From Spare Room to Seasonal Sanctuary + Holiday Shopping Guide
- Joan Greene
- Nov 10
- 7 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
I can remember bouncing on my great-grandmother’s feather bed. I grew up in the country and holidays there live in my memories - the scent of a fresh cut cedar tree, my MaAnnie’s (Grandmother Greene’s) tea cakes, and stockings hanging at the ends of a real wood fireplace. I can see my mother standing on the hearth of the fireplace, her back to the fire, her hands clasped behind her back to feel the warmth. I cannot go back there - those sweet people are gone and try as I might I have never been able to duplicate Miss Annie’s tea cakes. Over the years I decorate less but find myself wanting to give more, create a space for friends to exhale from their busy lives. A free ACTIONABLE DIY guide is at the end, too, so don't miss it.
I have two bedrooms upstairs that I love to prepare for guests. Most of the time those rooms sit quietly waiting. So, as the holiday approaches, I am thinking about what all the prep is about. And why it feels so good to make a bed with crisp new linens or light a string of vintage bubble lights in anticipation of the company to come.
There’s something special about preparing a room for holiday guests. It’s more than fluffing pillows or finding clean linens — it’s the quiet joy of making space for the people we cherish. During the holidays, the guest room becomes more than just a room. It becomes a landing place. A soft place to rest. A pause from the bustle.
And transforming that spare room into a seasonal sanctuary doesn’t require elaborate décor or over-the-top holiday styling. In fact, the most welcoming spaces are often the simplest — layered with warmth, comfort, and a touch of thoughtful intention.
Here’s how to create a guest room that feels memorable, nurturing, and effortlessly festive this season.
1. Begin with a Clear, Calm Canvas
Guest rooms have a way of becoming storage catch-alls. Clearing out the visual noise is the first and most powerful step in creating a sanctuary.
Make space in the closet for your guest(s) clothing.
Wipe down surfaces. Open the curtains. Let the room breathe.
When a guest walks into a space that feels open and prepared just for them, they feel welcomed before you even say a word.
2. Layer the Bed for Cozy Winter Comfort
Comfort is the true luxury of hosting — and the bed is the heart of that experience.
Start with crisp cotton or soft flannel sheets
Add a plush duvet or quilt
Layer a throw blanket at the foot of the bed
Mix textures — soft velvet, cotton, faux fur, linen, or chunky knit
Choose a winter palette that feels warm and intentional: Cream, evergreen, cranberry, cocoa, or muted gold.
This is where your designer’s eye shines. You’re not decorating — you’re inviting rest.
3. Let Lighting Set the Tone
Lighting transforms mood instantly.
Swap bright daylight bulbs for warm white (2700K). Add a bedside lamp or sconce so your guest never has to rely on overhead glare. Consider:
A small strand of fairy lights around the headboard
A low nightlight to help guests navigate after dark
Soft, layered lighting creates a feeling of warmth and welcome — the glow of being cared for.
4. Add Seasonal Touches That Whisper, Not Shout
Think natural winter beauty. In my case, I love adding antique and vintage finds that, due to age, have a muted and loved feeling. Consider:
A small cedar or eucalyptus — a wreath or branches or bush in a beautiful basket.
A vase of magnolia leaves, berries, or evergreen branches
A few carefully curated holiday accent pieces. Or just one special one.
The magic is in restraint — calm, layered spaces allow guests to exhale. One of my secrets to interior design is to know when to stop — what to leave out is as important as knowing what to add.
5. Thoughtful Details That Make Guests Feel Seen
This is where hospitality becomes love in the details.
Create a small welcome tray or bedside station with:
Bottled water or a carafe of spring water
Tissues and hand lotion
A phone charger (people always forget these!)
Small conveniences are often the most meaningful comforts. Is there a plug near the bed, perhaps a luggage rack in the closet.
A handwritten card with your Wi-Fi password (One of my favorite memories of visiting a special lodge is that each time I went, there was a handwritten note welcoming me back and remembering that I was there before.) It is the little things that often make the biggest difference.
A small, simple hand wrapped gift on their pillow. A book that you think they will love, a journal, a box of chocolate . . .
