Lately, we’ve been obsessed with a new show on Netflix about turning beautiful homes into instant hotels to rent out through websites like Airbnb called Instant Hotel. These people go to great lengths to make sure all are comfortable and recharged by their stay in these homes. Beautiful and well-thought-out floor plans set the stage for the stay, but the important details are in the rooms where people will spend the evening catching up on that great night sleep we’re all chasing after. After watching some of the episodes (if you’re somewhat obsessed with home design like we are, this show is worth the watch) we started thinking about how we could create these experiences not for people renting out the entire house for the weekend, but for the ones we love most coming to spend the holidays in our homes. What if we re-thought the flow and design of the home, and more specifically, the comfort of our guest rooms to create a spa getaway feeling for our most important guests, friends, and family.
Privacy and Comfort
The first important takeaway for a well-thought-out space with guests in mind is privacy and comfort. If you’ve seen the show, you know the drag out fights these people have to secure the most comfortable room. Family bedrooms are often placed near one another, but guests rooms should offer a higher level of privacy. If you are adding a guest room to your home, consider the placement of the room to help guests feel like a part of the family, without risking any uncomfortable run-ins in the hallway after a shower or in a shared space. The biggest win for the comfort of guests in the home is an attached bathroom. Giving guests the ability to shower and groom in a private space helps them feel like they are out of the way of the typical comings and goings of the home. Think about the privacy of your guests and offer them the comforts of space, privacy, and self-sufficiency. Use guest room closet space as storage for extra linens and bath towels. Your guests can access them at any time without needing to ask for assistance, and you can keep the other rooms of your home clutter-free for all of the other day-to-day grooming products you and the family need.
Space to Wake and Relax
Keeping space in mind, think about the last time you stayed at a family member or friend’s house and happened to be the first one awake. In a home without a thoughtful floor plan, guests might feel like leaving the room too early in the morning could cause a disturbance for other people sleeping in the home. This turns the guest room into a holding cell for our early rising guests. Access to a door leading outside or to a common living space away from other bedrooms helps your guests feel more at home and able to go about their regular routine without disrupting anyone else. The same goes for our guests and friends who take the opportunity to sleep a little later on their mornings away from home. Don’t worry about tiptoeing around the guest room or putting off making breakfast in the morning because you have guests in the house. Give everyone ample room to go about their business without disruption.
Comforts of Home Within the Quarters
If you really want to create a home away from home in your floor plan, consider adding a small, functional kitchen space and sitting area to the design of your guest suite. Consider all of the ways this addition could serve you in the future as well. Maybe someday this space could serve as in-law quarters or the perfect space for helping a new family with a young infant in the first few months out of the hospital. As families grow and change, you will be amazed at how versatile this space can be and how often you will use it!
We all want to feel comfortable when traveling for the holidays or visiting a friend for the weekend, and we want our guests to feel just as relaxed! When you’re ready to create the home of your dreams, let our professional designers help you maximize every square inch of your home for the best use and house flow, including your guest space!