If you’re lucky enough to have a second bathroom, this can work perfectly as a guest bathroom when you have family or friends staying. Here are some tips to help make it into a space that your guests will love.

Luxury Textiles

High-quality textiles such as towels, washcloths and bath mats can really elevate your guest bathroom, giving it a boutique hotel vibe and it shows your guests that you care about their experience when staying with you.

Invest in some luxury towels and flannels in coordinating colours and add in a super soft non-slip bath mat that will feel luxurious underfoot and also improve safety. If your guest bathroom has a neutral palette, don’t be afraid to use your textiles to add a pop of colour to the space. Alternatively, if you already have a colour scheme, keep things simple with complementary shades.

When you have guests coming to stay, make sure you put fresh towels out ready for them, including a large towel for if they want to shower or take a bath and a couple of smaller towels for their hands, face or hair.

Clever Storage

Clever storage is a must for any guest bathroom. Custom built-in shelving can be used to store rolled up towels and a selection of toiletries for your guests to use. Or you could add hidden under-sink storage for all those bathroom essentials.

If you have a compact guest bathroom, you may need to get a bit more creative with your storage. Small storage baskets made from natural materials like wicker or rattan can be used to house miniature toiletries or toilet rolls and also add texture to a space. If you’re stuck for inspiration, head to a bathroom showroom to get new storage ideas.

Hooks & Rails

The last thing you want is for your guests to have to put their luxuriously soft towels on the floor or balance them on the edge of the sink or the top of the toilet! Make sure that your bathroom has plenty of hooks or towel rails where your guests can hang their towels while they wash, bathe or shower. You should also consider where they could put their own belongings. For example, is there a shelf they can put jewellery or makeup on? Do you have a laundry basket for used towels?

Finishing Touches

It’s the finishing touches that make a guest bathroom feel inviting and somewhere your guests will want to spend time rather than just a functional space for them to shower and dress.

Consider adding greenery such as houseplants that thrive in humidity or freshly cut flowers on shelves or window sills. Scent is also a must-have so consider adding scented candles or a reed diffuser to help create a spa-like atmosphere.

Framed prints or patterned wallpaper can also give a bathroom a more high-end feel and show your guests that you’ve put care and attention into creating a space they’ll enjoy.

Well Stocked

As a guest in someone else’s house, there’s nothing worse than awkwardly having to ask if they have a spare toothbrush or tell them that the toilet roll has run out! Make sure that your guests have everything they might need and be sure to restock in-between stays so you don’t run out.

If you’re not sure what to stock up on, here are some guest bathroom essentials you might want to consider:

• Hand soap
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Cotton balls/pads/buds
• Body wash
• Body lotion
• Toilet paper
• Tissues
• Feminine hygiene products

Having all these easily to hand means your guests won’t need to feel embarrassed about asking, and it allows you to relax and enjoy their company, knowing they have everything they need.