Cozy Guest Bedroom Ideas for the Holidays

If you’re expecting friends or family members to stay at your home over the holidays, chances are you’ve already begun to give some thought to décor and logistics. Lucky for you (and them), cozy guest rooms are having a moment. Luckier still? They’re also easy to create.

While this post is all about Holiday bedrooms, remember to keep the focus on creating a warm and welcoming environment with special touches throughout your entire home – not just with your guest bedroom décor. After all, your guests will (hopefully) be spending most of their time with you and your family in the other rooms in the house. So, make sure you’ve stocked their favorite foods (including those for specialized diets), fluffed up the couch cushions, and dropped off miscellaneous knick knacks at your storage unit to make room for all the extra people – and stuff – soon to fill your home.

Last but not least, add a hearty serving of holiday cheer to your home – and hosting – with the cozy guest bedroom ideas we’ve collected below. Of course, you should feel absolutely no pressure to spend oodles of time or money changing the guest room – or really any room – prior to your guests’ arrival. Hosting is gift enough. Truly. So, a few simple touches, a little bit of freshening up, and a big smile and hug are pretty much all you’ll need for the holiday to be one for the record books – for both you and your guests.  

Check out our cozy guest bedroom ideas below, and don’t be shy about incorporating them into your bedroom or your kids’ bedrooms as well! Holidays are all about magical celebrations. What better place to start than within your own four walls?

Cozy Guest Bedroom To Do’s: Cleaning, Organizing and Storing

The first step in your mission to create a cozy guest bedroom is to create a clean guest bedroom. If you’ve been using your extra bedroom as an at-home clearinghouse of stuff, now is a great time to make use of our climate controlled storage units.

A good checklist of cleaning and organizing tips for your guest bedroom includes a number of tasks, many of which are listed below. However, don’t take this as a “must do chore list.” Some of the items (like clean sheets) are non-negotiable, but if you don’t get around to washing the curtains, so be it.

• Empty out and clean drawers and closets to make room for visitors’ own items
• Wipe down and dust all ceiling fans, walls, baseboards, and furniture
• Clean under the bed (or at least make whatever is under there look orderly)
• Change the sheets and make sure the pillows are decently comfortable
• Wash the duvet or comforter and any pillow shams / covers
• Make sure all lamps are plugged in and operable and that all the bulbs in the overhead light are functional
• Vacuum the rug or carpet and any window treatments that are too hard to take down
• Wash removable curtains

While you’re at it, be sure to clean the bathroom your guests will be using. Put away any excess items on the countertop to make room for their personal toiletries. Change out the towels. (It’s also a nice touch to add a stack of fresh towels, including washcloths, in the bedroom as well.) Add extra toilet paper rolls, soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. And make sure there’s a plunger. Just trust us on that one.   

Little Touches Make a Big Impact

Just as you’ve spent time taking extra items out of the guest bedroom (and the rest of your home), you’re going to want to add back in “little touches” to make your guests comfortable. Your visitors will feel appreciated and loved, and you’ll be able to relax knowing that you’ve made them feel welcome as can be. As a bonus, you might be able to dodge some of the “Where’s the extra soap?” or “What’s the WiFi?” questions that holiday guests always seem to ask at the most inconvenient times.

Our top guest bedroom décor additions to cozy up your quarters include:

• A small basket full of mini-toiletries, extra toothbrushes, and some over-the-counter indigestion and headache relief
• Bedside power strips with room for USB cables and traditional plugs
• Framed pictures of your guests and you
• A decorative card with the WiFi network name and password
• Space for their suitcases on a dresser or luggage rack
• Either a fan or space heater (depending on climate) to help guests find the perfect temperature
• A selection of books or recent magazines in a stack on the nightstand  
• A portable bluetooth speaker
• Extra blankets, towels, and pillows

Give a bit of thought to your guests prior to their arrival to make their room (and what you put in it) fit their personalities. Have a teenager coming who rarely stirs before noon? Include a sleep mask. Have a couple visiting with different sleeping patterns? Include a personal reading light. Planning to host a family with a baby? Don’t forget the white noise machine (for you and your guests). Your thoughtfulness will do wonders to make your visitors feel the true warmth and spirit of the season.

Highlighting the Holiday: Decorating Ideas to Bring in the Cheer

We’ve covered what to take out – and what to put back in – to make a cozy guest bedroom, and just about all of them are perfect for any guest at any time of year. To turn a bedroom into a Christmas bedroom, however, you’ve got to add in a little more sparkle than you might normally. Luckily, you can probably use your stored holiday decorations or other décor items you already have on hand rather than rushing out to buy anything new.

Favorite Christmas bedroom ideas we’ve been thinking about recently include:

• Fairy lights (or twinkle lights) tacked up on the wall or placed in an empty wine bottle for a dim, cozy glow
• Christmas garlands swagged across the headboard or doorways 
• Decorative holiday-themed throw pillows or sheets
• Vases with fir tree branches or fresh, seasonal flowers
• A small, potted Christmas tree with a few ornaments on its branches
• Winter- or holiday-scented candles or incense

And, if you’re looking for more holiday guest bedroom décor ideas to ensure maximum coziness and comfort, be sure to check out these great articles:

• HGTV: 30 Tips for Turning Your Guest Bedroom Into a Retreat
• Real Simple: 12 Guest Bedroom Ideas for a Cozy, Inviting Space
• Curated Interior: 25 Christmas Bedroom Décor Ideas for a Cozy Holiday Bedroom!
• Elle Decor: 26 Festive Christmas Bedrooms for Endless Holiday Cheer

Above all, remember that the best gift you can give your houseguests is a relaxed and comfortable stay – with a relaxed and comfortable host. So, take it easy on yourself.