A Warm Welcome in the Guest Bedroom

As with most homes our guest bedroom is probably going to be the last room to be decorated. It’s not that we don’t love our guests. It’s just that there is so much else to be done first, and we do have to prioritise. Having said that, there is no excuse for filling the room with junk and neglecting it so much that it looks and feels uninviting.

With that in mind, I set to work at the weekend to try and inject some warmth, with some things from around the house and some beautiful new bedlinen from the Croft Collection at John Lewis. The collection is an unfussy, classic range with neutral colours and tactile materials that can be mixed with different styles from different eras to come together for a timeless, relaxed look. Just the job then for injecting some freshness into my assorted collection of bits and bobs.

The makeshift bedside table is an old basket and suitcase that belonged to my parents. The embroidery is one of my own (don’t ask, an old hobby I used to have time for) and the lamp and plant are borrowed from other rooms. When guests come I’ll swap the plant for some fresh flowers and add some bottled water. I also like to leave some books in case they want to browse before sleep.

I couldn’t be happier with the bedspread and pillows. The beige stripe injects some subtle pattern into the room and is perfect with crisp, ironed white sheets. The texture is soft and linen-like with a faintly crinkled look and they all have a plain reverse side.

I might even move in myself.