If your spare room has become a dumping ground for suitcases, off-season clothes, and that exercise bike nobody uses — you're not alone. And when guests are on their way, the thought of transforming it into something welcoming can feel like one more thing on an already full plate.
Quick Answer: To prepare a guest room, start by cleaning the space from top to bottom, then focus on fresh bedding, storage space for belongings, comfortable temperature and lighting, bathroom essentials, and a few thoughtful touches like water, snacks, and a phone charger. You don't need a hotel-grade setup — a clean, comfortable, and considerate room is all your guests really want.
Clean the Room from Top to Bottom
A spare room that's been shut up for weeks (or months) collects more dust than you'd expect. Before anything else, give the space a proper clean — working from ceiling to floor so gravity does the heavy lifting.
Start high — sweep cobwebs from corners, wipe ceiling fan blades, and dust light fixtures
Work through the middle — wipe furniture surfaces, bed frames, bedside tables, window sills, and skirting boards
Finish low — vacuum or sweep the floor, then mop if the surface allows
Pay special attention to areas behind furniture and underneath the bed. According to ASCIA (the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy), the bedroom is the most important room to tackle for allergen reduction — and with 1 in 5 Australians affected by allergies, it's worth the extra effort for your guests' comfort.
Tip: Open the windows for at least 30 minutes while you clean. Fresh air makes a noticeable difference in a room that's been closed up.
Refresh the Bedding
Fresh sheets are the single most important thing you can do for a guest room. Nothing says "welcome" quite like climbing into a bed that smells clean and feels crisp.
The National Asthma Council Australia recommends washing all bedding in water hotter than 55°C — a standard 60°C machine cycle does the job — to kill dust mites and remove the allergens they produce. This is especially worth doing for guest bedding that may have been sitting in a linen cupboard for a while.
Beyond the wash, think about what goes on the bed:
Sheets — opt for breathable cotton or cotton-blend in a neutral colour
Pillows — provide at least two per guest, ideally one firm and one soft. If they haven't been washed recently, now's the time.
Extra blankets — leave a folded throw at the foot of the bed so guests can adjust warmth without having to ask
Curtains or blinds — wash or vacuum these too. Dusty curtains can trigger sneezing in sensitive guests.
For colour choices, the Sleep Foundation's research suggests that soft blues, greens, and warm neutrals promote better sleep quality — a good guide when choosing bedding and soft furnishings for the room.
Make Room for Their Belongings
Even a shelf or two shows genuine thoughtfulness. Guests shouldn't have to live out of their suitcase for the duration of their stay.
Clear a section of the wardrobe and hang a few empty hangers
Free up a drawer or shelf for folded clothes and personal items
Leave floor space near the door for shoes, bags, and jackets
Consider a luggage rack or bench where guests can rest their bag — it saves them bending over a suitcase on the floor
The goal is to give your guests permission to settle in. When there's nowhere to put things, people feel like they're imposing — and end up piling everything on the bed or chair, which only makes them feel awkward.
Set the Temperature, Lighting, and Comfort
These details are easy to overlook, but they're what separate a good guest room from a genuinely comfortable one.
Temperature
The Sleep Foundation notes that the ideal sleeping temperature is approximately 18.3°C. In Australian summers, a fan or portable air conditioner makes a real difference. In winter, an extra blanket and a small heater go a long way. Make sure your guests know how to adjust the temperature themselves.
Lighting
Bedside lamp — essential. Make sure the switch is easy to reach from the bed.
Overhead light — check that the bulb works (easily forgotten in a spare room)
Blackout curtains or a sleep mask — especially helpful if the room gets early morning light
Power
Leave a power board or extension cord near the bed with a phone charger. It's a small gesture that guests genuinely appreciate — nobody wants to crawl behind furniture to find a power point in an unfamiliar room.
Prepare the Guest Bathroom
If your guests will be using a shared bathroom, a quick spruce-up goes a long way:
Clean the basin, toilet, shower, and mirror — the basics matter most
Set out fresh towels — one bath towel, one hand towel, and a face washer per guest. Roll or fold them neatly.
Stock essentials — toilet paper (with a spare roll visible), hand soap, and a small bin
Add a few toiletries — travel-size shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a spare toothbrush. These are the things guests forget and feel awkward asking for.
If you have a dedicated guest bathroom, give it a thorough clean beforehand, just as you would the bedroom.
Stock Up on Essentials
Your guests may not feel comfortable wandering into the kitchen at midnight for a glass of water. Save them the awkwardness by placing a few things in the room:
Water — a glass carafe or bottle with a glass on the bedside table
Snacks — a small bowl of nuts, fruit, or biscuits on the dresser
WiFi password — written clearly on a small card or note (guests will thank you)
A book or magazine — something light for bedtime reading
Tissues — a box on the bedside table
These small provisions make the room feel considered and comfortable — and they stop your guests from having to interrupt you every time they need something.
Add Thoughtful Final Touches
This is where your guest room goes from functional to genuinely welcoming.
Fresh Flowers or Fragrance
A small vase of fresh flowers adds colour and warmth to any room. Research published in Frontiers in Psychology found that the presence of indoor flowers can reduce stress and boost mood — a nice benefit for a guest who may have just endured a long drive or flight.
⚠️ Safety note: If your guests have allergies or asthma, choose carefully. Asthma Australia advises that plants with large, showy flowers — like roses, tulips, and orchids — are less likely to trigger symptoms than those with small, clustered blooms like daisies or jasmine. When in doubt, a scented candle, diffuser, or a sprig of dried eucalyptus is a safer alternative. Always ask your guests about sensitivities beforehand.
A Personal Touch
A short handwritten note — even just "Welcome, make yourself at home!" — goes further than you'd think. If your guests are visiting from out of town, leave a few local restaurant or café recommendations. These touches take two minutes but make the stay feel personal.
As former Vogue Living editor Neale Whitaker writes: "Every guest room needs wow factor, even if it's just one or two significant details." You don't need a complete overhaul. A clean room, fresh sheets, and a few thoughtful gestures are more than enough to make your visitors feel genuinely welcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How far in advance should I prepare a guest room?
Start about a week before your guests arrive. Wash bedding and towels mid-week, do a deep clean 2–3 days out, and add finishing touches (snacks, water, flowers) the day before. If you're short on time, even 30 minutes of focused cleaning on the day makes a noticeable difference.
Q: What should I put in a guest room to make guests feel welcome?
Focus on the essentials first: clean sheets, fresh towels, a bedside lamp, water, and a phone charger. From there, extras like snacks, toiletries, a WiFi password card, and a small vase of flowers take the room from functional to genuinely thoughtful.
Q: How do I prepare a guest room that doubles as a storage room?
Start by removing everything that doesn't belong. Decluttering the space is the fastest way to make it feel fresh again. Clear surfaces, empty the wardrobe, and open up the floor. Then clean from top to bottom before making the bed and adding essentials.
Q: What temperature should a guest room be for sleeping?
The Sleep Foundation recommends a sleeping temperature of approximately 18.3°C. In Australian summers, a fan or air conditioner is essential. In winter, provide extra blankets or a small heater. Let your guests know how to adjust the temperature themselves.
Q: Should I put flowers in a guest room if someone has allergies?
Choose carefully. Roses, tulips, and orchids are generally safe for allergy sufferers because their pollen is carried by insects rather than wind. Avoid daisies, jasmine, and heavily scented blooms. If in doubt, skip the flowers entirely and use a diffuser or dried native arrangement instead.
