After finishing a phase 2 to revamp the newly moody green guest room earlier this year, I’ve been slowly refining the guest room accoutrements to make for the biggest home hug I can. To create this welcoming boutique guest room vibe, I’ve gathered feedback from guests and my own travels to include guest room must-have accessories. I don’t take much home input from anyone who doesn’t actually live with me, but not one to do things half-heartedly, the guest space is the exception.
So, after a season of hosting various guests, here’s my list of current must-have guest accoutrements:
WiFi QR Code Sign
While I love to have phones down when we have guests, inevitably everyone withdraws for the night and guests find themselves with a need for the Internet. I wanted to create a seamless way for guests to have instant access no matter the time of day.
A Chair – bonus points if it’s comfy!
Whether you’re a “bed is for sleeping”, “don’t touch your outside clothes to my clean sheets”, or chair as a clothes catch type, a chair is for everyone. As a bonus, this chair induces added comfort since it reclines!
Full-size Mirror –
This item was a specific request in a different guest room so I wanted to be sure to include it in this one. And even as someone who doesn’t enjoy taking too much time getting ready, I recently stayed in a rental without so much as a large bathroom mirror and I found myself standing on the bed to utilize the tiny decorative mirror to see how I should tuck my shirt.
Blackout Curtains
For guests that wake with the sun, there are light filtering shades. For guests that want to sleep like they’re in a cave, there are blackout curtains. These curtains are hung wide to mitigate the obstruction of the view and create the illusion of a larger window. I hung two panels for a fuller look and to ensure the entire window can still be generously covered when the curtains are drawn.
Robe
What’s a faux hotel room without the robe to accompany it? A reminder for guests to slow down (no rush to shower or dress!) and make themselves at home (what says home more than the nonexistent pressure of having to put on clothes (laugh) )
A Drawer Of Miscellaneous Just-In-Case Items
Iron (small dorm-sized ironing board tucked to the side of the dresser), fan, extra sheets, and a clothes drying hanger. Another consideration for your guest room? A portable heater. This room gets toasty, regardless of the time of year, so no need for a heater when you can harness the power of the sun.
Place to Unpack (hanging and folding) –
This endeavor was a labor of love. The guest room closet previously held memorabilia and gift wrapping supplies. With a little bit of purging and rearranging, the closet became a blank slate. I utilized extra trim from other projects to add some character. Add back in the classic elements for clothes organization (a hanging rod and dresser) and guests can freely unpack and not worry about what’s theirs versus lingering junk.
Luggage Rack
The most glorious up-cycled, thrifted find so far this year. I had been looking for a luggage rack for years. The new options were pricy for how much I wasn’t in love with them. The secondhand options were either also very pricey and/or hand questionable sturdiness. The day I walked into the thrift store I couldn’t check out fast enough to secure this puppy for a few dollars. I used no-sew tape and houndstooth fabric to make it one-of-a-kind. You can see an overview of how I customized the luggage rack here . After uses by several guests, the rack is still holding up great.
USB-A Outlet Plug-ins + a Charging Cable Catch
No more fishing for the charging cable to find out that you don’t actually have one plugged in. And the outlets with a built-in USB-A port mitigate the need for a charging block that seem to not be as plentiful as cables. Although a lot of chargers are moving to USB-C so this guest accoutrement will continue to evolve over time.
I’m pretty happy with where things in this space have landed after the summer hosting season. No space is ever truly “done” around here. Tinkering and refining are half the fun. What are your favorite guest room must-have accessories that you’ve experienced?! Tell me in the comments!
