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STORIES ON LEISURE
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Tips to Help Create Great Guest Rooms
(NAPSA) - There's
no place like homeespecially
if you have a
great guest room.
With a little planning,
you can transform
some extra space into a
comfortable and welcoming
home-awayfrom-
home for visiting friends and
family.
Whether you work with a design
professional or do it yourself, creating
that welcoming retreat can be
easier if you follow a few tips from
the experts.
"Every situation has its unique
challenges," says Carol Donayre
Bugg, author of "Creating Great
Guest Rooms" and vice president of
Interiors by Decorating Den, one of
the country's largest in-home decorating
services. "But a few basic
pointers work for every guest room."
In her book, Bugg offers more than
150 photographs of actual rooms
design professionals have created,
plus tip boxes and checklists. Here
are her top tips for making guests feel
welcome and comfortable:
- Provide a good bed. Whether
you offer a traditional bed, daybed,
sleeper sofa or futon, make sure it is
comfortable and in good condition
and supply options for pillows and
blankets. Today, many people opt to
use air mattresses so guests can adjust
the firmness to their liking.
- Supply sufficient lighting.
TIPS TO HELP CREATE GREAT GUEST ROOMS
Lighting is critical in a
guest room, since people
with different
nighttime routines
may share it. It's
important to provide
individual light sources
that can be turned on
and off from each side
of the bed. Swing-arm lamps mounted
next to, rather than directly over,
the bed are a good choice as they
minimize brightness for the early-tobed
sleeper and provide enough light
for the night owl.
- Don't overlook window coverings.
Even if your guest room has a
beautiful view, it still needs window
coverings. Blinds or draperies enable
guests to get some privacy and control
the amount of light that comes
into the room. Window coverings
can also help to control room temperature.
- Offer a comfortable seat.
Placing a chair in the guest room
provides a place for your guest to
rest, read or write. An overstuffed
armchair with an ottoman is a good
choice, especially if the ottoman
opens to provide additional storage
for pillows and blankets.
For more information about
Interiors by Decorating Den or
"Creating Great Guest Rooms," visit
www.decoratingden.com.
A comfortable chair is a necessity
in any guest room. Provide a lamp
for nighttime reading.
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