Transform your spare room into a guest room: a practical guide

When you’re thinking about spare room ideas, start with how you want your guests to feel when they stay. Colours, furniture and lighting all play a part in creating a comfortable, welcoming room – and making it feel like somewhere they can truly relax.

Set a calming tone with soft pastels, like sage, blush or muted blue, or easy-going neutrals, like beige, warm grey or taupe. These colours create a restful backdrop that you can easily build on with furniture, textiles and accessories. 

If you want to add more personality, introduce stronger colours through cushions, throws, artwork or a feature wall. This makes it easy to change the look without redecorating the whole room.

Start with the essentials: a comfortable bed, somewhere to store clothes and a bedside table with enough room for a lamp, book or glass of water. If you plan on having kids to stay, a double bed with a trundle bed underneath or a sofa bed could give you extra adaptability. 

You could also add an armchair or small bench to give guests somewhere to sit other than the bed. But always about how much floor space you have before adding extra furniture – your guest bedroom should feel comfortable, not cluttered.

Natural light can make a guest bedroom feel brighter, fresher and more welcoming. If the room is in a loft, adding roof windows can bring daylight deep into the space and lots of fresh air, too. 

For evenings or nighttime, pair main lighting with softer bedside lamps or wall lights so guests can choose what suits them. VELUX accessories such as anti-heat shutters, soft interior blinds and insect screens will give you even more control of light in the space, especially on those lighter summer evenings. 

Wondering what to choose? Read our article on which blinds are right for your home.

A little planning can help you get more from your budget – and avoid any unwelcome surprises along the way. Start by deciding what matters most, then work out how much you can comfortably spend on each part of the room. 

• Set your priorities: start with your guest room essentials, such as a comfortable bed, good lighting and ventilation, storage and any decorating that needs doing. Extras like built-in technology can always come later if there’s room in the budget.
• Think about where it’s worth investing: if you’re planning a bigger renovation, you might want to spend more on improvements you’ll benefit from long after your guests have gone home, such as better insulation or an en-suite bathroom.
• Estimate your costs: work out roughly what you’ll need to spend on materials, furniture and any professional help. Getting a few quotes can give you a clearer idea of what your plans will cost before you commit.
• Leave a little room for the unexpected: renovations don’t always fall within your estimates, so we recommend keeping some money aside for costs you didn’t see coming. 

If you’re decorating on a budget, don’t worry about doing everything at once. Get the essentials right first, then add those extra touches over time.

Once you have your design and budget in mind, create a simple plan for the renovation. Think about what needs to happen, in what order and whether any jobs depend on others being finished first.

Write down each stage of the renovation and roughly how long you expect it to take. Allow extra time for things like deliveries or professional work, particularly if you need the guest room ready for a particular date. 

A timetable doesn't have to be complicated. Its job is simply to help you keep things moving in the right order.

Break the renovation into manageable stages, such as decorating, installing lighting, adding furniture and finishing the room with textiles and accessories. 

Ticking off each stage as you go makes it easier to see your progress – and means you're less likely to find yourself assembling a bed while your guests are pulling into the driveway.

Whether you tackle the work yourself or bring in a professional will depend on the scale of your renovation, your budget and how confident you feel doing the work.

If you enjoy DIY, there are plenty of jobs you mighy be able to take on yourself. Painting, wallpapering, assembling furniture and putting up shelves can all help keep costs down while giving you more control over the finished room. 

Just be realistic about your skills and the time you have available. A simple job can become an expensive one if you have to pay someone to put it right afterwards.

Getting expert advice early can help you understand what’s possible and avoid costly changes later. Here are some of the benefits: 

• Technical expertise: a tradesperson has specialised technical skills and valuable experience to provide a high-quality result. 
• Efficiency: professionals can often complete projects more quickly and efficiently. 
• Guarantee: renovation companies might offer warranties on their work, giving you peace of mind just in case there are future problems. 

