Inspiration

What can be off-putting about decorating the spare room is that furnishing a bedroom isn’t always an inexpensive exercise. But this scheme is smart on two levels and shows how you can achieve a polished interior without too much trouble. The key is choosing pieces wisely that provide comfort and the aesthetic you’re after, but that aren’t as costly as those designs in your own bedroom. Choose a simple bedframe that will be largely hidden from view with the duvet draped over the edges and invest instead in the headboard. Here, we’ve featured our Samuel Rust fabric, but if you were to pick our ‘standard’ fabric for that particular headboard and double size rather than king or superking, it becomes even more cost-effective. Another option would be to lose the headboard altogether and to have simply a bed base and then square pillows propped up.

A rug is a simple way to help a room to feel more decorated, but if the size is slightly too short to frame the entire bed, position it landscape so that the lower two-thirds of the bed are covered, as this avoids you needing to invest in the larger, more expensive size.

If you’re planning on not filling the room with pieces of storage, try to add one more upholstered piece so it doesn’t feel too scant. An end-of-bed stool, bench or ottoman is a favourite amongst hotel designers, so introducing one of those will immediately make the setting feel more considered. Together with the rug, upholstered headboard, blanket bedspread and brass bedside lamp, the lack of larger pieces of furniture are quickly forgotten because the room will feel inviting and a little indulgent.

The next scheme follows a similar trail of thought to the first but with a few main differences. The first, the décor is far more charming, quiet country than modern-rustic and colour-friendly. And the second, it’s gone bigger on the soft furnishings front. A thoughtful touch in any bedroom is what your feet will first feel when they get out of bed in the morning, so a soft sheepskin at the side of the bed with the room’s main rug at the foot will be gladly received. Instead of a bench, consider a bedside chair. It means you can bring in another fabric to add texture and interest, but when there’s no storage, a slipper chair like Madeleine acts not just as a seat, not just as an accent piece, but a dressing chair as well – somewhere to rest clothes when the pyjamas are officially on. Then go further still on the comfort scale by scattering a few cushions on the bed and opting for a fabric lampshade. The more fabric, the softer the scheme will look and feel, and what could be more inviting than that?

This final scheme offers another entirely different look, sitting somewhere between the two – very classic and very well-suited to a countryside home, but with a stronger view on colour like in the first bedroom. It also has an entirely different view on furniture. Instead of holding back and putting just a notch more than the necessities like the first two schemes, this bedroom is fully furnished as though it is the master. This approach is more than worthwhile if you’re looking to reduce the amount of storage on show in your own bedroom, relocating it to another part of the house. Or, if you’re struggling with space to put things and need a spill-over room. Reserving the guest bedroom purely for when you have people stopping over doesn’t make the most of its potential. See it and use it as a space for you to use and love too. Fill the wardrobe with items that you don’t use everyday like winter coats or formalwear, but keep some space free so that when you do have guests, there’s room for both of you. In designs like Chichester, you could leave the bottom drawer free for bedding and towels. Go for bedside tables with a little drawer so they have somewhere to stash a few bits – this always makes people feel more settled rather than living out of a suitcase, even if it is just for one night- topped with a few decorative pieces like a vase, scented candle and much-needed bedside lamp. And the final thing to note about this third room is the effect on the walls. The guest bedroom can be the perfect territory to try colours, wallpaper patterns and paint techniques that you’re drawn to but are a bit nervous to try in your main living spaces. The hope, of course, is that your guests will enter and love what you’ve done, but this room’s other objective, that’s too often overlooked, is that it’s there for you be your playground, your dressing room, your place that always feels calm, and to contribute towards your home’s decorating story.