You have
decorated your bedroom, the
bathroom, and the
deck, and the next project that I would like to recommend
is the guest room. If you are using this room as a store room,
then there is all the more reason to do something about it,
according to Paige Hemmis of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home
Edition" and author of "The Tuff Chix Guide to Easy Home
Improvement." Here are some tips on how to make your guest
room ready to receive guests:
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 Create
storage with multifunctional furniture. A chest or trunk
doubles as storage space and a nightstand, which is a great
way to stylishly disguise linens or extra pillows.
Use room
dividers to conceal boxes and equipment.
Room dividers come in many colors and styles to
match any room theme. They can quickly conceal
exercise equipment, storage boxes and anything else
that needs hiding.
Clean out the
guest room closet. Donate clothing and coats and sell items
such as rollerblades, sports equipment, and board games on
eBay for extra cash. (Related:
How to organize your closets)
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Utilize
wall space with cubbies and shelves. This is a quick and
simple solution to store books, CDs, DVDs, etc. It's also
added space for personal touches like small plants and
candles.
Opt for a
sofa bed or
futon to increase floor space. Does the guest room double
as a
home office? Ditch the full or queen bed for a
space-saving sofa bed or futon. (Related:
Use Feng
Shui for decoration)
Shoe
racks are great for
shoes too! Door-hanging shoe racks
are ideal for storing accessories such as belts,
ties,
jewelry, and
socks. Attach it to the back of a guest
room door for added small item storage. Try this in the
bath too for easy to reach sundries.
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Prepare
clean linens and
comforter. Wash all spare
sheets and towels and store
them somewhere handy, such as the trunk/nightstand.
Avoid searching for matching sheets and towels at the
last minute. Provide a hamper for guests to dispose of
used linens.
Check
batteries for remotes, smoke alarms and check light
bulbs. Replacing batteries in smoke alarms is something
that should be done regularly to keep the entire
household safe. Walk through the room to ensure that the
TV remote control works, the clock is correct, and the
light bulbs are fresh. This is not only considerate; but
it keeps guests from searching in messy closets and
cupboards during the night.
Increase
under the bed storage with bed lifters. These remarkable items
actually lift the bed up several inches to create great
storage
space. Use canvas storage totes or organizers to make
the most of the area. Great for linens, electronics, air
mattresses, overnight bags and anything else that lies flat.
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Install
over the door hooks for hanging clothes. These are very
inexpensive and great for hanging robes, towels or jackets.
Door hooks come in many sizes and are available at home
improvement, discount, and bed and bath stores.
(Related:
How
to declutter)
Purchase a
soft-sided wardrobe closet to store bulky items. Portable
wardrobe closets are ideal for larger items such as ski
clothes, winter coats, and
costumes. Some include cedar inserts to help protect
garments. Place in basement or garage for convenient extra
storage all year long. These are affordably priced and
available at discount and specialty stores.
Give guests
the four-star treatment. Make visitors feel special by filling
the guest bathroom with travel size sundries collected from
previous travels. Place in a basket with cotton swabs and
potpourri. If you are expecting children, how about some
Spiderman
decorations?
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