in a hotel tossing and turning because you couldn’t stand the pillows? Don’t let your guests suffer the same fate! Providing more than one pillow option—feather, down alternative, memory foam—will ensure they get a restful night’s sleep. (And if you know they sleep on a silk pillowcase at home, have one of those on hand too.)

A Bench

An upholstered bench offers another surface for guests to set out clothing or other items for easy access, plus it’s a convenient spot for them to sit and put on their shoes. Choose one with storage under the seat to keep all those extra pillows and blankets handy!

An Air Purifier

Your guests will breathe easier—and sleep better—with an air purifier that removes allergens and other particles such as mold, dust, and dander. Purifiers have come a long way in terms of aesthetics over the years, so you can maintain your personal style while cleaning the air in your home. There are even smart air purifiers that can order their own replacement filters!

Easy-Care Greenery

Plants will add color and texture to any room—as long as you remember to water them. Since your guest room gets less traffic than the rest of your home, pick ones that look pretty but require minimal maintenance, such as a cascading pothos, snake plant, or living wall. 

A Smart Speaker

Treat your company to their own voice-enabled speaker that can play music, set alarms, give weather reports, and answer questions about your neck of the woods. Wireless smart speakers tend to be the most stylish (no cords!), and some can even be customized with fabric to match your guest room decor.

A Full-Length Mirror

Whether they’re getting ready for a day of sightseeing or dressing up for dinner, your guests will appreciate a full-length mirror. In a large guest room, a freestanding mirror can double as decor, but if you’re short on space, hanging one on the back of the door works just as well.

A Handheld Steamer

There’s a pretty good chance that whatever your guests packed in their suitcase will end up with a few wrinkles by the time they arrive at your door. Help them look and feel their best by leaving a handheld steamer in the closet or on a shelf—it takes up way less space than an ironing board.

A Unisex Bathrobe

Enhance the hotel feel of your guest quarters by providing each visitor with a plush white bathrobe to lounge in. (Bonus points for matching slippers.) After they leave, just wash the robes along with the guest towels so they’re all ready for your next batch of visitors.