A Well-Appointed Guest Bathroom, The Essential List!

The quintessential guide to classic interior design, elegant entertaining & a genteel lifestyle.
(formerly Mummy's Monday Manners)


A Well-Appointed Guest Bathroom, The Essential List!

So, you have houseguests coming! Your Guest Bedroom is now well-appointed with your list of essential accouterments. So, now... how well-prepared is your Guest bathroom? And while you are not trying to be a 5-star hotel, you do want your guests to feel comfortable, relaxed, and attended to! So, prepare in advance and place these few thoughtful items in your Guest Bathroom. Your houseguests will appreciate your kind attentiveness.

Assemble a little “guest bathroom basket” under the sink, or place it in a drawer or the guest bedroom closet. Fill it with items they may have forgotten or appurtenances that they may suddenly discover they need. This extra effort will create a sense of relief for your houseguests because once they find it, they do not have to ask you to provide something for them; it’s all there at their fingertips if needed!

The Guest Bathroom

"The Givens:"

  • Linens: Two big fluffy bath towels (or more), two hand towels, two washcloths, PER guest

  • A white cotton floor mat near the shower or tub

  • A new bar of soap on the sink in a pretty soap dish AND in the shower/tub

  • A bottle of liquid body soap (millennials prefer this over a bar of soap)

  • Shampoo (get one that is good for color-treated hair… just saying!)

  • Conditioner

  • Mouthwash (Fill a crystal decanter with mouthwash and place it on the counter next to the sink…it will look pretty!)

  • Small drinking glass (I prefer a silver mint julep cup, it cannot break!) 

  • A hairdryer  

  • Hooks on the door, or someplace, to hang damp towels!

  • A box of tissues 

  • Two terry robes, Medium & Large, in the Guest Bedroom or Bathroom 

  • A magnifying mirror on the wall or on a stand, if space allows

  • A small vase of flowers or little orchid plant by the sink (a silver baby cup is a perfect size)

  • A pretty waste bin

Additional items for under the sink or in a drawer:  

  • Shower cap

  • Hair spray

  • Hair mousse

  • Body lotion

  • Extra rolls of potty paper

A basket or tray of little lovelies:

  • Travel size toothpaste

  • New toothbrush

  • New razor

  • Shaving cream

  • Make-up remover

  • Cotton balls

  • Nail file

  • Tweezers

  • Roll of Tums or antacid

  • Advil or Tylenol- small bottle

  • Needle and thread kit

  • Little scissors

  • Lint brush

  • Comb

  • Small hairbrush

  • Q-tips- small amount

  • Travel size deodorant

  • Feminine products

  • Sunscreen (for a resort house)

  • Room scent spray

  • Nightlight (or, just plug one in an outlet)

  • Spray deodorant

While this may seem like an extravagant list, some of the items you may already have, so it is just a matter of placing them in the guest bathroom. Travel-size products work well to save space and will have a charming presence when placed in a petite white basket or pretty tray.

Grandmillenial Tips:

My daughters kindly have electric curlers for me so that I don’t have to lug them in my suitcase to Park City or Germany! 

If you have items collected from a previous hotel stay, such as a needle & thread kit, comb, nail file, or a shower cap, repurpose them for your guest bathroom.  One and done!


XX Holly 

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