For more complex work, we think it’s best to call in someone with the right skills and qualifications. Electrical work, plumbing, structural changes and some window installations might all require professional help, depending on the project and local regulations

When choosing materials for your guest room, think about how they’ll look and feel, as well as where they come from and how long they’ll last.

If you’d like to make more sustainable choices when renovating your guest bedroom, consider: 

• Recycled materials: look for furniture and accessories made from recycled materials, such as reclaimed wood or recycled metal. As well as giving existing materials another life, they can add plenty of character to the room.
• Certified wood: when buying wooden furniture or materials, look for recognised certifications such as FSC, which supports more responsible forest management.
• Low-VOC paints: choosing paints with lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can help reduce the pollutants released into your indoor air.
• Energy-efficient lighting and technology: LED bulbs and smart heating controls can help reduce the amount of energy your guest room uses. 

Small choices can add up, helping you create a guest bedroom that feels good to spend time in and has been thoughtfully put together.

The best home automation ideas are often the simple ones that make your guests more comfortable. Smart bulbs let them adjust the lighting, while a smart thermostat makes it easy to get the temperature just right. 

And don’t forget USB sockets by the bedside – a small touch that makes charging phones and other devices much easier. 

For a light-filled and well-ventilated guest bedroom, you could also choose VELUX automated windows. With VELUX ACTIVE, sensors monitor humidity, temperature and CO₂ levels, allowing compatible roof windows, blinds and shutters to open or close automatically based on the indoor climate and weather conditions.

Finishing touches are what make your guest bedroom feel warm, welcoming and ready for someone to settle into. Think about the little things you appreciate when you stay away from home, from fresh bedding to somewhere to put your things at the end of the day.

Small finishing touches can add colour, character and warmth to the room. Choose artwork you love, add a few photos or personal touches and bring in a houseplant or fresh flowers for a little greenery. You could also add blackout blinds to let your guests control when and how much light gets in – anything that adds to their comfort while staying with you.

Soft textiles can make your guest bedroom feel instantly more comfortable. Dress the bed with cotton sheets, a linen duvet cover, plumped-up pillows and a cosy throw at the foot. 

Add cushions for extra comfort and choose blackout blinds to keep light out at night and give your guests privacy when they need it. 

A small guest room can still feel comfortable and welcoming. If you’re looking for small guest room ideas, focus on making the most of the space you have without filling every corner. 

Here’s how to make a small room feel bigger: 

• Make the most of natural light: keep windows clear where possible and choose blinds or curtains that can be pulled right back during the day. 
• Choose furniture to fit the space: look for smaller pieces that give your guests what they need without making the room feel crowded. 
• Pick furniture that works harder: a bed with built-in drawers, a bedside table with storage or a wall-mounted shelf can save valuable floor space. 
• Use lighter colours: soft, light shades can help create a brighter, more open feel, particularly when paired with plenty of daylight. 
• Keep clutter to a minimum: give guests somewhere to put their belongings and leave a little breathing room around furniture. 

You don’t need a huge room to make guests feel at home. A few thoughtful choices can make even the smallest spare bedroom feel inviting.

Don’t have a room you can dedicate to guests all year round? Combining a home office and guest bedroom lets you make much more of the space. 

The best office guest room ideas make it easy to switch between the two. A sofa bed or daybed gives you somewhere comfortable to sit or sleep without taking over the room, while a compact desk can double as a dressing table when guests come to stay. 

Storage can help keep the two uses separate, too. Give work equipment somewhere to disappear at the end of the day and leave a drawer, shelf or section of wardrobe free for your guests. 

Finally, think about privacy. Blinds or curtains, a door that closes properly and somewhere to store personal or work items can help the room feel like a guest bedroom rather than an office with a bed squeezed into it. 

Got some ideas for your guest room already? Find more inspiration to help bring them to life with our bedroom renovation ideas and bedroom decor guide.