Creating the Perfect Guest Room for Friends and Family
PEARL RIVER, N.Y. - What to expect when you're expecting... houseguests. The key to making a lasting impression on your guests is to provide all the comforts you would expect to find at home, but with a personal touch. As the proverb goes, "a home without guests is a home without soul" - so, as the host, return the favor by filling your guest room with some of that soul.
Sally Morse, Director of Creative Services for Hunter Douglas, the leading name in custom window fashions, offers the following tips on guest room d�cor:
Luggage Racks - How many times have you entered a guest room and there was no place to put down any luggage? Arranging a place for your guests' belongings in a small bedroom can be a challenge, but consider a folding luggage rack that can easily be put away and won't take up too much space.
Closet - A closet is useless without any hangers, so don't forget to supply at least eight to ten hangers for your guests. It's also a good idea to put simple hooks on the wall or behind a closet door for coats, scarves or bags.
Flowers - A great way to add a personal touch to your guest room is by putting flowers on a bedside table or bureau. The flowers don't have to be fresh necessarily; dried hydrangeas, for instance, live longer and provide an elegant, vintage look to a room. During the holiday season, try filling a vase with dry arrangements or a large bowl with pine cones for a festive and eye-catching addition.
Provide Privacy - Part of making your guests feel at home is providing adequate privacy. Choose window coverings that not only add character to the room, but provide privacy and light control, as well. Products such as Silhouette window shadings from Hunter Douglas do just that: the shadings diffuse light through two fabric layers for a radiant and calming effect with the added benefit of providing privacy.
Converting Your Office Space - Many people don't have the extra room in their homes to set up a special guest room, so they combine spaces into multi-functional areas. The work space/guest room is a great option for creating a cozy and versatile space. Once you've determined how your multi-use space should be divided, consider investing in a pullout couch, especially if you have frequent visitors,
Mirrors - Be sure that there is at least one mirror in the room, whether it's in the bedroom itself or the bathroom. A floor-length mirror is an added luxury that your guests will definitely appreciate.
Small Touches - A little gesture can go a long way. Consider leaving a welcome note or a pouch of lavender on the pillow to make your guests feel special. Also, give your guest room an intimate feel by including a family photo or two or some of your favorite books.
With these simple tips you'll have a hard time getting your guests to leave.
Hunter Douglas, Inc., headquartered in Pearl River, N.Y, is the leading manufacturer and marketer of custom window fashions in North America and a major manufacturer of architectural products. The company is a national sponsor of Habitat for Humanity, covering windows in every Habitat home built in the U.S. and Canada.
For more information, call 1-800-274-2985 or visit: www.hunterdouglas.com
by Mark Thompson
, EDGE Style & Travel Editor
A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.
