Spruce up your spare room: 6 ideas to make your guests feel at home

When friends and family come to stay, you'll want them to feel comfortable and relaxed in a home away from home.

But in many houses, a spare room can either become a dumping ground or part of a flexible space for home working.

Our rigorous product tests and expert suggestions can help you upgrade your spare room and turn it into a cosy retreat, complete with a supportive mattress, plush bedding and calming mood lighting.

Below, we run through some ideas on how to furnish and decorate your guest bedroom or another part of the house where guests will be staying.

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1. Invest in quality bedding and mattresses

The obvious first step in upgrading your spare room is evaluating your bed setup. Think about the quality of the mattress you've laid out and how many pillows your guest (or guests) will need to stay comfy.

Above all else, you'll want the space to feel welcoming and relaxing for your visitors – and our expert product reviews can help.

• Aim for the 'Goldilocks zone' of mattress firmness – in other words, a medium mattress that is neither too firm, nor too soft. This will help you cater for the majority of your guests. Look for a mattress that's described as medium, medium/firm or medium/soft and offers sufficient support. You can filter our mattress reviews to find a medium level of firmness, including some Best Buys that are also Great Value options.
• Pick the perfect pillow – pair a comfy mattress with some high-quality pillows. To help you choose wisely, we've ranked pillows rated by our team of testers, made up of back, front and side sleepers. Making up our list are memory foam, microfibre and feather options. See our guide to the best pillows.
• Choose a Which? recommended duvet – after enlisting the help of more than 40 testers, we've ranked duvets based on comfort score. Our top pick is thick, snuggly and super comfortable. See our guide to the best duvets.
• Consider a mattress topper – this can extend the life of your mattress and make it more comfortable for your guests. More than half of Which? members who took part in our mattress topper survey bought a topper to make their mattress more comfortable (with 85% saying it achieved this). Our best mattress toppers guide can help you choose one your visitors will love.

Encourage guests to make themselves at home. Many guests will offer to wash the dishes, help with any cooking or instinctively make the bed before they leave as a sign of courtesy, even if they know you’ll be stripping it later.

A neatly made bed is also a quiet signal the room has been vacated, without putting pressure on you to wash the bedding straight away. To avoid any confusion, you could always let guests know if you'd prefer to take care of it yourself.

Either way, thoughtful touches like a tidy bed can be a sign your guest felt welcomed and comfortable in your space. And you can keep your bedding looking good with our tips on how to wash clothes, towels and bedding.

Our expert says:

'While it’s possible to spend over £100 on a fully customisable memory foam pillow, you might feel it’s unnecessary for a guest room that’s only occasionally used.

'Instead, consider a good-quality synthetic pillow for a fraction of the price – one in particular stood out during our pillow testing. While synthetic pillows tend not to last as long as other filling types, the fact it isn't in regular use will help extend its lifespan.'

Chris Brookes, Which? researcher & writer

Discover which mattresses are used in the hotels with the comfiest beds in our guide: Which? experts and industry insiders reveal the secrets of hotel bed comfiness

2. Paint your guest room with calming colours

When it's time to refresh your guest room with a splash of paint, choose relaxing, natural colours to create a soothing atmosphere.

Pale greens and greys can turn your space into a serene retreat as they have a calming effect – this makes them a good option for living areas and bedrooms.

Darker shades, such as peacock blues or deep greens, can give a richer, more luxurious feel to your bedroom while lighter earthy tones can create a cosy, restful and warm space.

Our guide on ways to create a more restful bedroom has more handy tips

3. Use flexible furniture

If your spare room serves a dual purpose, perhaps functioning as a home office or storage room, consider choosing flexible furniture.

For example, adding a sofa bed to your space means it can function as a social space in the afternoon and a comfy getaway later on. Ottomans with storage can be used as extra seating or a footrest while folding tables can provide a workspace during the day and be stored away in the evening.

When shopping for a sofa bed, ask yourself these key questions:

• Is the bed big enough? A large sofa won't always turn into a large bed, so check the manufacturer's measurements before ordering and make sure it'll work for your space. Your guests should be able to move freely around the bed without any issues.
• How often it will be used as a bed? If you're going to be hosting guests regularly, you'll want a sofa bed that's quick and easy to set up.
• Does it provide extra storage? If you're limited on floor space, shop for a sofa bed with built-in storage compartments.

