Want to refresh your guest room bedding? I’m sharing my my favorite bedding pieces plus tips for bed-making too!
There’s nothing like a little bedding refresh to get your guest bedroom ready for friends and family! Today I’m sharing six guest room bedding ideas for creating a beautiful and super cozy guest bed that your guests will love! (post includes commissionable links; for more information, see my full disclosure statement {here})
1. Dress Your Bed in Layers
Some people sleep cold and pile on the blankets (that’s me!) while others run hot and want just a sheet with a light quilt or blanket. Dress your guest bed in layers so guests can choose how many layers they want to sleep with.
While I change up how I layer my bedding pieces, my guest room bedding always includes sheets, a quilt, and a duvet. I buy 100% cotton sheets because polyester sheets aren’t breathable so can be miserable for hot sleepers. {These Egyptian cotton sheets} are a great mid-priced option while {these Company Store sheets} and {these Boll & Branch sheets} are excellent high-end options.
For a quilt, my go-to that I’ve used for years is {this Belgian Flax Linen Diamond quilt}. It’s the perfect not too heavy but not too lightweight bedding piece. I love that the quilting and linen texture add a rich look to the bed and that it wears and washes up so well. The colors I’ve used include white, flax (a neutral light beige),
and flagstone (a midtone gray):
There are about 20 additional color options too, including some beautiful blues and greens. Also check out {this quilt} that’s super similar but a bit lower in price!
I usually tuck the sides of the quilt under the mattress and then top it with a fluffy duvet (see my post on the best fluffy duvet inserts for info on my favorites!). Sometimes I cover the bed with duvet and fold it back at the top twice such as here:
Sources: Upholstered bed (Zuma white fabric) | Nightstands | Blush table lamps | Gray dragon pillow covers | Other bedding – no longer available | Chandelier | White drapes
While at other times I fold the duvet in thirds and drape it across the foot of the bed:
Sources: Mirror | Upholstered Wingback Bed (Zuma White fabric) | Quilt | White and beige check duvet (similar) | 24″ Embroidered pillow covers | 20″ White tassel end pillow cover (similar) | White lamp (similar) | Round Wood Beaded Tray | Clock
When my guests first arrive, I make sure they know they’re free to take the duvet off the bed if that’s how they’re most comfortable. Want more bed-making details? Check out my post with the step by step of how to make a bed.
2. Mix Patterns and Solids
Using a combination of patterns and solid fabrics for your bedding and pillows will give you a higher-end, designer look! For example, in our current guest bedroom, I used {these patterned decorative pillows} as my jumping off point. I then chose {this solid-colored quilt}, {these solid-colored Euro shams and duvet cover} in blue frost, and {this texured cream and blue decorative pillow} with a subtle pattern:
You can get all of the other sources for this space in my post on our light blue bedroom.
3. Make Bed Making Easy
Most guest beds are queen size so the length and width of the bedding only differ by a few inches. With bedding like quilts that have no clear top edge, it can be hard to tell which end goes at the top vs. one of the sides. I have a simple trick that I use for all of my queen linens (including fitted sheets) that’s a total time-saver!
Use a needle and thread to tie a teeny knot on the underside of one of the bottom corners (I always do it on the bottom right):
Then every time you make the bed after washing your bedding, you’ll know to put the knotted thread in that specific bottom corner and you’ll have it going the right direction without wasting time trying to figure out which end is up!
4. Provide a Variety of Sleeping Pillows
Make sure that you have at least four sleeping pillows for your guests, preferably with different fullness options, so they can find a pillow or pillow combination that’s comfy for them. I usually place two sleeping pillows behind the Euro shams and then put another two pillows in the guest room closet in any easy-to-find spot. You could also put all four sleeping pillows on the bed, laying them down in stacks of two with the decorative pillows in front:
I also make sure that all of my guest room pillows have {these washable zippered pillow protectors} covering the pillows and then a cotton pillow cover on top of that:
Pillow protectors protect your pillows from both dust and drool (I know… gross!).
5. Don’t Overdo the Number of Decorative Pillows
As much as you and I love pillows, you really don’t want to overdo the number of decorative pillows on the guest bed. It’s totally fine for your own bed (I always have a zillion pillows on mine) but we decorating fanatics have to remember than 99% of people aren’t pillow freaks like us and don’t want to have to take off ten pillows every time they go to bed.
My typical arrangement for our guest bed is two Euro shams, two smaller 22-24″ pillows, and then one smaller square or lumbar pillow such as this:
Sources: Queen beadboard bed (weathered white) | Blue & white quilted shams (similar) | Blue tasseled edge pillow covers are no longer available | Navy embroidered lumbar pillow cover | Navy border duvet cover (similar) | Round mirror
See my post on how to arrange pillows on a queen bed for other winning decorative pillow combinations.
If you have a king bed in your guest room, my typical pillow arrangement is three Euro shams, two 22″ decorative pillows, and then a single decorative pillow in front:
Now that you’ve got your bed guest-ready, be sure to check out my post on guest bedroom ideas for tons of other ideas for making your guest room a welcoming, comfy place that family and friends will enjoy staying in.. You might also wish to check out my post on luggage racks for guest rooms (definitely a must-have!).
