The holidays are nearly upon us, which means that it is time to start working on those DIY projects to transform your guest bedroom before the holidays get here. You want the guests staying with you to feel comfortable in their guest room, so completing some fun projects to transform the room is a great way to help you prepare for the holidays. Here are some of our favorite projects to transform your guest room before the holidays arrive.
Install New Shades or Blinds
One easy project that can transform your guest bedroom is to install new shades or blinds in the room. Most people like to sleep in complete darkness, so adding some blackout curtains to the windows can be an excellent addition. Keep in mind that just because the curtains are intended to black out the sun does not mean they have to be dark and dreary. You can easily make bright and cheerful patterns for your blackout curtains. Some festive curtains that go with the holidays are an excellent way to add a little bit of holiday cheer to the room, too!
If your current blinds or shades in the guest bedroom are old and have likely seen better days, replacing them with new ones is a good idea. You would be amazed at how much of a difference something so small can make.
Add a Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans are great for helping circulate the air in a room and keep the temperature of the room even. Installing a ceiling fan in your guest room is a quick and easy project that you can complete before the holidays. While it might not seem like a DIY project you want to complete in the winter, it can really help even out the temperature to make your guests comfortable and help save energy for your heating and cooling.
Photo by Catherine Renae Thomas Design Co.
Create an Accent Wall
Accent walls are a great way to add a little pop of something different to a room that will help draw the eye. You can paint the wall in a different color, use wallpaper, or even create a faux stone accent wall. A good place for the accent wall is at the head of the bed since it will draw your guests’ eyes right to where they are going to be sleeping. You can also use art to create a gallery-style accent wall that your guests can enjoy when they are relaxing.
Add a Little Reading Nook
While your guests may be staying with you to visit for the holidays, they might also appreciate a space where they can curl up and relax to get away from everyone. You can help give them that space by adding a little reading nook to the room. It can be multi-functional, too, using the bench part of the seat to store extra bedding in case they need an extra blanket in the night. Make sure you also have a bookshelf in the guest room, too, so they have something they can read in the nook!
Install New Flooring
How old is the flooring in your guest bedroom? Since it is not a room that you likely spend much time in, the flooring might be overlooked when you are evaluating if you should put new flooring anywhere else in the house. If that carpet has seen better days, or the wooden floor is more scratches than floor at this point, this is a great project to complete before your guests arrive for the holidays.
Carpets are becoming an unpopular flooring style since they hold onto allergens tightly and are not always easy to clean. However, if you have kids or pets, hardwood floors might not be your best choice since they can get scratched up and damaged. You can try laminate flooring in this case, but make sure you find one that is high quality. This will be easier to care for in this room, and you will not need to worry about it much when you are not hosting. If you worry about your floor being too cold for your guests’ feet, you can add an area rug under the bed that peeks out enough for them to step on it instead of a chilly floor when getting out of bed.
Paint the Walls
A quick and easy way to transform the guest bedroom is to add a fresh coat of paint to the walls. Even if you do not change the color of the paint, it will still give the room a fresh and clean feeling that can make your guests feel more at home in your guest bedroom. Of course, if you are aiming for a transformation, you will want to try a new color. Use darker colors in your guest bedroom since the room is intended to be calming and help the brain quiet down at the end of the day.
Add a Fake Fireplace
A fireplace gives a room a comfortable and relaxing feeling, but it is unlikely your guest bedroom already has one in it since they are much less common in home designs these days. You can get a fake fireplace heater to add to your guest bedroom to give your guests that cozy, comfy feeling. To make it even more realistic, you can install faux stone or brick around it so it has a traditional-looking fireplace surround. You can top it all off with a beautiful mantel and give your guests a room that they will love to spend time in and enjoy unwinding after a full day of holiday activities. This project can truly transform your guest bedroom and wow the guests who are returning to stay in that room again this year.
Photo by Norman Kohl Interiors
If there is space in the room, you can also consider adding a little plush rug in front of the fire and maybe a couple of comfortable chairs and an end table, creating a cozy sitting area for them to enjoy the room even more. Adding some little festive touches will completely finish off the holiday look you are going for.
About the Author
Auz Burger is a freelance writer and an expert in faux stone and brick veneer and home DIY projects. She has a BA from Washington State University and has been writing and editing professionally for over a decade.