To give you ideas on how to make your own guest bedroom cozy and welcoming, I wanted to share the before and after of our guest bedroom makeover. While it has been several years since we completed the room makeover, the classic, timeless design style still holds true today.
I also wanted to discuss the impact of adding simple picture frame wall molding in a guest room, or any space for that matter. More than anything, the molding completely changed the feel of the room and added a lovely traditional touch.
As you're seeking to do a makeover in your own guest bedroom, I hope this gives you a few ideas and provides inspiration for you to go for it!
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Guest Bedroom Design Plan
Our guest bedroom was the first space we changed after purchasing our home. We were planning to have my husband's parents stay with us for an extended period of time after they retired. So I wanted the room they would be staying in to have everything they need, make them feel comfortable, and be a space they would want to spend time in.
I took their visit as an opportunity to finally makeover the guest room to what I had hoped it could become: a cozy room with traditional style. For context, the room is not large at 11'7" x 13'5", but it has a small walk-in closet and a 3-piece en suite bathroom, all a guest could need for any length of stay.
Guest Bedroom Before
When we purchased our home, save for the trim and doors, the entire interior - including the ceilings - was painted the same light beige color. Not dark, but not necessarily what I wanted.
Along with painting the room, I planned to add a feature wall with picture frame molding.
I have also always loved wall moldings in practically every form - beadboard, board and batten, box molding, and the list goes on. These are a few before pictures when the room was being prepped for paint and molding.
For the design, I was going for a timeless traditional style that felt cozy and comfortable for anyone who stays in the space. It should be a place guests could happily spend time in whenever they wanted to be alone.
While I did not think about it at the time, today I view the room as being somewhat in line with the Nancy Meyers style. You can explore more in my post detailing Tips to Get the Nancy Meyers Style in your own home.
Shop the photo: Rope knot door stop (similar) | Cotton muslin throw blanket (alternative) | White duvet cover | Tufted upholstered bed frame
This was the plan:
- Paint - I wanted a light blue paint on the walls for a calming feel. We went with Benjamin Moore that we color matched at Home Depot. We painted the ceiling white.
- Feature Wall - The wall to the right when you walk in and where the bed would be placed, would be a feature wall. We would add picture frame molding that would be painted the same color as the trim, a custom shade of white. Our trim is a creamy white, but not yellow or grey, which made the feature wall gorgeous!
- Window Treatments - We left the high quality blinds on the windows and I layered these soft, lightly textured white curtains over them. I hemmed the curtains myself, which you can learn all about in How to Hem Curtains without Sewing.
We left the ceiling fan as the main fixture in the room. In case guests get hot during the night, they can simply turn the fan on.
Guest Bedroom After
After the guest room makeover the space is calming and cozy to welcome them in. I like how the blue paint looks next to the white feature wall. That said, I may paint the walls again one day.
The wall molding is what really makes this space so special! I love the traditional, elegant look in the room.
Furniture for a Guest Room
In keeping with a traditional style, I knew we needed a tufted upholstered bed frame.
There is something so comforting about an upholstered bed that makes you want to curl up with a good book or settle in to watch a captivating Nancy Meyers movie. Check out my Amazon Storefront curated list of the best Nancy Meyers movies for the perfect night in!
In terms of furniture, a queen size bed, a pair of nightstands, a chair or bench, and a dresser are my preferred furniture pieces to have in a guest bedroom. If there is a room for a small desk, that would also be a nice piece to have. Our guest room is too small for a desk, though it would have been nice.
You may also want to hang some artwork to dress up bare walls and maybe a full length mirror. Moreover, a few decorative accessories atop the nightstands and dresser would make the room feel complete.
Upholstered Guest Bed
We purchased this beautiful queen size curved tufted upholstered bed frame from Pottery Barn, though I cannot recall which fabric color we chose.
I wanted a neutral color that goes with everything, allowing me to simply change out accessories and not large, expensive pieces of furniture if I want to change things up in the future. Also, I did not want the bed to blend in with the wall which meant white colored fabric was out.
