Create a hotel-inspired guest room

Having guests stay overnight? Treat them to a five-star experience and show them to a room they'll be talking about for years to come. Here are a few suggestions on how to create the perfect guest room:

Colour: Choose neutral or light tones like greys, whites and lilacs and keep them at their most pale. From the paint colour to the curtains and bedding, choose light and elegant. You can always add pops of colour in pillows and decorating accents, but overall the room should give a feeling of serenity. 

Bedding: Buy nice cotton or linen sheets and make up the bed, as you would expect it to be prepared at a nice hotel. Always include four sleeping pillows and if you're looking to impress, iron the sheets and pillowcases just before your guests arrive. Don't forget to offer an extra blanket for those chilly nights.

Storage Space: Leave a couple of drawers in the dresser empty so that your guests don't have to live out of their suitcases. It's also ideal if you can offer some room and several empty hangers in the bedroom closet. If you're sharing a bathroom with your guests, save some space by installing hooks on the back of the guest room door for easy towel storage.

Alarm Clock: Even though most of your houseguests will likely prefer to use their cell as their alarm of choice, an alarm clock is still an essential tool for the bedside table. 

Bathroom Amenities: Each guest should be given a set of fresh, clean towels that includes one bath sheet, one hand towel and one washcloth. Go above and beyond by offering a plush bathrobe and a new pair of slippers. Put some of those fancy hotel toiletries you've collected up over the years to good use and arrange soap, shampoo, conditioner, cream, toothpaste and mouthwash in a decorative basket. Place the basket and the towels on the guest bed so that it's clear that these items are for their use.

Welcome Basket: Create a welcome basket and offer some thoughtful items that will help make their stay more enjoyable. Bottled water, foil wrapped chocolates, a pen and notepad, transit schedules and area brochures, a bottle of pain reliever and a travel sewing kit.

Decor: While you may love your knickknacks, your guests will appreciate having some extra space to set-up their belongings. Keep decor fairly simple - less is more in this case. Consider introducing simple touches like fresh flowers, a scented candle, a few magazines and a travel book that features your city or town.