Guest bedroom ideas to create a holiday feeling for your loved ones

Now more than ever, we can all really appreciate having friends and family stay with us in our homes, especially if they're visiting from interstate or somewhere overseas for the first time in what may seem like an eternity. You'll no doubt want to treat these guests-of-honour like kings and queens with a spare bedroom straight from the pages of an interior design magazine.

So, here is some guest bedroom inspiration that will have you easily and affordably creating that hotel holiday feeling for your loved ones. With a new brand to Spotlight, US Polo, and new season releases from a tried-and-tested luxury favourite, Sheraton, turn your guest bedroom into an experience that could easily rival the Hilton with these helpful tips!

Keep the guest room neat yet inviting

While most of us aim for homes that are neat and organised at all times, given our busy lifestyles, this doesn't always work out as planned. However, when it comes to the guest bedroom, there are no exceptions - it should be impeccable.

By keeping your guest bedroom as a guest bedroom (and not having it double as a rumpus room, study and so on), you can ensure it's ready for the occasional or unexpected sleepover. It should be a tidy and serene space that will make any guest feel more than welcome. Add some personal and practical touches, such as wall art that complements the design scheme, bedside lamps for nighttime reading, a teddy bear to greet them on the bed and rugs that feel nice underfoot. This will ensure the room still has character amid the orderliness.

Style the bed for a personal touch

There's nothing quite like crisp sheets and bedding to subconsciously tell your guests how much you appreciate them. The thrill of clean linen is something we all enjoy, but a guest bedroom decorated in new sheets, doonas, quilts and bedding (without that old, musty mothball smell) will feel that extra little bit special.

Considering it's the summer holidays, make sure you fit out your spare bedroom in a way that takes into account the temperature at this time of the year. Beautiful bamboo sheet sets are great for the warmer months, as well as coverlets and blankets that can be pulled up and down as required. Make sure the pillows are plump and fresh too - no one wants to sleep on old, flattened pillows!

Create a relaxing space with soft bedding

People are generally drawn to soft, downy surfaces, even if it's hot outside. A cool but comfortable guest bedroom will go a long way to making your visitors feel relaxed and right at home.

You can keep your spare bedroom summery with a colour palette incorporating lighter or neutral colours or bold splashes of tropical vibrancy. For some huggable, tactile softness, drape a casual throw on the end of the bed or side chair and pile cushions on the quilt or in a corner stack on the floor. Rugs are another excellent way to soften up a room, especially one with timber or tile flooring.

Ensuring your spare bedroom is a soft place for your guests to land will show them that you really want them to feel at home.

Toiletries - the little details matter

Just like a hotel, ensuring your houseguests have all the bed-to-bathroom essentials, such as bath towels, face towels or washers and hand towels, is an important detail. Fold and place them on the end of the bed or side table so they're immediately noticeable, and accompany towels with a cake of soap as a thoughtful addition.

If you live near the beach or have a swimming pool, you might also like to include beach towels so they're ready for anything. If you're feeling really fun, pop some pool inflatables in the corner or on the balcony to get the party started!

The power of aroma

Your guests will be visually impressed, but the power of aroma is the ultimate finishing touch. A great guest room idea is to pop some sweet-smelling flowers in a vase and/or position a fragrance diffuser away from the windows or any source of air (so it will last longer). This will create a constant aromatic ambience that your visitors are sure to love.

And, if your guest room has been locked up for a while, open a window a few hours before you expect anyone to arrive - because nothing smells as good as fresh air.

When coming up with guest bedroom ideas, try to keep the rest of your home in mind to ensure harmony across your entire interior design scheme. You may want to treat your guests to a five-star hotel experience, but ultimately, they will want to feel a part of your home because you and your family are the reason why they're there.