Designing a guest bedroom is no easy task. Even though these rooms aren't used frequently, they become a space of comfort for visitors, so their design should be as appealing as your own bedroom. It all starts with the right color choice.
'When it comes to guest bedrooms, color is the welcoming host that sets the tone before a single word is spoken,' interior designer Nina Lichtenstein says. 'The best palettes are those that strike a balance between warmth and neutrality, using colors that make guests feel both cared for and unburdened.'
Although you can look to popular color trends as inspiration for guest bedroom colors, it's important that the space appeals to all visitors, which means trend-driven colors might not be the wisest choice. Designers are aware of that, and that's why their color suggestions are timeless, versatile, and appealing to any and all guests. Read on to discover what colors they recommend.
1. Soft Neutrals
For a guest bedroom, a regular bedroom, or any room for that matter, soft neutrals are always a reliable color choice. Neutral paint colors like warm, off-whites, tan, cream, or beige can establish a soothing foundation in a room, and decorating with neutral furniture and decor can supplement the relaxing environment. Soft neutrals are a safe, dependable color choice for guest rooms, and that's probably why lots of designers recommend using them.
'A calming, balanced palette is always my go-to for a guest room,' interior designer Lauren Lerner tells me. 'Soft neutrals like warm whites, taupes, and gentle greiges instantly make the space feel welcoming, and layering in muted blues or earthy greens adds a relaxed, restorative feel. The goal is to help guests settle in and feel at ease the moment they walk in.'
If you're looking for soft neutral paint colors to guide the rest of your guest bedroom's design, try Benjamin Moore's French White, a gentle shade with a hint of yellow, or Farrow & Ball's Blanc de Treillage, a creamy neutral with a tan undertone. These colors can establish a quietly luxurious ambiance in the room with their timeless appeal.
Treat your guests to a relaxing night of sleep with a set of fresh sheets. From Brooklinen, this set is made with a percale weave that'll feel cool and crisp to the touch. Aside from its materiality, this set invites you in with its soft tan color.
This lamp is the perfect choice for the bedside table in your guest bedroom. It's not too big, but not too small, and when turned on, its textured linen shade will help produce a soft glow throughout the room.
Every guest bedroom needs its own blanket – this way, if your visitor feels cold during the night, they don't have to search the house to find a blanket. With its textured weave and fresh, neutral color, this blanket is the key to calming relaxation.
2. Earthy Greens
According to interior designer Karina Plotko, it can be helpful to draw inspiration from your surroundings when choosing colors for a guest bedroom. 'One of my favorite starting points is the view. If your guests wake up to mountains or greenery, soft greens, earthy neutrals, and warm wood tones create a grounded and cozy atmosphere that feels connected to nature,' she explains.
Even if your guest bedroom doesn't have a view of greenery, decorating with earthy colors is still an ideal choice for guest bedrooms. As Karina says, 'soft, nature-inspired palettes help lower the visual noise and create an immediate sense of calm,' which can make a guest room truly feel like a retreat for any visitors.
A soft shade like Valspar's Prairie Willow can introduce green into a room without going overboard. Slightly darker but just as soft, Behr's Pesto Green can create a cocooning feeling in a guest bedroom. Nina Lichtenstein recommends pairing these greens with clay tones (like Benjamin Moore's Potters Clay) to create 'an environment that feels grounded yet refreshing,' she says. 'The right colors expand perceived space, diffuse harsh light, and encourage relaxation.'
If you're unable to paint your guest bedroom a serene shade of green, spruce up its design with some green accessories, like this velvet green lumbar pillow. Its softness will provide comfort on the bed and its color will enhance the comforting atmosphere in the room.
Nina mentioned that clay tones are a tasteful complement to green. This rug has both of those colors in its composition and it can make for an excellent guest room rug choice. It's charmingly colorful, soft to the touch, and machine washable so you can clean it once your guests leave.
If you decide to paint the walls in your guest bedroom green, or if green is the color of the room's main furnishings, complement the earthy hue with another nature-inspired color: clay. This vase would look elegant on a guest room dresser, both with or without flowers in it.
3. Coastal-Inspired Shades
You can never go wrong with a nature-inspired color palette in a guest bedroom. If the earthy green tones from the land aren't for you, look to the sea, instead. According to Karina, 'gentle blues layered with sandy neutrals and sun-washed whites amplify that relaxed, vacation-like feeling we all crave when visiting someone else’s home.' That's why they're such a good color choice for the guest bedroom.
