The quintessential guide to classic interior design, elegant entertaining & a genteel lifestyle.
(formerly Mummy's Monday Manners)
The essential list for a well-appointed guest room!
The pretty floral straps on this luggage rack, which complement the chintz curtains in the guest bedroom at Cape Cod, is another example of my mother-in-law’s talented needlepoint creations!
Before you know it, the holidays will be here and your houseguests and family will gleefully arrive! After a year’s hiatus of no houseguests due to Covid times, it may be prudent to ask yourself, “How well-appointed is my guest room… and what else is needed?!”
The perfect way to find out what is missing is to spend one night in the guest bedroom and roleplay yourself as the guest. Then, you will truly discover firsthand what is needed.
These adorable luggage racks (or tray stands) are covered in Sibyl & Colefa’s ( London) darling bespoke printed fabric.
A very considerate detail to provide, which is often neglected, is one or two luggage racks in each guest room. And no, they are not just for hotels…they are a welcomed addition for your guests who will be living out of their suitcases during their stay! Luggage racks fold in half and are easy to store in a closet.
Here is my list of the must-have essential elements for a guest bedroom that I have created, and added to, throughout the years. It has served me well!
The Guest Bedroom
A petite vase of flowers at the bedside
2 luggage racks
Water, in a bottle or decanter, with a glass, arranged on a tray
Books and magazines (choose what they may enjoy)
A soft throw on the bed or chair
Two kinds of pillows: soft and medium-soft
A strip cord near the bedside to recharge a phone, etc.
A cell phone charger cord or station
The WiFi code
A pad of paper with a pen
A box of tissues
Plenty of matching hangers in the closet (not a mishmash of hangers!)
An additional blanket in the closet
A lovely waste bin
Black-out shades or pull-curtains
A full-length mirror, which can be hung on the backside of a door
A nightlight
2 terry robes, medium and large
A few nibbles:
Sweet: a small dish of chocolates
Savory: my rosemary pecans
Grandmillennial Tips:
The most “old-school chic” luggage racks have hand-needle pointed straps, preferably made by a family member! I am blessed to have been gifted a few.
This cherished gift was made by my mother-in-law. She thoughtfully needlepointed it for our Master Bedroom at Stratton, Vermont.
A thoughtful gesture is to make a simple, personalized Welcome poster sign for your front door to greet your out-of-town family and guests. If you have guests visiting from another country, consider hanging their flag as a special acknowledgment. Our daughter’s family lives in Germany, so a German flag is hung over the front door at Fox Hall during their stay!
In Robert Louis Stevenson's words, "A friend is a gift you give yourself.” Now is the time to order and prepare your guest room for your friends and family!
XX Holly
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