I hope you all enjoyed today’s post and got a few ideas for sprucing up your guest room bedding before your next visitors come into town!
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Michelle says
Thank you for the practical tips and beautiful pictures! I am trying to put together a grown-up guest room after finally moving to a place with an extra bedroom. It’s mostly for my parents when they visit. I want it to feel relaxing like going to a hotel, so am investing in nice bedding, etc. I’ve never really known how to layer bedding, so it was really helpful that you broke it down so simply. I don’t want it to be bland, but like how you added decor touches with the pillows and around the room, but kept the main bedding simple (the high quality of the materials also looks nice without being busy with a print that could get dated). Fingers crossed it all turns out and comes together when things arrive in the mail! 🙂 I’m in my first home and still very new at decorating.
Jessica says
What is the paint color and brand in this room? I love it!
Wendy K says
Thanks so much for the great clarification/info on bed pillows. On guest beds I have four sleeping pillows in pillowcases. Two of the pillows I had flat then I put the other two in the shams. I have found that people are sleeping on the shams like they were pillowcases vs taking them off and using the pillows (w/cases) inside. The shams are queen size vs euro so I guess they look like sleeping pillows? I’m thinking of not using shams and just use the couple decorative pillows. I think even I put filler pillows in the shams, they’ll use them like sleeping pillows. Sham insert or no sham, I’ll put the two extra pillows in the closet. Feels like I’m overthinking this. Curious about others take on this?
Victoria says
I love your guest bedroom armoire !! Can you please share where you found it? I’m in need of a new one !! 🙂
Anne says
Beautiful guest bedroom. Can you tell me the paint color on the walls? Thx!
Anne says
Never mind … just found your posts about the paint in your home 🙂
Anonymous says
Love this! And the nightstand is perfection!! Where is it from?
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you! It’s actually a bit of a DIY – I took an IKEA chest and covered it in fabric!
Shirley Bassett says
Hi Kris,
I just discovered your website and love it. Where did you get your headboard?
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much Shirley! The headboard is from Pottery Barn but a LONG time ago (10+ years)!
Sandra says
Love your guest room. Is the bedside lamp still available somewhere?
Kris Jarrett says
Unfortunately the exact one isn’t available anymore but I did link a similar one from Target in my source list at the end of this post: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/house-tour-guest-room/
Rachel says
Your bed looks so cozy and inviting!! Thanks for the great tips. I’ll definitely use them in my own guest bedroom. 🙂
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Rachel! I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
Jodi says
Beautiful room! I was wondering where the roman shade came from? Did you make that?
Kris Jarrett says
I wish I was that talented a seamstress! I had someone local make it for me from fabric I found at Calico Corner!
Jenni says
I bet you would have the coziest Bed & Breakfast if you ever opened one! Sounds like you’re great at hosting, could be a great retirement plan!
Kris Jarrett says
That’s so sweet of you Jenni! If I knew every guest would be as kind as you, I would be all over that idea!
JoAnne says
Kris,
I so look forward to your blog posts because they are always packed with amazing ideas and so much pretty! I just ordered the tissue box cover and the Velvet Medallion Quilt and sham set (I already have the Belgian Flax Linen Diamond Quilt in gray in our master bedroom and I love it!), I also ordered the Voile bed skirt and a few other things. I love PB, so thanks for reminding me of their sale, I just couldn’t resist! Oh and thanks so much for the code, I used it and got free shipping on all the bedding 😉
Always a pleasure reading your posts, thanks!
Jo
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a sweet comment – it’s so appreciated!!
Laurie S. says
Beautiful guest room!!! I read this eagerly and love all your ideas, as I’m currently putting together a guest room now. I love the lamp with USB port from Pottery Barn — I had seen many for dorm students, but didn’t really want the “dorm look” in my guest room. I hadn’t seen anything pretty and elegant like the PB one! I think I’ll go order that! One other tip that a friend gave me for guest rooms is a little frame for the nightstand with your home’s wi-fi password on it — so guests don’t have to keep asking when they want to log on at night.
Kris Jarrett says
That’s such a great tip! I have mine on a clipboard across the room but I like the nightstand idea better so guests don’t have to get out of bed to see it when they realize they need it at night!
Cherri says
I’d like to make a reservation, please! Such a beautiful, cozy looking room. I can tell that bedding must be crazy soft.
Kris Jarrett says
You’re so sweet – thank you Cherri!!
Marty Oravetz says
Such a pretty room and the bedding is beautiful.
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much Marty!!
Karen B. says
Kris,
I love your guest bedroom bedding and side table lamp. But it was really great to hear about the lamps with USB built in. That is super handy for guests. The other tip that I’m going to follow immediately is the small knot sewn into the corner of the quilt. I can’t count the number of times I’ve washed my queen sized PB pick stitch quilt only to have to take it off and re-position it to be going the right direction!
Thanks so much for always having a lively post filled with good ideas. 🙂
xo,
Karen
Kris Jarrett says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post Karen! That little trick with the threaded knot is one of my favorites 🙂