Guest Bedroom Project Inspo
We have our first houseguest coming in 3 weeks and we are so not ready! So the mad dash to get our guest suite ready has begun.
We always planned to do these spaces in stages so for this first guest it will be more of a bandaid (and of course I’m sharing the process so follow along for that) I want to start by sharing our inspo and the journey to get there.
I initially wanted a rich lush pink. I never had a pink room growing up-as a millennial the it girl colors were apple green or purple so my bedroom was apple green. So I was very much feeling the pull to a grown pink room in our new home. But the room only has a single window, in a corner, & doesn’t get much natural light. I tried 7 different pinks everything from pale to bright to warm and none of it worked. The spaces doesn’t get enough light. So we moved on (& will hold that dream for our next house)
I then fell in love with a lush layered canopy for our 18th century federalist antique bed & this wallpaper. The space is already green so I’m going to lean into it. We’ll be adding wainscoting in phase two as well (scroll to the second to last image to see the most lush wainscoting example I’m loving)
Now, the choice I have to make over the next few months:
A) Wallpaper the ceiling which will be unexpected and bring the eye up, making the space feel taller than it it (we have 9’ ceilings sadly)
- OR -
B) Wallpaper the walls above the wainscoting for maximalist jewel box of a room?
#bedroomdecor #guestroom #canopybed #maximalistdecor #homedecor
When designing a guest bedroom, it's essential to balance style with comfort, especially if the space has natural light limitations. I learned this firsthand while preparing my guest suite with a single corner window that barely let in daylight. Initially, I hoped to create a rich pink retreat, but after testing many pink shades — from pale pastels to vibrant hues — the room felt too dark and enclosed. This experience showed me that room lighting significantly influences color perception, so sometimes it's best to adapt the plan. Embracing the room’s existing green tones, I shifted my vision to a lush, layered canopy style. An 18th-century federalist antique bed became the focal point, adding timeless elegance and a cozy vibe. Introducing wallpaper was a creative breakthrough, as patterned designs can bring texture and visual interest without overwhelming the space. I’m now weighing whether to wallpaper the ceiling to make the nine-foot ceilings feel taller, or to wallpaper the walls above the wainscoting to create a jewel box effect that wraps the room in maximalist charm. Adding wainscoting is a fantastic way to introduce architectural detail and depth; it complements wallpaper beautifully and elevates the overall aesthetic. When tackling a staged renovation like this, remember that practical solutions—like a temporary setup for an upcoming guest—can gradually evolve into a well-curated retreat. Small accent choices, like a gauzy plain canopy over the bed, help balance pattern and create a serene atmosphere. From my experience, designing a guest bedroom that feels inviting and stylish requires flexibility and thoughtful layering. Lighting, furniture style, wall treatments, and molding details all come together to craft a welcoming space your guests will love.
