How to create a cosy guest room

Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Clouded Blue, ceiling in Resene Ceiling Paint in Resene Black White and trims and joinery in Resene Lustacryl in Resene Black White.

Friends and family coming to stay? Make their bedroom such an inviting sanctuary they’ll never want to leave. The idea with a guest room is to create a calming space where guests can not only sleep well but also enjoy some quiet time and escape the chaos of the rest of the house. It’s also important to consider that the room might also be doubling as a home office, home gym or spare room when you don’t have guests, so the aesthetic and furnishings need to be fluid and multipurpose. Check out these effective and budget-friendly ways you can create a relaxing haven and ensure a pleasant, hotel-worthy stay.

Colour me calm

Colour psychology is especially relevant when it comes to enhancing sleep and relaxation, and there are hues that are much more conducive to this than others. If you’re painting the room, blues and greens are soothing, earthy tones are grounding and blush pinks are great for creating a cosy, cocoon-like feel.

For guest rooms, soft whites, neutrals and misty greys like Resene Rakaia are great options as they can be made warm or cool and dressed up with accessories. Avoid red or other strong, warm colours as these are known to increase heart rate and appetite so may keep guests awake and keen to party, rather than lulling them into a peaceful slumber.

Find out more about choosing colours for a bedroom and which colours can help your sleep quality.

Paper paper

Another aspect to consider is the fact that as this isn’t your own bedroom, you might feel a little more adventurous when it comes to decorating it. Resene wallpaper is a great way to add depth, colour and texture with a fun print. While you can opt for a pattern that suits the architecture, style or era of your home, you can also bring the calming qualities of nature indoors by choosing one of Resene’s many botanical-inspired prints.

Adding a small seating area gives guests a cosy space to escape to for some peace and quiet. Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Clouded Blue, ceiling in Resene Ceiling Paint in Resene Black White and trims and joinery in Resene Lustacryl in Resene Black White.

The guest bedroom features a feature wall in Resene Museum Wallpaper Collection 307302, other wall painted in Resene Double Sea Fog and trims and ceiling in Resene Alabaster. Photo by Courtney & Co.

Refresh furniture

The guest room is a great place to reuse your old bedroom furniture – a practical move that reduces landfill and means you don’t have to worry about disposing of it. If it’s looking a little dinged up or lacklustre, refresh it with a lick of Resene paint or stain before you move it.

With an on-trend modern colour, you’ll make even the most tired set of drawers look a million bucks. All they’ll need is a light sand and a coating of appropriate primer – Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer on old laminate or melamine or Resene Waterborne Sureseal on old varnished surfaces work well, but ask the staff at your local Resene ColorShop for advice on what to use for your particular surface. Then finish with Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel in your favourite Resene colour.

Top tip: Use Resene wallpaper in a fun print to line the drawers for an element of surprise.

Dress for success

Accessorising a room is the easiest way to transform it into a cosy sleep space, and the beauty of the Resene Living range of duvet covers, rugs and curtains is that the different styles are all inspired by Resene colours, making creating a cohesive space a breeze.

Pared back is the key, so be sure not to overwhelm the space with accessories as it’s difficult to sleep in a room that’s too visually chaotic. Try using an accent colour in three places to help it feel like it belongs in the space, like a feature wall, photo frame or pillowcase. If you can’t find a frame or ornament in the right colour, paint them with a Resene testpot.

Consider space

If space allows, creating a small sitting area or place to make a cup of tea in their own room will be a godsend for guests. Guest rooms are also usually the smallest rooms in a home, so painting the ceiling the same hue as the walls can help to visually increase the size of the space as it makes it hard to tell where the different surfaces start and end. Painting vertical stripes up the wall not only creates an impact but also tricks the eye into thinking the ceiling is higher. It’s also a great idea to let in as much natural light as possible.

Top tips from award-winning interior designer Isis Winter:

Guest rooms should feel a world away from the dreaded ‘spare room’, where forgotten belongings go to gather dust (think StairMaster, half-finished craft projects and old hard drives).
Start fresh with a calming paint palette – soft sage, muted clay or dusty blue all work beautifully. Try hues like Resene Botticelli, Resene Desert Sand, Resene Ravine, and Resene Rakaia.
If you’re keen to add personality, consider framing a Resene wallpaper print rather than committing to a full feature wall. It’s an easy way to introduce patterns without overwhelming the space. You can then use the rest of the roll of wallpaper to add pattern to the inside of the drawers or inside the wardrobe.
Layer the bed with fresh linen in complementary tones, add soft, ambient lighting and include thoughtful touches like a carafe of water, a pillow spray (my personal favourite), a few books or a phone charger by the bed. Remove personal items like family photos to keep the room feeling neutral.
Don’t forget practicality! Ensuring there’s space to unpack is just as important as good styling. A well-considered room not only looks beautiful but makes your guests feel genuinely welcome.

Top tip: If your guests are more likely to be small children rather than adults, make sure you use durable finishes on your walls, like Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, so they are easy to wipe clean. If you’re mainly expecting adult guests, you can use a more matte finish like Resene SpaceCote Flat that will help to diffuse more light and make the wall finishes appear more muted and timeless.