Place a soft throw on a chair or at the end of the bed. Add a few books or magazines your guest might enjoy. Think of how a boutique inn makes you feel — cared for, without fuss.
As you leave the room consider hanging a wreath on the door.
As you speed through the days until your guests arrive, what matters is that your thoughtful preparations say, “I’m glad you are here. I hope you can rest in this space and in our friendship.”
Hoping even in the whirlwind that is the holidays that you, too, will be able to exhale and enjoy calm time with your friends and family. From taking a walk to sharing time at the breakfast table just sipping your coffee or tea and luxuriating in the present.
Creating a welcoming home doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
If you’d like help transforming your guest room — or any space — into something beautiful and intentional, I offer virtual and in-person design consultations.
Set the Stage for the Coziest Holiday Yet with the Shopping Guide below
It's simply impossible to read these words and not be transported back to the hope-filled anticipation of Christmas Eve in childhood. These framed prints are perfect to add that touch of nostalgia instantly.
Wrap yourself & your friends and family in this luxuriously soft blanket. Perfect to fluff up the end of the bed or at the end of the couch. Multiple colors, compassionate faux fur & reversible. It may just be the perfect blanket.
Your door isn't complete until it's adorned with a bit of pine! This traditional, realistically elegant, understated and simple Norfolk pine wreath will welcome guests to a wonderfully joyous holiday.
All that sparkles! Maybe traditional isn't what you're going for? This olive and eucalyptus wreath makes a stunning and fun statement for your front door!
Touches of pine throughout your home create the perfect holiday coziness! But shedding needles? Not exactly the festive look you're going for. These faux Norfolk pine sprigs pop easily into any vase, mantle-top or windowsill for instant holiday beauty.
Cozy, comforting and the easiest way to wrap your home in softness and warmth. This is easily one of my favorite throws to curl up with on cold winter nights and a great book.
There's something unspoken and timeless about the simplicity of snow on pine trees. The promise of the briskness of winter from the comfortable coziness of your home is wonderful. This framed watercolor captures all of that and will easily transform any room into a winter wonderland.
I adore this vintage-styled framed print! These kinds of understated artworks can be added to any room easily and add a nice worldly charm.
Art that tells a story can create instant ambiance to any room, and this framed print easily does that. The chill of a cold winter night stroll, the glow of the windows of home beckoning; promising safety, warmth and comfort. The perfect image to welcome guests.
Another lovely, simple framed print that would make an absolutely stunning gallery-wall with the other tree prints! Simple, festive and ready to hang.
Perfect for above a sofa or fireplace, this crisp, cool print adds quiet elegance and charm to any decor and style. Whether your style is modern, minimalistic, or eclectic, the beauty of nature never goes out of style.
Plunging temps are no worry with this rustic and charming Eddie Bauer comforter set. Muted and classic, it will make a big impact in the bedroom or guest room. Stylish, high-quality and the perfect color scheme for holiday vibes
If you're like me, beds are the ultimate storage containers. All that ample room just waiting to be filled with low-rise totes of "stuff" that you don't need right now, but maybe another season, or whatever. This exquisite tailored dust ruffle is the perfect way to beautifully tuck away the unsightly while creating a posh and luxe look.
I love the sleek, retro color and look of this carafe and tumbler set. It's cool color makes it perfect for fresh, crisp water and can easily meld into any decor style. Adding this to the nightstand in a guest room says, "Yes, I've thought of everything."
Classic, luxe and stunning. This crystal-cut carafe says sophistication and style. Water, whiskey, egg nog. Anything you want to imbibe will look fantastic in this set.
Sometimes all you need is a nice, cute pillow to add that Christmas flair to a room and these pillow shams do just that. Sort of vintage, sort of traditional, definitely cozy.
If you're looking for the inserts for the shams, here you go!
Get started on your guest room update today with my free DIY Guide!
All of the above products have been used by me and/or my clients and are highly recommended for quality, affordability, durability and style. Please note, any purchase(s) you make from the links above may garner a small 3% affiliate payment for me, at no extra cost to you!
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