How to Create a Cozy Guest Room or Make Your Guests Comfortable When You Don't Have One

By Elana Goodwin on December 29, 2016

This article is brought to you by CORT Furniture Rental. We take the hassle out of furnishing your new place so you can do more important things like read this article. Learn more about why furniture rental is the best way to get a great looking apartment.

As a student in college, you’re bound to have friends and family members coming to visit you, and perhaps wanting to bunk with you overnight during their stay. In order to make your guests feel more welcome and comfortable, consider setting up a guest room in your apartment or house so you’ll always be ready to have people come for a visit.

If your apartment or house doesn’t have the space to set up a designated guest room — which is very likely — there are still lots you can do to prepare for guests and make them feel at home.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Here are some tips on how to set up a cozy guest room or how to otherwise make your guests feel comfortable if you don’t have an actual guest room for them to stay in.

If you have an extra room to make into a guest room, here are some tips.

1. Set It Up Right. Put a nice bed set in there, as well as towels, and some travel-sized bathroom toiletries, too. Make sure there are hangers in the closet and somewhere to put other stuff your guests might come with. Having one or two chairs in the room is also a good idea as your guests can then sit somewhere other than the bed when they’re in the room and can also put clothing or other items on the chairs if they choose.

2. Make It Nice. Consider hanging a nice photo or canvas in your guest room or putting fresh flowers in there before your guests arrive. You can also put some non-textbook books in the room or some magazines for your guests to read and enjoy while they’re there. If you want to go the extra mile, think about leaving a chocolate or mint on their pillows hotel-style.

3. Check Before Your Guests Arrive. Before your guests come, do a walk through of your guest room and check to see that the light bulbs are working, that there are enough towels, that the bed is made nicely, and that the room has been cleaned recently and no dust has accumulated.

If you don’t have a designated guest room – which not many college students are really able to do since they might live with roommates and not have the extra space or only have a one bedroom place — there are still plenty of ways you can prepare to have guests and make them feel comfortable in your home.

1. Figure Out A Bed. If you think you’ll have visitors frequently, consider buying or renting a futon or couch that has a pullout bed for your living room so it more easily converts into a guest room and is nicer than just having an air mattress or sleeping bag. At the very least, you should be able to offer your guests an air mattress, and if you won’t be able to do so, tell them ahead of time as they may then opt to stay in a nearby hotel or if they’re driving, bring their own to sleep on.

2. Clean Up. If your guests are staying in the communal living room, make sure the room is clean and talk to your roommate about trying not to really use that room while your guests are staying there in order to provide them with some privacy and make them feel like they won’t have people traipsing through and moving their stuff. Vacuum and dust where your guests will be staying and move any items that don’t need to be lying out or taking up space while your guests are there.

3. Keep Extras. If you don’t have a “real” guest room, make sure you keep certain extra items in your apartment or house. Things like pillows, blankets, towels, toiletries, etc. are items you’ll want to be able to offer your guests, especially if you’re not able to have them stay in their own room. You can even create a little welcome basket that includes toiletries for them to use, magazines, a map of the campus, some snacks.

Whether you have a guest room or you don’t, you also want to provide your guests with an info sheet containing important stuff for them to know. Both you and your roommate’s phone numbers, the Wi-Fi password, how to work the TV if you have one, what items they may be allowed to eat from the fridge if they can’t just help themselves to anything, and both of your class schedules if necessary so your guests will know when you will be back.

If your guests are planning to venture out without you, either give them a key or tell them how to get back into your home; if you don’t have an extra key, try to coordinate with your roommate or guests so no one is left without access. Information about or brochures for local attractions, your college campus, and nearby restaurants would probably also be appreciated

Above all, when you have guests, even if you’re unable to offer them their own private guest room, it’s important you make them feel welcome and comfortable — and following these tips should help you do that.

Looking for an easy way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Renting furniture from CORT saves you time and money. See how easy it is to get great looking furniture without breaking the bank.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format