Guest Room Decor For Small Spaces

Guest room decor is too often overlooked.  It’s usually one of the last spaces we decorate.  But it really shouldn’t be.

There’s a reason why a house with a spare bedroom is so highly sought after.  The guest room offers a home away from home and much-needed privacy for overnight guests. 

So why is it so often forgotten?  Because this is a low-traffic area of the home. 

Unless you have a guest room/home gym/home office combo, you may find very little reason to enter that room in your home.

As a result, you may be unaware of the true experience of being confined to that space.

Funny story… when we hosted our first guests in our new home I had forgotten to put lamps in the room altogether.

Luckily for me, our guests were my forever understanding parents.  

It was two days before my mom casually said, “maybe we should go to Walmart.  We can pick you up some lamps while we’re there.” ????

I started laughing thinking of my mom trying to light her way via cell phone through that room in the middle of the night trying to make it to the bathroom.

It was at that moment that I focused more of my attention on the guest room decor and function.

However, I quickly ran into a problem.  I had a serious lack of space to work with and found myself stuck with no idea how to proceed.

We all know it’s important to make your guests feel comfortable.  And part of that comfort includes a visually appealing space.

But, what do you do with a super small space?  How are you supposed to decorate when you can barely fit a queen-sized bed in the room?

In this post, I’ll be sharing ideas for decorating a small guest room.  Remember, just because space is limited it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to be done.

You can still create a cozy, relaxing, beautiful, and most importantly functional space.

Let’s get started.

How to Decorate a Small Guest Room

With limited space, it can be a challenge to decorate a small guest room. 

There are some advantages to a small guest room, however.

A smaller space instantly creates an intimate ambiance that you may struggle to get from an oversized room.

With that aspect of design already checked off, you list you can move your focus to procure beautiful, functional decor pieces.

As a general rule of thumb, you should choose a light color palette and use dark colors sparingly.

Since darker colors tend to make spaces look smaller (a challenge you’re already facing), use them as decorative accents only avoid dark wall colors or wallpaper.

To avoid having your space look whitewashed or too bland, play up textures in neutral tones.  Vary your fabrics and try a bit of tone-on-tone decor. 

Now, let’s look at 7 ways to approach guest room decor for small spaces.

7 Guest Room Decor Tips for Small Spaces

1. Avoid Decor That Will Take Up Floor Space

With a small guest bedroom, you will want to maximize your floor space. It’s important to do this to maintain walking space and provide room for easy maneuverability.

Think of how uncomfortable it is to be in a space so small that you have to sideways shuffle to get around the bed.  Or, your behind bumps into the wall when you bend over to tie your shoes.

Room to move around is crucial.  So it’s important to minimize the number of things that occupy floor space. 

Since the bed will take up the most space in the bedroom, opt for a low-profile bed frame.  

Avoid frame styles like the sleigh bed or platform beds with wide edges.  These will just take up unnecessary space in your room.

Other decorative items that may take up floor space include floor lamps, floor vases with large plants, bulky desks, large trunks, benches, and other accent furniture.

When you’re working with a small guest bedroom every inch counts.  Don’t overcrowd your space in an effort to make it look pretty.

After all, your guest will be staying temporarily.  It’s far more important to them to provide a space where they won’t be bumping into unfamiliar things in the night that a vintage writing desk that likely won’t have the time to use.

So, pare down your furniture and focus on the basics. 

2. Utilize Wall Décor

Even if you keep your guest room furniture focused on the basics, you can still add décorative accents.  One of the ways to do this is by hanging wall art or even better, a beautiful mirror. 

Wall decor is especially important in a small space.  

If you leave your walls blank and have little more than a bed, side table, and lamp you risk having your guests feel like they’re in a tiny prison cell.

Cozy up the space by hanging artwork on your walls. 

Another option is to use floating shelves to display your favorite souvenirs and small décor items. If you have a handful of favorite books, this may be a great place to display a small curated collection as well.

There’s a lot you can do with your walls, so don’t neglect them.

3. Opt for Sheers or a Sheer and Blackout Curtain Combo

It’s very likely that your small guest room has a small window as well.  

Maximize the light coming into this room by opting for sheers.  

If you feel like the room needs to be darkened for sleeping, use a double curtain rod and go for a sheer and blackout curtain combo as you’d find in a hotel.

Blackout curtains are great for not only keeping harsh light out of a room but also dampening sounds and helping insulate a room.

The combination of sheers and blackout curtains will add a luxe touch to your small guest room decor. 

There are a lot of color and pattern options for blackout curtains on the market today, so you shouldn’t have any trouble coordinating with your bed linens for a cohesive design. 

4. Avoid Large Potted Plants

Another way to stop your guest bedroom from feeling cramped is by avoiding large potted plants. 

While the base of your plant and even the pot may seem small, the spread of the branches and leaves can encroach on your open space.

While the base of your plant and even the pot may seem small, the spread of the branches and leaves can encroach on your open space.

That being said, you don’t have to avoid greenery and plants altogether.  In fact, they’re a great decorative item to use.

Just be sure to use small potted plants that don’t have branches that will extend too far from the base.

Cacti, succulents, and snake plants are perfect options for a guest room.

And of course, you can always go with the faux greenery option.  That was you’ll always know the plant is going to stay exactly the same size as it was when you bought it.

5. Make a Statement with Lighting

Lighting is an essential element when it comes to bringing your guest room together.

A set of beautiful lamps goes a long way.  Don’t cheap out on those teeny plastic flexible head lamps.  

Instead, go for something classic and neutral that will go with many different styles.  That way it will stay with you throughout the years and seasons.

Go for a daylight bulb for a neutral illumination or a warm light bulb.  Either one will provide you with good lighting for a bedroom.  I would, however, avoid cool light bulbs.  They tend to give off a more sterile, less cozy, vibe.

A three-way light or a lamp with a dimmer dial is even better.

If you need to save space on your small side tables, go for a wall-mounted lighting option above your nightstands.

6. Downsize Your Nightstands

To make the most of your floor space, you can try a small footprint pedestal nightstand, a half-moon side table, or even a wall-mounted design.

These will help preserve walking space around the bed and provide you with enough space for a lamp, charger, and glass of water.

Check out the post, “How To Arrange A Small Bedroom With Large Furniture” for more ideas.

7. Touchable Textures

All beautiful rooms have one thing in common.  Their styling is curated, not cookie cutter.

A great way to add that curated style to your guest room is by introducing textures.

The guest bed is the perfect place to introduce soft touchable textures.  You can mix and max smooth silky feeling sheets with chunky knits or faux furs.

Another way to add texture to a space is with wall art.  Wall hanging basket decor or small woven wall hangings are great in small spaces.

Moreover, a unique combination of textures on the bed and on the walls will make your guest room memorable.

Mix textures, colors, and patterns to give your small guest room a well-curated look.

Conclusion

It’s possible to have a comfortable guest bedroom despite it being a small space. Make it intimate and organized with wall art, lighting, window treatments, and textures.

With your guest room ready to go, you don’t have to panic at any last-minute stays. You can rest assured that your guests will be comfortable and happy in their home away from home.

If you enjoyed this post, below are a few others you may like.

• Why Is Having Overnight guests So Stressful?
• What To Put In A Guest Room Basket
• Company Ready: 15 Minute Express House Cleaning Routine for Last-Minute Guests

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