How to prep a guest bedroom like Meghan Markle

With the Duchess of Sussex offering advice on how to prep a guest bedroom on her new Netflix show With Love Meghan – experts have now revealed how we can all take inspiration for our own humble homes.

The Netflix hit revealed that Meghan makes homemade bath salts for her guests, now sleep experts have said we can all raise our game when it comes to sprucing up our spare rooms.

The mattress specialists at WinstonsBeds have looked at the touches which will turn the spare room into a luxury suite to rival any hotel.

Taking inspiration from Meghan Markle and her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, they suggest creating a bathroom basket with all the essentials, including scented bath oils and fluffy towels.

The experts also recommend adding reading material and eyemasks to help guests nod off after a busy day.

Other advice includes decluttering the room before visitors arrive, making sure there is space for them to hang clothes and adding sweet smelling reed diffusers or candles.

Rebecca Swain, a mattress expert at WinstonsBeds.com said: “If you have friends or family staying overnight, creating a restful haven for them is essential so they can relax and unwind after a busy day.

“Transforming the spare room doesn’t have to be an onerous task. Instead it’s about making a few simple changes to create the perfect space.

“Making a bathroom basket is a lovely way to make guests feel welcome and of course indulge them with some luxurious treats. Cosy blankets are a nice touch too if the weather’s chilly and sweet smelling reed diffusers are ideal to leave the room feeling as good as any hotel.”

Here are WinstonsBeds.com’s tips for transforming the spare room into a haven for guests:

Bathroom basket

On her recently launched Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, Meghan Markle revealed she leaves homemade bath salts for her guests. If you don’t have the time for homemade gifts, think about creating a bathroom basket filled with fluffy towels, sweet smelling bath oils, decadent body and hand lotions and essentials including hand soap, toothpaste and spare tooth brushes.

Sleep well

Leave out a few essentials to help visitors sleep well. A stylish eye mask to block out any light will help them nod off. Add sprays of essential oils known to aid sleep including lavender oil and chamomile.

Drink station

Create a mini drink station so guests can enjoy their morning tea or coffee or a relaxing herbal tea before bed. You could put a coffee machine in the room, or a range of nice tea, coffee with a kettle and stylish mugs to match the room’s decor.

Sweet smelling

Add a sense of opulence with fresh and subtle smelling reed diffusers or candles. The right scent will give the guest room a luxurious feel.

Hanging space 

Make sure there’s somewhere for guests to hang clothes. Take out any of your own clothing you store in the spare room and instead add co-ordinating hangers to an empty wardrobe or clothes rail.

Staying warm or cooling down

Leave out extra cosy blankets or quilts for guests just in case they get chilly during the night. During warmer weather, place a fan in the room for them to use if they need to so they can cool off.

Reading material

Add a few books to the room so your guests can read a few chapters before they drop off to sleep. Include a mix of coffee table books and a couple of popular novels for them to pick from. If your guests are more likely to flick through a magazine, add some up to date editions to the room.

Lighting

Do think about the lighting in your guest room and add lamps for a layered lighting approach. A lamp for reading and good lighting around a mirror and where your visitors get ready for the day will both help create a pleasant ambience.

Declutter

If your guest room is an overflow storage area, make sure to clear it of all clutter before your guests arrive. It may mean simply boxing up and moving to a different part of the house – it is also the chance to get rid of any items you no longer need or use.