10 Small Guest Room Ideas That Are Larger Than Life

written by

updated Feb 22, 2020

small bedroom — Design: William Hunter Collective, Styled: Emily Henderson Design, photo: Sara Tramp

Raise your hand if you've ever turned your guest bedroom into storage space or a home gym you never ended up using. Spare bedrooms can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, an extra bedroom presents an opportunity to host friends and family when they're visiting. On the other hand, it also means having an extra room to decorate. But it is possible to make a small guest room feel finished, even when it's a tiny space.

Take a lesson from your favorite hotels—sometimes all you need are a few essentials to make people feel at home. Think adequate lighting, a mirror, fresh bedding, and a little storage space. In addition to covering the essentials, we've also rounded up our most stylish tips to make your guest room worthy of a five-star review. Read on for our favorite small guest room ideas. Beware—your guests might never want to leave.

01 of 10

Pay Attention to the Nightstand

Small Guest Room Ideas: A simple nightstand with lighting and a catch all for keys etc. — Courtesy of Tali Roth

No matter how big or small, make sure the guest bedroom nightstand has the essentials: a source of light like a reading lamp, and a catchall to throw jewelry or keys. To further elevate the nightstand, if you have a landline at home, consider including a phone in the guest room. A landline phone can come in handy if cell service is spotty. On a similar note, you may want to keep a power strip in the guest bedroom to accommodate for all the other gadgets that need a charge.

Add extra touches to the nightstand like a water carafe, a book, or a scented candle, but the essentials (such as a light) have to be there too.

Skultuna Ballerina Bowl $67

Shop

02 of 10

Keep It Cozy

Guest Room Décor Ideas: Include essentials like a mirror and rug — Courtesy of Jeremiah Brent

Look around the room for those extra touches that'll make the space extra comfortable: A soft rug to put your feet down on in the morning and a mirror to get your hair under control before heading out for breakfast. A full-length mirror is ideal, but at the very least, a smaller wall-hung mirror will make your guests feel at ease before they venture out of the room. You could also channel your favorite hotel and include a robe and towel set guests can use throughout their stay.

TRNK Hand-Knotted Textured Wool Rug $349 - $2,389

Shop

03 of 10

Give Them Storage Space

Small Guest Room Decorating Ideas: Ample storage space in a streamlined guest room — Courtesy of Charlie Ferrer

Storage space is always appreciated when you're staying at someone's house, so try to empty the closets and drawer dressers, or add a folding luggage rack to make it easier for guests to unpack. A tray filled with essentials like toothpaste and snacks is also a nice touch that's simple but always appreciated. Furthermore, an extra long bedside tables with dressers function both as a desk and storage space.

CB2 Oberlin Tall Chest $899

Shop

04 of 10

Play Double Duty

Small Guest Room Décor Ideas: A room doubles as extra closet space and the guest room — Courtesy of Jeremiah Brent

Often, our guest rooms play double-duty, so don't be afraid to make your space multipurpose by adding shoe storage or a desk. A daybed doubles perfectly as a single bed if you don't have a ton of space.

CB2 Boho Rattan Daybed $1249

Shop

05 of 10

Add the Finishing Touches

Guest Room Ideas: A room with fresh bedding and a plant in the corner of the room — Courtesy of Space Exploration

Add finishing touches that'll give your guests a positive experience: Quality, fresh bedding and a toiletry kit go a long way towards making guests comfortable, for example.

Consider including the following in your guest bedroom:

Tissues
Iron
Hairdryer
Basic toiletries
A carafe of water
A list of helpful tips for navigating your home while you're out of the house or not conveniently reachable, like how to negotiate the thermostat

Parachute Linen Duvet Cover Set $289-$359

Shop

06 of 10

Get Fresh Blooms

Pick up fresh flowers and arrange them in a vase to place on the nightstand as a thoughtful welcome gesture. Bonus: They'll add a pop of color and a fragrant scent to the space.

07 of 10

Choose a Chic Wastebasket

Don't forget a wastebasket for guests to toss their old baggage stickers, ticket stubs, crumpled up snack wrappers, and other items they've collected over the course of their travels.

Hyacinth Claire Coiled Baskets $40 - $60

Shop

08 of 10

Choose Window Treatments Thoughtfully

Small Bedroom Furniture — Courtesy of Fantastic Frank

Ensure that your window treatments reflect the needs of the room. Blackout curtains layered over light-filtering shades will ensure privacy and darkness for your guests, but will also allow light in when you need it.

West Elm Blackout Curtain $29 - $60

Shop

09 of 10

Make s Statement

Pink bedroom with large patterned rug — SARAH SHERMAN SAMUEL

Looking to go that extra mile when decorating your guest bedroom? Don't be afraid to make a statement. For example, opt for a bold headboard, funky wall art (try a gallery wall, with tips from design guru Emily Henderson), and built-in lighting for a unique aesthetic that will ensure your guests have an unforgettable stay.

Anthropologie Handcarved Lombok Bed $2,698 - $2,998

Shop

10 of 10

Hook It Up

Another genius idea: door hooks on the back of the doors, which will come in handy for towels and coats. Choose from over-the-door hooks or wall-mounted versions.