The soft linen upholstered bed frame looks perfect against the white molding, adding a little texture to what could be too tonal for some, including myself.
If you are looking for a different bed frame, I wrote a post reviewing the be frame in our primary bedroom, Allis Upholstered Bed Frame Review - Alternative to Tilly or Hanson. It is more of a transitional bed without tufting.
Layered Bedding
Layered bedding is the best way to style a guest bed, in my opinion. Not only do layers provide guests with a comfortable spot to relax anytime of day or night, but it also allows them to shed bedding layers whenever they need to.
For our guest bedding, I layered a white cotton blanket under a similar white cotton linen coverlet quilt. A lofty white down comforter covered in this classic white duvet cover makes for a plush top layer guests can pull up if they get cold in the night.
Here are a few alternative bed blankets that may work for you, many of which come in several colors:
I usually purchase these organic white cotton sheets for our guest bed. At 400 thread-count and a crisp percale weave, they are soft but sleep cool to keep guests comfortable.
The bed pillows are a mix. Decorative throw pillows were TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or HomeGoods finds.
While I do not own of the following pillow covers so I can't speak to quality, you may want to look at some of these pretty finds:
- Floral striped throw pillow cover (cover only)
- Vintage floral throw pillow cover (cover only)
- Floral block print pillow cover (cover only)
Bedside Tables
For the bedside tables, we have a pair of stunning dark wood 3-drawer nightstands from Grandin Road. I love the fluted detail on the legs as well as the overall size. The approximate dimensions are 31 ½ inches height x 24 ½ inches width x 13 ¾ inches depth.
Unfortunately, they no longer sell our nightstands. You may like one of the these lovely alternatives I found instead, just be sure to check that the dimensions work for your space:
- Heritage brown 3-drawer nightstand
- Fluted 3-drawer nightstand
- Wood 3-drawer nightstand with pull-out tray
I placed a large ottoman bench in a lovely stripe patterned fabric at the end of the bed. It gives guests a place to sit to put indoor shoes on, and somewhere to put the decorative throw pillows each night.
The ottoman bench is from the Studio McGee x Target Threshold line, but it is no longer sold. Instead, you can double up these two cube ottomans in a lovely blue pinstripe fabric.
Dresser for Extra Storage
We purchased a lovely 12-drawer white painted dresser from Pottery Barn (63" W x 20" D x 36" H) for extra storage. I have since moved it into my home office space.
Our dresser is another piece that is no longer sold. I actually did a DIY Mirror Frame Makeover on the mirror above the dresser if you want to see a great before and after.
While I have not seen it in person, so I can't speak to quality or how close of a comparison it actually is, Pottery Barn's Sausalito 8-drawer dresser in Montauk White may work for you as an alternative. I love PB furniture and even penned a PB Slipcovered Sofa Review that may interest you if you are considering any of their furniture for your own home.
Decorative Accessories for a Guest Room
A guest bedroom is not complete without decorative accessories and other functional pieces guests may need.
To keep the room feeling light, especially against the dark wood, round clear glass lamps adorn each nightstand.
On top of one nightstand I placed a couple books with a cute alarm clock stacked on top. I also put a small marble dish next to it so guests could conveniently store rings or other accessories they take off each night. The other nightstand, below, has a couple books and a piece of inexpensive art leaning against the wall.
I hung a few pieces of inexpensive art on the walls, a large mirror above the dresser, and tucked a luggage rack in the closet.
We will eventually replace the carpet with either new carpet or hardwood floors that match our first floor, the latter of which is my preference, so I am waiting to buy a rug for this room.
Even if we go with carpet, I will most likely put a rug down. I like layering a rug with a nice pattern over a neutral carpet for interest, color, and to ground the space.
After the makeover, our guest bedroom is the cozy, welcoming space I hoped it would become! While we do not have many guests, it is nice to have the room available if needed.
Are you planning a guest room makeover? Leave a comment below.
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