Page 5 - What Women Want Three Rivers May 2015

Sunday, May 3, 2015 • An Advertising Supplement to the Three Rivers Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette • What Women Want • 5SS
How to create a cozy
GUEST ROOM
BY JENNIFER ELLIS SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
When family and friends come to visit, it’s great to have a place for them to retreat. Having a well-appointed guest room with the amenities you would like to have, or sometimes forget when traveling, ensures that guests will be comfortable during their stay and encourages them to visit again. Outfitting a guest room from scratch the week before a visit from a favorite aunt can be a daunting task, so consider updating a guest room throughout the year, even when nobody is expected.
The essential guest bed is a good place to start. Rather than leav- ing guests to an old saggy mattress replaced in the master bedroom because of a few too many restless nights, choose a reasonably priced bed that isn’t too firm or too soft. You’re looking for that “just right” level of comfort.
“There’s usually a middle of the line between a pillow top, which is re- ally, really soft, and a firm [mattress],” said Nancy Hatfield, co-owner of Sow- ell’s Furniture in Searcy and an allied member of the American Society of Interior Design. “We call it a plush; it’s soft, but it’s not big. So many mattress- es with a pillow top are big and bulky.”
Hatfield advises spending money wisely when it comes to choosing a bed for a guest room.
“I don’t think you have to get the best for a guest room because it’s not going to be used every night, especially by the same people,” Hatfield said.
There are a variety of options when it comes to mattress size. A queen-size bed is typically chosen because it is a cozy fit for two. However, it’s important to consider whom your guests might be. Not all of your guests will necessar- ily be couples who care to share a bed. If your guests are more often children or people who don’t necessarily know each other well, twin beds might be a better option.
When Hatfield recently redeco- rated her guest room, she said, she choose twin beds to accommodate her grandchildren and visiting mis- sionaries.
“I think it’s more versatile because sometimes your guests might prefer their own bed,” she said.
Trundle beds are another excellent choice for a guest room, Hatfield said, especially for those who have a smaller space or have a guest room that also has another function, such as a craft or sewing room.
Regardless of the size of the bed or beds you choose, be sure to outfit them with fresh linens and provide easy ac- cess to extra bedding and pillows.
Hatfield said that in her guest room, she was excited to be able to put a few heirlooms to use.
“I folded up quilts that my grand- mother made and just put them at the foot of the beds, and that added a pop of color and also served as extra cover, if they need it,” she said.
Beside the bed, a nightstand is good place to put a lamp so guests don’t have to stumble through an unfamiliar dark room to find their
If space allows, comfortable chairs are a gracious addition to a guest room, offering somewhere for overnighters to sit and read before bed.
way to bed. On the same note, some guests might appreciate a nightlight in the room or hallway to light their way to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Many guests likely have a smart- phone with the time and an alarm, but for those who don’t, an alarm clock be- side the bed is always a nice touch, and fresh flowers, even a few picks from the garden, really show how much you anticipated their arrival.
Of course, you don’t want to over- whelm the nightstand in a guest room. Guests may have things they brought with them that they like to leave beside the bed. Often, that’s a smartphone or electronics of some sort, so be sure to leave open outlets so they can charge those items.
Rather than a family photo beside the bed, one cute idea that Web-savvy guests will appreciate is a framed wel- come sign in the room letting them in on the password to access your Wi-Fi signal while they are there.
In addition to a place to sleep, guests need somewhere to put their things. Many people are tempted to fill the closet in a guest room with some of their offseason clothing, but nobody likes to live out of a suitcase. So be sure to clear some space and leave empty hangers in the closet for guests. Find a folding luggage rack for guests to put their suitcases on, and they will really think you’ve gone above and beyond.
A guest room doesn’t require a full suite of furniture, so it’s a good place to experiment with your color scheme and use a painted dresser or chest, Hatfield said. Leave a drawer
or two free for visitors to stow their belongings. Tagging the drawers you intend for guests to use with a note is a nice touch that can help them feel at home and keep them from having to poke around.
“Not all guest rooms have an en- suite bath where towels would be hung for guests to use,” Hatfield said, “so make it obvious where their bathroom linens would be.”
Rolling them up and putting them inabasketontopofachestorona shelf in the closet are good options. Also, consider hanging a rack or hook behind the door so guests have a place to put their wet towels.
When it comes to toiletries, Hat- field said, “I think what you do is think, ‘If I were staying in a guest room, what would be some things that I might need and didn’t bring?’ You could have a little basket with shampoos, lotions and soaps, smaller-sized ones that they can use and you can toss out so the next person who comes to visit doesn’t have to use them.”
Hosts can really wow guests with some extra niceties, too.
“I personally put an Etch A Sketch, a little game, maybe a crossword puz- zle book — something to just kind of help them wind down at the end of the day — a devotional book or pop- ular magazine,” Hatfield said.
A basket or tray with a visitor guide to the city, a few books or magazines, a couple of bottles of water and some snacks will have your guests feeling like they are visiting a great little bed and breakfast. And you are sure to get a good review.
Country French
Great classics never go out of style, and
this elegant, warm-gray Bergere chair by Craftmaster Furniture is no exception. It features a weathered oak finish beautifully distressed for the look of a favorite heirloom. The shaped back leads the eye down to the gracefully curved arms and Queen Anne legs for a perfectly cohesive effect. Many styles and fabric options are available for custom orders. TO BUY: Sowell’s Furniture, Searcy
comfy SEATING Lean back
The Hutcherson Harness low-leg recliner features top-grain leather that matches with DuraBlend upholstery. The chair’s jumbo stitching details, along with the rich, finished trim, make it a unique accent for any room. TO BUY: Warehouse Furniture, Beebe
Rocking recliner
The La-Z-Boy Reclina-Rocker features a plush back and seating, along with comfy armrests, for relaxing comfort. TO BUY: Warehouse Furniture, Beebe