20 Small Guest Room Ideas That Are Larger Than Life

Bed in a white room near a window. — Courtesy of Fantastic Frank

Raise your hand if you've ever turned your guest bedroom into storage space or a home gym you never ended up using. Spare bedrooms can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, an extra bedroom presents an opportunity to host friends and family when they're visiting. On the other hand, it also means having an extra room to decorate. But it is possible to make a small guest room feel finished, even when it's a tiny space.

Sometimes, you only need a few essentials to make people feel at home. Think of adequate lighting, a mirror, fresh bedding, and a little storage space. In addition to covering the essentials, we've also rounded up our most stylish tips to make your guest room worthy of a five-star review.

Read on for our favorite small guest room ideas.

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Pay Attention to the Nightstand

Small Guest Room Ideas: A simple nightstand with lighting and a catch all for keys etc. — Courtesy of Tali Roth

No matter how big or small, make sure the guest bedroom nightstand has the essentials: a source of light like a reading lamp and a catchall to throw jewelry or keys.

Add extra touches to the nightstand like a water carafe, a book, or a scented candle, but the essentials (such as a light) have to be there too.

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Keep It Cozy

Guest Room Décor Ideas: Include essentials like a mirror and rug — Courtesy of Jeremiah Brent

Look around the room for those extra touches that'll make the space extra comfortable: a soft rug to put your feet down on in the morning and a mirror to get your hair under control before heading out for breakfast. A full-length mirror is ideal, but at the very least, a smaller wall-hung mirror will make your guests feel at ease before they venture out of the room.

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Give Them Storage Space

Small Guest Room Decorating Ideas: Ample storage space in a streamlined guest room — Courtesy of Charlie Ferrer

Storage space is always appreciated when you're staying at someone's house, so try to empty the closets and drawer dressers, or add a folding luggage rack to make it easier for guests to unpack. A tray filled with essentials like toothpaste and snacks is also a nice touch that's simple but always appreciated. Furthermore, an extra-long bedside table with dressers functions both as a desk and storage space.

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Play Double Duty

Small Guest Room Décor Ideas: A room doubles as extra closet space and the guest room — Courtesy of Jeremiah Brent

Often, our guest rooms play double-duty, so don't be afraid to make your space multipurpose by adding shoe storage or a desk. A daybed doubles perfectly as a single bed if you don't have a ton of space.

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Add the Finishing Touches

Guest Room Ideas: A room with fresh bedding and a plant in the corner of the room — Courtesy of Space Exploration

Add finishing touches that'll give your guests a positive experience: Quality, fresh bedding, and a toiletry kit go a long way towards making guests comfortable, for example.

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Get Fresh Blooms

Pick up fresh flowers and arrange them in a vase to place on the nightstand as a thoughtful welcome gesture. Bonus: They'll add a pop of color and a fragrant scent to the space.

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Choose a Chic Wastebasket

Don't forget a wastebasket for guests to toss their old baggage stickers, ticket stubs, crumpled up snack wrappers, and other items they've collected over the course of their travels.

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Choose Window Treatments Thoughtfully

Small Bedroom Furniture — Courtesy of Fantastic Frank

Ensure that your window treatments reflect the needs of the room. Blackout curtains layered over light-filtering shades will ensure privacy and darkness for your guests, but will also allow light in when you need it.

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Make a Statement

Pink bedroom with large patterned rug — SARAH SHERMAN SAMUEL

Looking to go that extra mile when decorating your guest bedroom? Don't be afraid to make a statement. For example, opt for a bold headboard, funky wall art (try a gallery wall, with tips from design guru Emily Henderson), and built-in lighting for a unique aesthetic that will ensure your guests have an unforgettable stay.

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Hook It Up

Another genius idea: Door hooks on the back of the doors, which will come in handy for towels and coats. Choose from over-the-door hooks or wall-mounted versions.

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Get Creative With Your Headboard

Small bedroom lighting ideas — Tessa Neustadt; DESIGN: Brady Tolbert for Emily Henderson

If you're short on space, skip the nightstands and let your headboard do double-duty. This green velvet headboard features trays on each side for reading material, a pair of glasses, or other bedtime essentials. Mount lighting on the wall instead of using a table lamp.

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Layer Rugs

Boho Small Bedroom — Sarah Sherman Samuel

Instead of opting for just one area rug, layer rugs. Add sheepskin rugs on each side of the bed to up the cozy factor in small bedrooms. It'll feel good on guests' feet, as well as warm up the space.

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Consider a Daybed

Instead of trying to cram a queen bed into a small room, get a daybed. When guests aren't staying over, you can have an extra living space to hang in, and it's still comfortable enough to accommodate guests staying a few nights. Add plenty of plush throw pillows to make it feel even cozier.

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Try a Pendant Light

Blue bedroom with hanging, exposed light bulb — Fantastic Frank

If you don't have room for a proper nightstand, you may not be sure how to add lighting to the space. Enter a pendant light. Not only does it add light without taking up space, but it also dresses up the room and adds character.

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Be Minimialistic

Small bedroom decorating mistakes to avoid — Sara Tramp; DESIGN: Emily Henderson

A small guest room is not the place to overdecorate. Keep your décor simple and purposeful to avoid clutter. A small table lamp, a bud vase, and a piece of art are all you need to elevate your room and give it personality.

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Get a Mirror

Leaning Mirror — Becky Kimbal; Design: Studio McGee

If you have a small room without a ton of natural light, pull out the oldest trick in the book: mirrors. Hanging a large mirror can open up the room and make it feel a bit larger. Bonus: It'll give guests the perfect place to get ready in the morning.

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Make It a Jewelbox

This bedroom is tiny, but it's packed full of charm. From the exposed brick wall, to the bold curtains, to the patterned pillows, and colorful artwork—this bedroom proves that bright, fun, and bold décor goes a long way in a tiny space.

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Get Under-Bed Storage

Small bedroom storage ideas — Sara Tramp; Deign: Emily Henderson

When you're lacking storage, every free space becomes even more important. Consider getting some under-bed storage to keep guest essentials (extra towels, toiletries, spare linens, etc.). You can also offer storage to them if there's no closet or drawer space for their belongings.

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Get a Clothing Rack

clothes rack — Tessa Neustadt; Design: Sara Tramp for Emily Henderson

No closet? No problem. A clothing rack can give your guests the space they need to hang their clothes while staying with you, and it adds a fun design element to the room, as well.

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Mount a Desk

A small shelf or wall-mounted desk is the perfect solution for guests who may need to do a little work while staying with you. You can store the chair in a closet out of the way when it's not in use to free up space.