How do you create a pleasant atmosphere in a guestroom?

Answer 1

It depends if you live in an ultra modern house, contemporary or rancher. If it's contemporary (you can get away with this in most homes) then paint the walls a very soft or rosy beige or a very soft, soft yellow. Never mind the Mocha colors as they can make certain rooms look flat or dark depending on the shade you want. Decor is what really makes a room attractive and it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Palm plants are lovely (if you don't have enough light coming into the room) then buy a silk one (looks so real). Here is what I did to our Master bedroom. It's semi-Japanese decor and the reason I choose this (mix it with contemporary) is because it looks warm, calming and you don't need a lot of furniture to make the room look attractive and peaceful. It appears open and airy ... There is carpeting in the bedroom (almost a very light beige carpeting) then I did the walls in an very muted rosy beige (just a hint of color). I bought a beautiful Merlot colored silky bedspread off the Shopping Channel (Canadian) with shams for our King size bed and then I went to "Pier 1" (American company, but in Canada as well) and waited for a 50% sale and bought some silky extremely soft green throw cushions/soft gold cushions as well. I went to a large warehouse outlet called IKEA and bought a 6 foot long table approx. 3 feet high (with a 6 foot long drawer in it (for my jewelry) for $88. I had my husband cut the legs off low to approx. 2 feet and then I sprayed it with black Melamine. I bought 2 straight mirrors for each end of the wall opposite the bed that are 2 feet across and 4 wavy mirrors the same width and put them across the wall with spaces between (makes the room look even bigger.) The black table goes right under where the glass mirrors start (3 1/2 feet from the floor. Then I put two beautifully embroidered Japanese wide silk pillows in the middle. On one end of the long table I have a lovely silk Merlot colored Japanese Maple Bonsai tree (approx. 3 feet high and sprawling) and it's on a small rock and at the other end I put small porcelain Japanese Geisha dolls (one sitting with a fan/the other is sitting with a mandolin. They are soft and "just there" look. On the bedside table I have white/black candles tied with hemp on river rock and a small Japanese rugs on each side of the bed. It's stunning and yet uncluttered looking. It gives a calming effect. I've added a large bamboo chest (good to put your favorite books in for storage or extra linens) in a soft gold/purple color (almost aged looking) in one corner and put roll-up bamboo blinds on the windows with the same color as the rugs, with sheer curtain (floor length & tie-backs) with a thin ribbon every so often going down the drapes in the Merlot color. I wanted to leave the drapes quite plain so it wouldn't look too heavy or draw the room in, yet pull some of that Merlot color off the bedspread to balance the room. If you like a country open-air effect go with soft yellow walls and some white. Greens go beautifully with the yellow and give a fresh look and you could use sheers on the windows (long or short.) A nice goose-down bedspread with deeper yellow/green throw cushions on the bed, or, get a nice mid to dark green (or soft green) bedspread in a satin shimmery look and the same with the throw cushions. Less is best when decorating your bedroom. If you have hardwood or laminate flooring get some throw rugs for each side of the bed. Put fresh flowers in the room. If you have a ensuite bathroom then paint it the same color as the bedroom (make it flow) or even and off-white. Use sea shells, candles, river rock or colored rocks (can be bought at any craft store.) Buy nice towels in soft to dark greens. Dark green towels with soft yellow face towels are eye-catching and fresh looking. These are just some ideas, but hope it helps. Small rooms need light colors and if you have a large guestroom then you can go with some darker colors. Also you can buy a nice spa type water fountain with stones and bamboo in it with a soothing sound. Don't forget to get a couple of terry-cloth bathrobes (you can get them cheap in several different stores) to hang on a peg in the bathroom for your guests and some cheap white slippers to go with them. Usually medium to large fits all.