Spare bedroom decorating ideas

A spare bedroom is an absolute luxury that should not go to waste! So if yours is currently adorned with unopened boxes and clutter, listen up! It's time to turn that glorified dumping ground, into a multi-functional, hotel worthy oasis that even your mother-in-law will approve of.

Is your spare bedroom doubling up as a home office? Keep scrolling as we've got you covered too.

How to decorate a spare bedroom

You might be thinking that your guest bedroom needs to be simple and neutral to please any taste.....well you would be wrong! 

Your spare bedroom is the perfect place to experiment and stamp your personality. After all, your guests are staying in your home so give them the full, immersive experience!

If you lean more towards the neutral hues, then that's great too, but don't hold back on account of your guests if you're a lover of bold pattern and colour.

Colour

At My Bespoke Room, we're big fans of green bedrooms. Not just because we love it but because according to colour psychology, it’s the most restful colour on your eyes, contributing to a restful nights sleep.

Pink is also a wonderful colour for bedrooms and deemed 'the colour of cuddles' by Lick's colour expert Tash Bradley who we interviewed recently (check out her house tour and colour tips).

Blue is also a feel-good, steadying colour, perfect for the most relaxing room under your roof.

Bedding

No surprises that bedding is key to a beautifully designed guest bedroom. As the bed will be made 90% of the year, you can also afford to go all out, as you won't be taking cushions and throws on and off every day!

Layer in plenty of tactile texture through throws and cushions in different fabrics to create a bed that your guests can't wait to dive into.

Less fun, but no less important for a great night sleep is thread count! The general rule is the higher the thread count, the better the quality. However, this isn't always the case. Extra threads called 'picks' can be woven into the weft threads which increases the thread count but doesn't necessarily increase the quality, so be wary of cheap sheets with an extremely high thread count. Aiming for a thread count between 300 - 800 should ensure a good nights sleep.

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Lighting

Lighting is so key to any room as it creates the right mood and can transform the feel of a space the second you enter. 

In a bedroom you need a combination of ambient and task lighting. Ambient lighting, such as low table and floor lamps, draw you down into a space and calm you before sleeping. Brighter task lighting is also crucial for areas in the room your guests need to get dressed and ready in the morning.

If your spare bedroom is a little on the small side why not install hanging pendants on either side of the bed, eliminating the need for large bedside tables? You don't always need an electrician for this as there are now plenty of 'plug and play' options at an affordable price point.

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Focal point

Every room design needs a focal point to direct your eye when you enter and your spare bedroom is no exception.

As the bed is likely to be the most dominant piece of furniture in the room you might as well turn it into the focal point too. Create a feature wall behind with colourful wallpaper or for something truly unique, opt for a wall mural to transform it into a piece of art.

Statement headboards are also something to consider. Not only are large headboards extremely functional as they insulate the room, add comfort and stop drafts, but they can act as a real statement piece. The more ornate, the more likely it will be the centre of attention.

If your bed's headboard lacks the wow factor, you can always paint one against the wall behind to draw your eye in that direction. A subtle arch like the one below draws your eye to the bed but you could also go bold with a large orange sunset to create something truly memorable.

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Need help creating a luxury guest suite in your home? Book your room design today from just £250:

What do you need in a spare bedroom?

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

Wondering what your guests actually need for their stay to be comfortable besides a bed to sleep in? To make sure you're seen as the host with the most, here are some other things to include in your spare bedroom:

A bed is an obvious one...whether that's a sofa bed or a king-size one, comfort is key! Spend a night or two in it to test it out before your guests pitch up.

They'll also need somewhere to put their clothes. You don't need to go overboard and give them a full wardrobe, but a simple open clothes rail with a couple of drawers like the one below takes up very little space. It's also clear to anyone staying that it's for them to use.

For small bedrooms, you could even just install a simple rail underneath a shelf with a few hangers to take up even less space.

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

It's a nice touch, if you have the space, to add in a comfy armchair. Particularly for longer stays, it's nice for your guests to have somewhere to escape and recharge in their own private sanctuary. Add a little side table with a lamp for them read a book or a floor lamp behind if space is tight.

If you're using your spare bedroom as an office you'll already have this covered, but a dressing table can be very useful for guests. It gives them somewhere to pop their washbag and other bits and bobs. 

Image credit: My Bespoke Room

A mirror is also a must-have, preferably a full length one as well as one above the dressing table.  Think about lighting near the mirror as well so your guests can see what they're looking at when they get ready!

Wondering what not to put in your spare bedroom? Family photos! It's great to put a personal touch on your guest bedroom but save the family portrait for your lounge instead!

Need help creating a luxury guest suite in your home? Book your room design today from just £250:

Guest bedroom and office combo ideas

Image credit: My Bespoke Room 

Working from home has turned from a short term fix to a long term necessity. Your spare bedroom is the ideal place to set up camp, but with the festive season around the corner, you'll be wanting to quickly turn your home office back into a luxury guest suite to accommodate family and friends.

A clever and careful design can turn a spare bedroom from a room that is a clumsy compromise to one that works seamlessly for both functions.  Here are some of our top tips for a truly multifunctional spare bedroom come home office:

Desks that can also function as dressing tables

Avoid clunky overbearing desks that will scream 'office' in favour of a slimmer, stylish profile. Utilise shelving to give you extra space so you can opt for the smallest desk possible. Built-in desks within storage work well too and can quickly look like a built-in dressing table once the laptop is stored away.

Stylish office chairs

It used to be that when choosing a desk chair you had a choice between ugly and uglier. Thankfully, retailers have answered the call for desk chairs that give you the back support you need without taking up half the room and they come in a range of styles and fabrics to suit any design.

Foldaway beds

A no-brainer if you're lacking space. A sofa bed can also function as seating for any colleagues or clients that stop by for a meeting. If you do have a full-sized bed in there, try to position your webcam so the bed isn't in the shot to maintain the illusion!

Plenty of storage

You want plenty of storage space to hide monitors and stationary when it needs to be a bedroom or bedding when it's an office. Having a pile of duvets in your zoom background doesn't come across as super professional, let's be frank!

Tidy shelves

A home office can very quickly look and feel cluttered with bits of stationery and paperwork floating around. Shelves can be a great and affordable way to give that clutter a home without having to buy more clunky furniture. Use opaque boxes like rattan boxes which look great and hide the clutter from view.

Need help creating a luxury guest suite in your home? Book your room design today from just £250: