How to create a beautiful guest bedroom on a budget

The second room reveal on The Block on Sunday night opened the door to the guest bedroom, showcasing how to perfectly furnish, style, and prep a spare room for visiting friends and family.

The question is – can you achieve similar results without The Block budget? Here are five ways to transform a guest bedroom with some saving tips along the way.

1. An inviting bed

First impressions count and the first thing a visitor will notice is the bed. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of sleeping in your own bed, but an inviting sleeping space can act as the next best thing.

“The key is to making the bed look inviting and cosy, you can do this by adding a mixture of different sized cushions to incorporate colours and textures, as well as a throw rug. Don’t be afraid to add a pop of colour to neutral bed linen, or mixing in some woollen knits and velvet to plain cotton,” say Alisa & Lysandra, former contestants of The Block. “It is also a good idea to invest in a sheet set that feels nice to the touch, as we all know how nice a feeling it is to sleep in clean, crisp linen.”

Saving tip: All of these elements will add to the overall ambience and feel of the room, the trick is to choose bedding that may easily be interchanged from one season to the next.

Top image from Michelle Halford | Bottom (left) image from Annette Obrien | Bottom (right) image from Annette Obrien

2. Inexpensive bedside tables

Serving as a place for your guests to put their necessities like phones, reading glasses, or a book, bedside tables are practical but should also complement the room as a whole.

Saving tip: If your budget doesn’t allow the freedom for a new and costly bedside table, then why not repurpose a chair, use a simple stool, or even stack some stylish storage boxes to create inexpensive alternatives, like the ones below.

Top image from Michelle Halford | Bottom (left) image from The Sunday Chapter | Bottom (right) image from Stadshem

3. ​Lighting solutions

Not only does bedside lighting add another styling opportunity, it also helps set the mood. It’s a good idea to choose lighting that won’t take up too much space on the bedside table.

Saving tip: While popular, stylish hanging pendant lights can be costly and may not be realistic for those on a budget. Some other affordable lighting substitutes which also don’t require space on the bedside table include a statement floor lamp or a clever clamp lamp.

Top image from Ikea Australia | Bottom (left) image from Taubmans | Bottom (right) image from Oh So Simple

4. Statement wall

Feature walls have become passe for most home owners as they have a tendency to dominate a space if done incorrectly. However, if executed successfully, the pay-off can be huge.

“I prefer to utilise a ‘statement wall’ technique to create a cohesive interior design. In other words, work with your side walls to lessen the drama,” says Shaynna Blaze, interior designer and a judge on The Block. “For instant impact, you can paint two adjoining walls in a new hue so that the colour wraps the room without overwhelming it. This spring the trend colours emerging are crisp pastel tones in pinks and blush, through to mint greens and deeper teals.”

Saving tip: Painting just two adjoining walls is a much simpler project, allowing you to enjoy the fruits of your labour faster! Because you’re painting a guest room, you can also be bit more daring with your colour as it’s typically a smaller room of your home.

Top image from Hunting for George | Bottom (left) image from Taubmans | Bottom (right) image from Pinterest

5. Alternative closet

Ideal for small spaces, freestanding clothes racks and hanging rails are not only functional, they also add an interesting design element to a room. Perfect for guest bedrooms without the space for a built-in closet, guests can hang their clothes and belongings freely during their stay.

Saving tip: If you are up for the challenge, there are plenty of trendy and affordable DIY projects such as the Copper Clothing Rack by Wide Eyed Legless to try out.

Top image from SF Girl By Day | Bottom (left) image from Michelle Halford | Bottom (right) image from Badlands

6. Personal touches

When we spend time away, naturally we seek the same creature comforts that we have become accustomed to in our own homes. This is why the personal touches to a guest bedroom beyond what bedside table you use and what colour the walls are become very important. Clean towels, scattered books and magazines, and fresh flowers are the finer details that can make all the difference.

Saving tip: The good news is that these finer details can come at no price at all. Clean towels and scattered books and magazines can be borrowed from other rooms, and fresh flowers can be picked straight from the garden.

Top image from Pinterest | Bottom (left) image from The Sunday Chapter | Bottom (right) image from Pinterest