Blog>Expert Advice>Design ideas and planning tips for the ultimate guest bedroom
Last updated: 31 January 2025
Design ideas and planning tips for the ultimate guest bedroom
Whatever your style or budget, here you'll find guidance on planning, design ideas, and expert tips to create your ultimate guest suite.
Why invest in a guest suite?
A guest suite - especially one with a beautiful ensuite bathroom offers your visitors a luxurious space to relax and recharge.
But in addition to the comfort of those who come to stay, a guest suite can also offer versatility for your own personal use and it can even add value to your property.
The guest suite ideas included in this article will guide you through the process of creating a cosy retreat where your guests will feel right at home. You'll find:
Tips for getting started
Inspirational guest suite design ideas
Practical guidance for hiring the expertise needed for the job
Whether you're building a home extension for a guest bedroom with an ensuite or are tackling a spare room transformation, you'll find everything you need in this post. So let's get started.
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Planning your guest bedroom with ensuite
Thinking about adding a guest suite? Start by asking: Where will it go? How will it look? What's the budget? Let's take a look at these aspects in more detail.
1. Space planning
The first decision to make is where your guest suite will be. The two most likely scenarios are:
A spare room transformation
A home extension
Take inspiration from the House with the Blue Shutters. By building a glass extension above a pitched roof, the homeowner has created an ensuite bathroom for their guest room that's bathed in natural light.
With the right team, start planning your home extension. You'll need:
As a rule of thumb, when planning for the cost of an extension, budget between £1,800 - £3,000 per m².
However, for a bathroom extension, add an extra £5,500 - £9,000to the total cost of bathroom renovations (average) and extension costs.
Related content: Read our home extension cost guide for more detailed information to plan your budget and check out our home extension hub for plenty of ideas and advice.
2. Layout
Once you've decided on the location of your guest room, it's time to start plotting the layout. The best guest suite layouts with ensuite bathrooms consider:
Thoughtfully arranged furniture
Sufficient storage
Good lighting
However, this is sometimes easier said than done. An awkwardly located window or door could limit the placement of furniture or sanitaryware; a small footprint might leave you struggling for storage space.
The services of a local interior designer come into their own here. They will:
Advise on space planning
Create the optimal layout
Share their expertise on the guest room essentials
Interior designers typically charge between £50 - £150 per hour.
Search your postcode to find interior designers we've checked and approved in your local area.
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3. Budgeting
Finally, when planning your guest suite designs, take the time to work out your budget.
If planning a home extension, you'll likely need the expertise of various tradespeople and professionals. Our cost guide - linked below - outlines the average rates you can expect to pay, helping you to plan your finances.
Get a quote for your guest suite designs
Whether you're preparing for a small home extension, a simple spare room transformation, or a full-blown luxury guest accommodation project, we always recommend getting at least three quotes.
Fill in our request a quote form to get multiple quotes from quality tradespeople near you.
How much do tradespeople cost?
Find out the average cost of a selection of the UK's most popular trades.
Discover guest suite design ideas
Now comes the fun part: designing your guest suite. Whether you lean towards cosy, contemporary, or quirky, your design should give warm and welcoming vibes.
Guest bedroom ideas
When narrowing down your guest bedroom ideas, aim to tick these four key elements to ensure your guests are comfortable while staying in your home:
1. Comfortable bedding
"How did you sleep?" It's a question every host asks. Create a restful sanctuary with:
A comfortable mattress with quality bedding
Soft, breathable linens (reserved for guests only!)
A sumptuous quilt or throw to allow your guests to find their own level of comfort
2. Bedroom storage solutions
Secondly, storage space. Having space in a wardrobe or chest of drawers for your guests to unpack and store luggage will be hugely appreciated.
The House with the Blue Shutters does this really well. Their guest bedroom includes:
Clever built-in storage behind the head of the bed
A large hamper at the foot of the bed for extra pillows and blankets
A smart, free-standing storage unit to reduce clutter
A carpenter can help to make the most of the available space with custom, built-in storage around a chimney breast, in an awkward nook, or around the head of the bed.
Prices vary across the UK, but expect to pay around £37.50per hour for carpentry services.
3. Layered lighting
The magic ingredient to creating a cosy guest suite? Good lighting.
We're not just talking about a statement light fixture or shade, we're talking about layered lighting. That is, using a variety of light sources (ambient, task, and accent lighting) to ensure the lighting is balanced and functional.
