Holiday Guest Room Checklist: A Designer's Guide

Holiday guests remember how a room made them feel: a soft throw at the foot of the bed, a lamp they can reach without getting up, a tray for coffee in the morning. We wrote about creating the perfect guest room years ago, and the idea still holds. Think through the room as your guest will use it, from arriving with a suitcase to settling in with a book. Here is our designer checklist for a guest room that feels like a small luxury hotel this holiday season.

1. A reading lamp on each side of the bed

Guests should never have to cross a dark room to find a switch. Give each nightstand its own lamp.

• Theo Table Lamp, 15.5". A compact, round ceramic base in a textured, stone-like matte white finish under a light linen shade. Its small scale suits a narrow nightstand.
• Maye Cylindrical Table Lamp, 20". A hand-woven whitewash cane rattan column under a wide cylindrical fabric shade, sized for a bedside table.
• Amoria Mini Lamp. A petite Regina Andrew lamp with a scalloped shade, for a vanity or dresser.

2. An extra layer at the foot of the bed

Everyone sleeps a little differently. A throw folded at the foot of the bed lets guests add warmth without hunting for a blanket.

• Anika European Linen Throw. European flax linen, pre-shrunk, in Flax/Ivory or Flax/Charcoal.
• Rayan European Linen Throw. Blue European flax linen, 60" x 50".
• Milo Velvet Throw. Washable velvet with a silk-blend backing, lovely at the foot of a bed or over a sofa.

3. A tray for slow mornings

• Burma Rattan Morning Tray, 20". Hand-woven in a light Whitewash finish and sized to serve breakfast in bed. Set it on the dresser with a carafe and glasses when it is not in use.

4. Somewhere to put things down

• Cane Baskets, Set of 3. Shallow stacked-cane vessels in a light natural finish, 4.25 to 6 inches tall. One for jewelry and watches, one for chargers, one for extra toiletries.
• Deyo Round Mirror, 24". A 3-inch deep frame, hand-welded from aluminum in antique nickel, over the dresser for a last check before dinner.

5. Something green

A little greenery makes a guest room feel cared for, and faux means nothing to water while you are busy hosting. A 12" Boston Fern Drop-In in a Hillingdon Basket-Weave Cachepot fits on a nightstand or dresser. See our faux fern guide for more pairings.

6. And for guests who travel with a pet

• Normandy Pet Bed. A raised rattan frame that keeps the cushion up off the floor, in two sizes. Paired with the Normandy Pet Bowl, four-legged guests feel at home too.

The night-before checklist

• Fresh sheets and an extra pillow.
• A lamp on each side of the bed, with working bulbs.
• A throw folded at the foot of the bed.
• Cleared drawer space and a few empty hangers.
• A tray with water glasses, and a small basket for chargers.
• Wi-Fi password written on a card.

Shop more pieces for the bedroom in Bedding & Linens and Lamps. We truly appreciate you, and we hope your home is filled with the people you love this season.