Create an Inviting Guest Suite

By Shandra Hill Smith.

Summer is here and, for many, that means more time with family and friends. Before you welcome those overnight house guests, you’ll want to consider a few ideas to help you create an inviting guest suite. After you clear the clutter from your spare room, look for ways to refresh the space starting with painting the walls and possibly ceiling, too. “I always like to start with the biggest decisions first like a soothing wall color and the bigger pieces of furniture like the bed and surrounding furniture,” says Rachel Greathouse of Rachel Greathouse Design (www.rachelgreathousedesign.com). Greathouse considers the bed to be “the anchor of the guest bedroom that can set the stage for the feel of the room.” As such, she recommends adding an upholstered headboard then layering the room “with pieces that work to make the room beautiful and functional.” “You want your guests to feel like they are on vacation and really enjoy their space,” says Greathouse. “It's really nice to have a cozy bed and quality sheets, nightstands with good lighting for reading and a chair or bench where they can sit or set their belongings.” Accent with small touches “Touches of art and flowers or lovely photographs also give it that special feel,” Greathouse says. “Add some texture with art or a fuzzy throw blanket and pillows. Your guests will love to come and visit.” Balance your taste with guest comfort Greathouse believes your space should reflect your personality, while also keeping in mind functionality for guests. “Is the bed comfortable? How about the pillows? Do they have enough light to read and a place to sit and set their things?  It should be clutter-free and feel relaxing and cozy,” she continues. “If you go through the process of making the bigger purchases and then lightly layering with functional and beautiful items, your guest room will come out a winner.” Shandra Hill Smith is a freelance writer in Atlanta. Photography by Doug Smith Photography, www.dougsmithphotos.com

Project Details and Resources Applying a casual approach to design, Rachel Greathouse (www.rachelgreathousedesign.com) believes in using pops of color, repurposing unique pieces and mixing old and new to create and enhance character. Her services include on-site consultation, staging, paint selection, project management of new or existing projects and more. For the guest bedroom makeover featured here, Greathouse pulled from the resources listed below to combine elements she believes work “nicely together for a soft, comfortable feel with clean lines and some fun pops of art.” Beautyrest, www.beautyrest.com Beautyrest Recharge World Class Alexandria Plush mattress with foundation Hayneedle.com, www.hayneedle.com Arch Nail Head Linen Upholstered Headboard, gray linen; Townhouse Black Media Chest; Townhouse Black 2-Drawer Nightstand Lamps Plus, www.lampsplus.com   Cosmo 32” Round Silver Wall Mirror; Reed and Barton Faux Croc 5” X 7” Blue Picture Frame; Stallion Value Giclee Indoor/Outdoor 40" Square Wall Art; Long Neck Bottle Mercury Glass Table Lamp CertaPro Painters, www.certapro.com (owner Bill Sharp) Kohl’s, www.kohls.com Linon Jackson Accent Chair Bed Bath & Beyond, www.bedbathandbeyond.com smoothweave™ Queen Bed Skirt Insola™ Odyssey Insulating 84" Window Panel Wamsutta® 400 Thread Count Queen Sheet Set Bed Boots, www.bedboots.us Cottage White Bed Boots Sherwin Williams, www.sherwin-williams.com Amazing Gray paint color, SW 7044 Greenland Home Fashions, www.greenlandhomefashions.com Ruffled Quilt (white), San Marino collection Jiti Designs, jitidesigns.us Jiti Moroccan Blue 21 X 7 Neckroll Outdoor Pillow Lowe’s, www.lowes.com Style Selections White Wood Curtain Rod Set Sylvania 2-Pack 60W Spiral Base CFL Bulbs 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, www.1-800-FLOWERS.COM Daisy Garden Haier America, www.haieramerica.com LCD HDTV West Elm, www.westelm.com Chunky Tassel Throw, Stone White Rachel Greathouse Design, www.rachelgreathousedesign.com 404-310-6205