How to Set Up a Guest Bathroom Like a Hotel Pro

As gratifying as it is to host a houseful of guests, it’s OK to admit that it also brings its share of stress. Prepping for guests means there’s cleaning to do, meals to plan and cook, and entertaining to schedule. It’s no wonder getting the guest bathroom ready can slide down the to-do list. But your visitors will start and end each day there, so you want them to be comfortable.

With a few easy touches borrowed from hotel pros, and by implementing some simple guest bathroom decorating ideas, your guests will feel as though they’re getting the red-carpet treatment.

CLEAN

First on any list of guest bathroom essentials is a clean bathroom! Obvious, perhaps, but it’s worth setting aside time to make sure yours is sufficiently sparkling before your guests arrive. Think about every inviting hotel room you’ve ever stepped foot in—the bathroom no doubt looked and smelled fresh. A bit of elbow grease will take care of the former, while some flowers or an essential oil diffuser will sort out the latter.

DECLUTTER

If the guest bathroom has become a de facto storage room or the closet, drawers and shelves are a jumble of products, go through that stuff, tossing out what you don’t need and organizing the items you think are still useful into baskets, jars and other containers. A neat and tidy bathroom is much less stressful and a better canvas on which to realize some modest but impactful guest bathroom decorating ideas.