Spruce up the spare room for festive guests
SPARE ROOM LOOKING MORE GROTTY THAN GROTTO? GABRIELLE FAGAN REVEALS HOW TO FAST-TRACK YOUR WAY TO A SEASONAL UPDATE
WHILE the rest of the house may be decked out to festive perfection, all too often, spare bedrooms are a bit of a – to put it politely – decor disaster. But take heart: you still have time to ‘Save The Spare’ and banish its dingy decor and oodles of clutter, so you can welcome visitors to their own sparkling seasonal sanctuary.
Transforming this room, with a little effort and a dash of creative flair, will pay dividends. A smart space, where guests can retreat in comfort, is especially helpful during the Christmas holidays, when everyone crammed in together can send tension levels soaring.
Not only that, but you might fall in love with the room and end up using it more throughout the year - an added bonus. Fast-track your way to a smart spare with our three easy-tocreate and affordable looks...
RUSTLE UP A RUSTIC VIBE
CREATING chic country style requires just a lick or two of paint and swags of foliage – faux or real. The appeal of this look lies in its charming simplicity, so opt for a calm, neutral colour scheme in shades of grey, chalky whites or taupe. Updating the wall behind the bed or chimney breast could be all that’s needed. Dulux has a suitably moody grey shade, Warm Pewter Matt Emulsion (£18 for 2.5L), or keep it fresh with their sparkling Pure Brilliant White Silk Emulsion (£17 for 5L).
Keep to the same muted palette for bed linen. The White Company’s Kingston Ben Linen range, in a subtle white or soft grey check, comes in a soft cotton, brushed to create a cosy flannel effect. It starts at £10 for a pillow case and £65 for a duvet cover.
A few more woodland details – a vase of branches, sprayed white or silver, and a basket of pine cones – will add to the atmosphere.
CHANNEL HOTEL CHIC
SPOIL your guests with a luxe look
inspired by boutique hotels. With just a touch of glam, they’ll really feel they have their own private sanctuary (room service optional!).
Colour is key for this theme. Soft champagne, golden hues and pale blush pinks are a fabulous contemporary option for walls and bed linen.
Boost the ‘wow’ factor with an upholstered headboard or on-trend brass and copper accessories and layer up with faux fur or velvet throws and cushions.
As a final flourish, add a hotel-style basket of ‘essentials’ – toothbrushes, mini toiletries and a phone charger – to make visitors feel really cared for.
GO FULL-ON FESTIVE
SPREAD festive joy with Christmasthemed
decor in your spare room.
Take it traditional with a jolly red and green colour scheme in seasonaldesign bed linen, and embellish decorative details, such as a wreath or table-top tree.
Top it off with some fairy lights strung around the bedhead or a mirror.
Don’t just let them dream of a white Christmas, guarantee it by decorating a window with Snowflake Window Stickers, part of a festive range from Purlfrost (from £8.47 for a small 30x30cm sticker).
A festive scented candle or fragrance diffuser is a lovely last detail.
Favourite scents for this time of year radiate comfort and warmth, so choose from musky evergreens, warm cedar wood or the festive spice of cinnamon.