A lot of Rose Buds ask us for tips on farmhouse guest room décor, which made me think of the wonderful Bre Doucette of Rooms for Rent. In the nicer weather we do more entertaining guests and sometimes you want those guests to sleep over in style.
Overnight guests may feel a bit out of place, so Bre gives guest rooms a cozy, comfy vibe.
“Cozy layers create a welcome that instantly sets people at ease,” she said. “I always make sure there's extra blankets and extra pillows because you never know how many pillows or blankets people like to sleep with.”
The beds in Bre’s guest room are so inviting I’m ready to wrap myself in the gray Presley Cable Knit Cotton Throw and snuggle in for an afternoon nap.
Down comforters with cozy duvets is a good start to the bedding, Bre added. Being comfy and cozy helps ensure a good night’s sleep for your guests. A great tip from Bre: sleep in your guest room before you invite guests so you can see what’s missing or not in the right spot.
Other farmhouse guest room tips from Bre:
- Include a side table so guests can keep a glass of water or their phone nearby at night.
- Have a bedside lamp, as there's nothing worse than turning off the light and then walking through a room that you are not familiar with and trying to get into bed.
- I always put fresh flowers in our guest room just because they have a nice aroma, and make you feel special. Bre cleverly used both sizes of a Seagrass Wrapped Lantern as a vase for flowers in the guest room. And if you prefer faux greenery because of allergies to fresh flowers, a Blooming Ivory Floral Stem looks lovely in the seagrass lanterns.
“I focus on bringing in accessories that exude a warm vibe,” she said.
Many of our Rose Buds are second hand treasure seekers like Bre, who purchased all the second hand furniture for the guest room for about $200, including twin beds, an antique table and a small dresser. She refinished the furniture, and by saving money there, she could splurge on the bed linens, making the beds extra plush and inviting.
“It's a mix of old and new. It makes it feel really charming and cozy. Being in New Hampshire, I wanted it to feel like quintessential New England, like you were staying in a cottage down on the Cape,” Bre said.
“The walls are painted a really pale, light gray, so it's a very soft background. I wanted to bring in lots of texture because I think that really adds warmth.”
The room has a boho, seaside look and feel, a perfect retreat for visitors who may come from outside of New England. Simple farmhouse guest room décor touches, such as a vase of flowers or a lamp or art on the wall makes a big difference in the feel of the space. Guests want an inviting room to stay in.
“I always have a little basket with water bottles and snacks and little trinkets,” Bre said. “If they're from out of town, I'll do something New England specific, like a little bottle of maple syrup and some treats that you would only find here. It's nice for them to feel like if they're starving, they can have something without feeling like they're intruding or interrupting.”
Remember to put out extra towels and add baskets around the room for guests to toss their things in. Once your farmhouse guest room is ready, let me know and I’ll pop in for an overnight visit! And check out Bre’s wonderful books, The Gift of Home and The Gift of Gathering.
