Is it just me, or are the holidays coming even earlier than usual this year? I mean, Starbucks rolled out their Christmas cups on what, November 1st? And I’ve definitely been humming along to store-piped Christmas carols since Halloween.
If you’re feeling the joys of the season before Thanksgiving, it may seem a little crazy to start Christmas shopping, but there’s actually one holiday shopping task you can check off your list without looking like a crazed hoarder in Home Goods.
It’s the Stylish Guest Room Revamp. And you’ll love it.
Just think: adorable throws, cute candles, a cozy retreat for your holiday guests…all perfectly primped and stylish and set up well before they roll into town with chaos in tow. Not to mention, if you start now, you’ll have more than enough time to give the room a test run (or four) before Christmas.
Check out the slideshow for my favorite ways to style a super chic guest room that (truly!) rivals a hotel retreat.
15 Stylish Guest Room Essentials
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A handwritten note with the WiFi information handy
Make your guests' connectivity totally seamless with a customized print with your home's WiFi network, like this darling one by Pixels and Ice Cream, for only $6. Frame it on a nightstand so your guests can feel free to work, play, surf, and get social any time of day, without having to get tech-y with your network.
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Toiletries tucked into a bedside drawer
The most awkward part of being a house guest? Rattling through someone else's medicine cabinet to find the Advil you forgot to pack or the tampon you're too embarrassed to ask for. And don't even get me started on wardrobe essentials. Sometimes a guest just needs a little double stick tape, a bobby pin, a Band-Aid, or a pre-threaded needle...but they're not exactly the sort of stuff you want to bother your host about.
That's why I love Pinch Provisions' Minimergency kits for guest rooms---especially their "bridesmaid" version! The kit compactly holds twenty-one essentials for just $16. Stash one inside a side drawer for easy access for every grooming emergency life can throw at your guests.
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A lush, yet inexpensive throw
A throw doesn't need to be speckled in Hermes H's to be chic---it just needs to be soft enough to demand snuggling on cozy winter nights. I've long had my eyes on Serena and Lily's Brahms Mount Herringbone Throw, $295 (it even sounds special, doesn't it?!), but have seen equally plush knock-offs for a fraction of the price in big box stores.
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Easy access to extras
If you're looking to further customize the amenities on your guests' bedside table, think about corralling it all in a container that does double duty as decor. This beautiful onyx pill box with amethyst top, $59, is currently (and often!) on flash sale at One Kings Lane, and can be a pill box, ring holder, container for a phone charger...the options are endless, and it keeps your room looking stylish while still being accommodating!
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Jo Malone anything...but especially this
You know when you go to a fancy hotel and you indulge in those tiny samples of the luxe, indie shampoos you would never buy for yourself? Buy them for your guests. In fact, just buy Jo Malone's Lime Basil Mandarin Shampoo. The London-based brand's most popular scent is crisp, clean, and universally appealing to both guys and girls---not to mention, the packaging is pretty on point, too. One bottle will run you $25, but I promise...really, it's worth it. (It's my personal go-to before big nights out and date nights.)
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White waffle knit slippers
Hotels adore waffle knit slippers for their guests. Why? They're comfortable, washable, and totally unisex. Place a pair in the guest closet for guests to pad around the house in on chilly winter mornings. A great pair of waffle slippers is not only inexpensive but can easily be laundered along with all of your guests' linens when they leave. The pair shown is by Jacaranda Living for $52.
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Easy-to-order fresh flowers
My go-to for beautifully styled, quick-to-ship florals anywhere in the U.S.? Olive & Cocoa. I think I might have purchased about ten of their arrangements last year for my own guest-ready home and for hostess gifts! Not only do they have a definitive floral boutique flair, but they ship overnight and come cleanly packaged in a wood box that complements nearly every style of decor. The Bianca Grace, shown for $98, is my favorite.
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Or a hard-to-kill (think faux!) houseplant
Don't have a green thumb or didn't have time to buy those flowers? No worries. Every guest room could benefit from a faux peony in a bud vase.
Now don't go rolling your eyes! Faux flowers have come a long way since our grandmothers' days, and if you shop correctly, some have that look-twice quality that will instantly help freshen a stoic room with a springlike pop of color. While I often invest in "the good stuff" at Gracious Home, I've noticed One Kings Lane has some high quality designs---like this one, for only $45.
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A lavender sachet on the pillow
Everyone knows lavender promotes relaxation, and these understated sachets are no exception. I adore the lack of lacy, frou-frou fussiness---and especially the flat design. They're easy to slip in between folded guest sheets, place beneath a pillow, or slip into a bureau to evoke a thoughtful, chill vibe when your guests settle in. A set of three is available at Gardener's Supply Company for $19.99.
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Books that are begging to be cracked open
Penguin Classics does a phenomenal job of turning some of the best lit of our times into the prettiest as well. Their F. Scott Fitzgerald (Penguin Hardback Classics), $13--$17 each, include Flappers and Philosophers, The Beautiful and the Damned, The Last Tycoon, The Great Gatsby, Tender Is the Night, and This Side of Paradise. Designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith, the covers of these books are begging to be broken open on a quiet winter's night.
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Seriously plush towels
Matouk linens are some of the best on the market---they have a plushness that sustains hundreds of washes. If you haven't made the switch, consider testing the Auberge collection out for your guest bath! I love the cleanly embossed initial---it's so much chicer and younger than a curly embroidered font, and adds the perfect amount of personality to your space. View the collection here; bath towels are $45.
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A great Fornasetti candle
There's a reason why Fornasetti candles have the Pinterest street-cred they do: They smell amazing (obviously), look super chic, and somehow add that certain eclectic something to small spaces, like guest rooms. While they come with hefty price tags, they also recycle amazingly well into impromptu cosmetic brush holders and jewelry catch-alls once they've burned through.
Try adding the Fornasetti Flora Lidded Candle, $175, to a barren corner of the guest room. Guests will adore the chic smell and revel in how you somehow turned a cobwebbed corner into a effortlessly styled moment from Elle DECOR.
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Makeup towels always on hand
Now that I just waxed poetic about those fluffy, bright white monogrammed Matouk towels, it's time to talk about makeup towels (yup, you heard me correctly)! As a guest, there's something majorly awkward about removing a night's worth of mascara, foundation, and red lipstick all over your host's bright white designer towels. But these genius little black towelettes are perfect to keep by the sink. Stains stay concealed and laundry stays at a minimum, so you don't need to refresh your guest's linens every time she washes her face. Brilliant for all! A six piece set is available at The Turkish Towel Company for $55.
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Juliska bedside carafe
When I got married, this Juliska bedside carafe was on the top of my registry list. I wasn't sure how much I would use the elegantly designed hand blown glass vessel, but seven years later, I can now tell you: always! Not only does this beautiful piece stand gracefully on my guests' nightstands, but it looks so much chicer than a plastic water bottle. I try to infuse some lemons; they look beautiful floating on top and add a nice pop of color! When guests aren't staying over, I often use it as a juice server for brunches with my girlfriends. It's a definite must-have (and also makes a great hostess gift)!
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Hamper at bottom of closet
It might sound too simple, but think about it. How annoying is it to always repack your dirty laundry into your luggage (and next to your clean clothes!) while you're staying at someone's home? Having an aerated rattan laundry basket tucked inside a guest closet is actually a godsend. You can easily help guests stay on top of laundry, but even if that's not in the cards, they can at least keep clean and dirty clothes separate for the entirety of their trip!
