Six Elements Contributing to the Disorderly Appearance of Your Visitor's Space
If your guest room has morphed into a makeshift storage area over the years, you're not isolated. Space is scarce, and we all need to get resourceful with our living space now and then.
However, things can spiral out of control in a room you can seal off for most of the year. When was the last time you scrutinized your guest room? Has it turned into a burial ground for forgotten pastimes? Are your visitors having to maneuver through piles of gift wrap to reach the bed?
A cluttered guest room can make a guest feel like an afterthought. Regardless of how comfortable the bed is, nobody wants to spend a night in a room that feels like a junk drawer brought to life.
Even if you believe your guest room is neat and inviting, you may be overlooking certain things that experts have identified as contributing to a sense of clutter.
- Victoria Tran is the founder of Sorted Professional Organizing in New Orleans.
- Ashley Murphy is the co-founder and CEO of NEAT Method and the author of The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book.
- Tonia Tomlin is the founder of Sorted Out in Plano, Texas.
Uncovered Storage
It can be tempting to dump your Halloween decorations in your guest room if there's no other place to store them, but Victoria Tran, founder of Sorted Professional Organizing in New Orleans, advises against using the room as a catch-all for seasonal items or storage bins. Prioritize keeping the space intentionally clear and welcoming for guests.
If you must store things in your guest room, Ashley Murphy, co-founder and CEO of NEAT Method and author of The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book, suggests at least being discrete about it. Murphy advises against piling boxes and spare equipment in the corners of the room or on open shelving. Instead, utilize the closet and enclosed furniture pieces as much as possible so you can tuck everything away behind closed doors.
Too Many Decorative Pillows
It can be tempting to go overboard with decorative pillows in a guest bedroom. However, remember that people actually need to sleep in there at some point. Not only are they impractical, but an excess of throw pillows can overwhelm a space, according to Tran. She recommends sticking to two or three pillows in matching sizes for a put-together look.
Keepsakes and Memorabilia
Tonia Tomlin, founder of Sorted Out in Plano, Texas, warns against turning your guest room into a shrine to a deceased parent or family member. Memorabilia and other sentimental items can take over a guest room, making it feel more like a storage unit than a bedroom.
Oversized Furniture
Guest rooms are ideal for hand-me-down furniture. Even though the price was right for Memaw's large antique dresser, it might be too big for the room. Murphy recommends paring down the room's furniture by only including pieces that fit comfortably in the space. Need to accommodate a queen size bed within a small footprint? Consider a Murphy bed or sleeper sofa.
Excess Decor
Guest rooms are often overlooked when it comes to decorating, which means they often become a catch-all for random items and mismatched decor. Frames, figurines, vases, and other decorative items can overwhelm a space if used excessively, according to Murphy. She suggests creating some "breathing room" on nightstands, dressers, and desk surfaces to provide balance and allow guests to use those spaces as their own personal drop zones.
Exercise Machines
Tomlin sees a lot of clients with exercise machines in their guest rooms. These bulky items take up a lot of space and don't exactly convey a relaxing atmosphere.
The guest room's transformation into a storage area is a common issue, as highlighted by SouthernLiving. To avoid making your guests feel like an afterthought, it's essential to keep the guest room organized, with Sorted Professional Organizing's Victoria Tran advising against using the room as a catch-all for seasonal items or storage bins.
Even when trying to be discrete with storage, NEAT Method's Ashley Murphy suggests utilizing the closet and enclosed furniture pieces to tuck everything away behind closed doors. This will maintain the room's intentionally clear and welcoming atmosphere for guests.