A light shade like Farrow & Ball's Kakelugn is a crisp and calming variation of blue that can create a serene atmosphere and set the scene for neutral-toned decor. However, if you're looking for a darker shade, try Benjamin Moore's Old Blue Jeans, instead. This shade is just as crisp and calming, but it can add depth and richness to a space.
When decorating with blue in the guest room, it helps to lean into the coastal theme to build the rest of your color scheme. 'For example, pairing pale blue-gray walls with sand-colored linens and warm wood accents can mimic the horizon of sea and shore, evoking both serenity and connection,' Nina recommends.
With its soothing blue color and subtle stripe, this duvet just radiates serene elegance. Made from 100% cotton in a percale weave, this duvet is smooth, cooling, and crisp. It would be a great choice for a guest bedroom.
The natural elegance and textural appeal of this table lamp make it an ideal choice for an coastal-inspired bedroom. Style it alone on a dresser or paired with another one on opposite bedside tables. Either way, this lamp can help establish a serene, relaxing, and beachy atmosphere in the room.
This pillow is a stylish decor addition for a guest bedroom bed. Not only can it enhance the serene atmosphere of the room with its coastal-inspired color scheme, but its ruffled edge adds just a touch of stylistic flair.
4. Brown Tones
Even though decorating with brown has been a top trend this past year, that doesn't mean the color is a fleeting shade that'll go out of style any time soon. In fact, brown is one of those shades that tends to look good in any form and in any context – including the guest bedroom.
Whether you choose to paint the walls with a soft shade like Farrow & Ball's London Stone or something with a bit more depth like Little Greene's Ganache, brown tones have an inherent ability to make a room feel warm, inviting, and significantly more cozy. Even if you forgo painting the walls in brown and just include brown-toned decor, this color has dimension, and it can breathe life into your guest suite.
Brown is one of the most timeless paint colors – it's versatile, adaptable to any room, and immediately creates a cozy atmosphere. Any guest would be happy to stay in a room designed with flecks of this color.
Aside from its rich color scheme and its unique, basketweave-inspired design, this rug is made from 100% wool. It'll help stylize your guest suite and feel comfortable underfoot.
A catchall dish is a thoughtful touch to add in your guest bedroom. It'll serve as a spot for visitors' jewelry, keys, or other small objects. This one is as chic as they come, with its marble veining and black and brown color scheme.
Made from plush faux fur, this is the type of blanket that you'd want to have draped around you 24/7. Your guests will love its warmth and comfort. Plus, its rich brown color will elevate the look of your guest room.
5. Dark, Moody Colors
Light shades and nature-inspired colors seem like the obvious choices for guest bedroom colors. Those shades are highly versatile and generally well-liked, so there's really no risk in painting with them or incorporating decor in those shades.
That said, there's nothing wrong with going a bit darker with your guest bedroom's color scheme. In fact, it's something that interior designer Claire Thompson actually recommends. 'I love creating a moody guest room,' Claire tells me. 'I think it elevates the room a bit and makes it cozier for a weekend guest!'
According to Claire, she wants guests to 'feel like they are in a chic hotel experience,' and dark, moody colors can help make that happen. A deep brown shade like Valspar's Sumatra Blend can fill a room with moody elegance, as can the rich burgundy tones of Benjamin Moore's Dinner Party. But if you really want to make a statement, consider painting the walls of your guest room in Farrow & Ball's Off Black – a dark paint color loved by interior designers that can create a cocooning ambiance.
'A darker bedroom feels like a giant hug,' Claire says. What guest wouldn't want that?
Just like the cocooning feeling of a dark painted room, a dark blanket can make you feel equally as cozy. This one is made from ultra-soft faux fur and its plush pile adds some textural elegance to the blanket itself. Drape it across the foot of your guest bed for a stylish statement.
From its sleek shape to its glossy red color, this table lamp is a chic choice for a moody guest bedroom. Its design is reminiscent of traditional banker's lamps, but it's been completely modernized in a stylish manner. It would be the perfect feature for a guest bedroom bedside table.
Every guest bedroom needs a bedside table, and this one is as chic as they come. From its uniquely shaped legs to its jet-black color, it commands attention, but it can also ground your guest room with refined elegance. For a symmetrical look, style two of these on either side of the guest bed.
While we're on the topic of guest bedrooms, I've also asked interior designers to share what makes a guest bedroom dated. Knowing what to remove from the room will ensure that the space is as fresh and inviting as can be for upcoming visitors.
