Preparing for christmas 3 - cosy guest rooms

Guest rooms may not be used often, so it easy to let the décor go downhill; with Christmas just around the corner though, you are going to have to do something about those tired looking guest rooms! We all know how the festive season can suck the pennies out of us, so you will be looking for ideas to update on a budget. Time is an issue too as many preparations are about to begin - follow our advice for giving a guest room a turnaround effortlessly and on the tightest of budgets. Starting with the focal point is always a good idea - so yes, a new set of bedding will help here.

The good news is that you can find lots of different designs and styles of cheap bedding sets that will compliment your existing décor or give it a new lease of life. A good tip for choosing new bedding in a guest room is to pick out duvet sets with a white background and a splash of colour in a print or pattern. The white background will help to freshen up the room and make it crisp and welcoming for expected guests; with a splash of bright colour you create a warm and happy environment - think about colours that have a positively Christmas feel such as red, green or even a metallic.

Your task of finding new bedding will be a lot easier and less timely when you choose matching sets of duvet and pillow covers - you will probably find that buying a set will cut the cost down too! If your guest room already has a specific colour scheme then you will probably want to match it; for example, if you have some blue curtains then choose a blue print for your bedding - otherwise you risk a chaotic room and ultimately more expense in buying a new set of curtains to match new bedding.

Through colour matching, your guest will see that you have put some thought into their stay and this reflects good on you as the host. If like your bedding your window treatments have seen better days, then look for something that will compliment many different styles and be friendly on your budget - cheap roller blinds in a neutral colour or wooden Venetian blinds are good examples.

If you need extra light control, black out roller blinds will help to make your guests more comfortable. Along with cheap bed linen and window treatments, some extra touches will make your guest not only feel welcome but extra special. Offer them a cosy bed throw that can be neatly folded at the end of the bed and some seasonal touches such as a vase of red berry branches or a miniature Christmas tree!

For more inspiration then why not browse through our Christmas Shop.