Achieve layered lighting in your guest suite with:
Ambient/general lighting: Provides overall lighting for the room, typically achieved with a ceiling light and/or wall sconces
Task lighting: Focused light for completing specific tasks, for example, bedside lamps for reading or vanity lights flanking the mirror
Accent lighting: Highlights specific features in a room, for example, spotlights to showcase the contents of an alcove
Need some help with your lighting? Read our bedroom lighting buying guide for more information. Always hire a qualified electrician for any lighting or electrical work.
On Checkatrade, you'll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass up to 12 checks.
4. Colour scheme
One of the biggest conundrums is choosing the best colour for a guest room.
Calm and cosy guest bedroom ideas often feature earthy, warm neutrals
Off-white hues and neutral colours create a relaxed, inviting feel, and work well in traditional and modern homes
A white colour scheme is fresh and clean, and is easy to pair with other accent colours
Hire a professional painter and decoratorfor a high-quality finish. As a guide, expect to pay around £450 to have a medium-sized room painted (approx 18m²). Read ourpainter and decorator cost guide for more information.
Ensuite bathroom inspiration
When it comes to ensuite bathroom design, focus on these four elements for a winning formula that your guests will love.
1. Sanitaryware and fixtures
Our top tips for planning the perfect ensuite bathroom for guests:
Measure up: Consider the essential fixtures such as a toilet, sink, and shower, ensuring adequate space for the sanitaryware you choose
Include extra touches: Make sure there's counter space for toiletries, convenient hooks for hanging clothing, a heated towel rail, and good water pressure in the shower
Incorporate luxury elements: In a larger ensuite, install an opulent, free-standing bath and/or a generous walk-in shower; consider underfloor heating for the ultimate in guest comfort
2. Tiles
Tiles will forever be a good choice in a bathroom. They're timeless, low-maintenance, durable, and can add value to your home.
Colour: Be bold with vibrant tiles or play it cool with crisp whites and neutrals
Style: Go for lux marble to make a statement or a herringbone pattern for a more textural element
Size and design: In a smaller ensuite, larger tiles can help to make the room feel bigger. In a larger ensuite, smaller tiles such as mosaics can be used to create a feature
As a guide, budget around £110 per m² for tiling costs - this includes standard tiles, materials, and labour.
3. Mirrors and lighting
The House with the Blue Shutters provides a masterclass in bathroom lighting and mirrors.
A large mirror above the sink bounces light around the room, instantly making the space feel more open
Wall lights placed on either side of (never directly above) the mirror make grooming pleasant and comfortable
An abundance of natural light makes the space feel bright, airy, and inviting
Tip: Any lighting or electrical work in a bathroom must be completed by a Part P qualified electrician to comply with UK building regulations.
4. Bathroom amenities
Every detail matters when it comes to making your guests feel at home. A few basic additions will enhance their level of comfort during their stay. Include:
High-quality, fluffy towels
A basket or tray of toiletries, including spare toothbrushes and travel-sized shampoo
A waste bin
Find approved and guaranteed bathroom fitters in your area
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Practical tips for creating your dream guest suite
We hope you now feel more confident about planning your new space and have plenty of guest suite ideas to inspire your project. This last section offers you all you need to know to put your plans in motion.
Working with architects
If you're planning a home extension to accommodate a guest suite, you'll benefit from the services of a local architect. You may also need a structural engineer. These professionals will help with:
Conceptual and technical designs
Safety and compliance
Planning applications and project certification
Project management
Find out how much an architect costs and the best way to find a qualified architect near you.
Hiring tradespeople
Whether you're embarking on a bedroom renovation or a broader home improvement project to house your guest suite, you'll want to hire quality trades you can trust to complete the work. Your guest suite plans might require:
Quality trades at your fingertips
Search, chat, and book with ease in the Checkatrade app.
Simply share your job details using photos and a short description with a trade of your choice or let us recommend some for you.
Contact or pay a trade through Checkatrade and you’re covered by our 12-month guarantee of up to £1,000*
Check out this guest bedroom in our recent House Tour
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A well-designed guest suite isn't just a space for visitors - it's an opportunity to showcase your home's charm and hospitality.
Whether you need an interior designer to help plan your perfect guest suite, a builder to put your plans into action, or an electrician, carpenter, or bathroom fitter for their specialist skills, we're here to help.
All our members are checked and approved, making it quicker and easier for you to hire the trades you need with confidence.
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