You could buy an air bed instead of a sofa bed, particularly if you need a space-saving solution that can be stored in a cupboard when not in use.

To help you pick the comfiest option for your guests, we've tested popular air beds with built-in pumps from brands including Argos, Intex and Bestway. Our top-performing air bed is quick to inflate, comfortable and the firmest of the bunch.

How to buy a sofa bed: everything you need to find something stylish, space-saving and comfortable. Or see our page on the best air beds

4. Incorporate storage solutions

Your guests will value a clean and tidy space to unwind, so it's important to add effective storage solutions.

Your starting point may be decluttering, throwing away or recycling items you no longer need — you might need to be ruthless to make an impact. We have tips on how to tackle household chores you hate and three simple steps to decluttering.

Built-in wardrobes or tall bookcases can help organise your clutter, as can under-bed storage or wicker baskets. Make use of vertical space whenever possible. (See also: Clever storage ideas for your growing family.)

If your budget allows, adding fitted wardrobes to your spare room can give you or your guests additional storage.

To see which fitted bedroom furniture brands are worth considering, we quizzed nearly 3,000 Which? members and members of the public. Our unique survey put some of Britain's favourite brands to the test, including Ikea, Hammonds and Wickes.

To see which brands are highly recommended by customers, explore our page on the best fitted bedroom furniture brands

5. Add some accessories

Leaving a few well-chosen accessories in the room can help welcome your guests, so try the following:

• Soft towels – towels can become hard and crispy over time, so make sure your guests enjoy soft towels instead. See our expert advice on how to get fluffy towels.
• An electric blanket or heated throw – sensible options are quick to heat up and don't cost a fortune to run for long periods. Check in with our roundup of the best electric blankets and heated throws.
• An electric heater – in our latest round of testing, several heaters impressed us enough to be named Which? Best Buys – and four of them earned our Great Value recommendation. Discover the best electric heaters to give your guests a cosy welcome. Remember to ensure they're switched off overnight.
• Eye masks – help your guests get a good night's sleep by leaving an eye mask on their pillow – particularly handy if they're light sleepers. Explore our guide to the best eye masks.

Our expert says:

'Introducing a houseplant can also make your space feel more inviting and add some colour. If you're looking for a plant to add to your spare room, try the aspidistra – a houseplant the Victorians valued for its undemanding nature.

'The aspidistra has beautiful, dark green leaves and can live for many years. It likes a cool room in a shady spot, so it's perfect for a spare room if you turn down the radiator. Push your fingers into the compost and only water when it feels dry to the touch.'

Ceri Thomas, Which? Gardening editor

6. Get the lighting right

You don't need to spend big to create a welcoming atmosphere in your spare room. By choosing the right lighting setup, you can enhance the room's warmth and comfort.

We suggest going for warm, white bulbs rather than bright white – harsh lighting won't help your guests wind down. Some lamps are touch responsive, meaning your guests won’t have to reach around to switch off a plug or a switch.

Consider introducing tech to the space in the form of smart lights. Using a smart lighting system (the Philips Hue range is popular) means you or your guests can control the lights through a smartphone app or with voice commands. Many smart lights can also be configured to gradually turn on in the morning so your guests don't wake up abruptly.

Our guide on how to set up a smart home has more tips on streamlining everyday routines

Our expert says:

'I've added Philips Hue bulbs to my smart home setup and love how I can tailor the lights in every room. On my phone, I just drag my finger across the screen to adjust the brightness. You can also use the Automations button in the app to create your own "Wake up" profile.

'I've set the lights to cold white in the day and they automatically turn warmer in the evening – perfect for when I'm getting ready for bed.'

Alison Potter, Which? product testing editor

Which? Best Buy products to clean your spare room

• Vacuum cleaners – you can blast away dirt and dust effortlessly with one of our top-rated vacs. In our lab, we rate vacuum cleaners on how well they clean carpets, laminate and floorboards. See our guide to the best vacuum cleaners.
• Carpet cleaners – an effective carpet cleaner will give your floor a new lease of life. Our experts have tested a selection of options from big-name brands including Bissell, Numatic and Rug Doctor. See our guide to the best carpet cleaners.
• All-purpose cleaning sprays – pick well and you can tackle multiple chores with one spray. Find out which sprays score well for cleaning performance and sustainability with our guide: Best all-purpose cleaning sprays.