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This post shows you 15 guest bathroom ideas to create the perfect experience for your guests.
Hosting is an art where one’s personality gets to shine: are you laid back and go with the flow? Do you prefer to plan every aspect in detail? No matter the type of host you are, there is one thing you will always strive for: giving your guests a memorable experience.
There is nothing better than being able to create a space that can make people feel welcome, at comfort, and not afraid of intruding into your home. A hotel-like experience where a few touches can transform your house into a brief escape from their own life and an oasis of peace.
Keep on reading if you are interested in learning 15 guest bathroom ideas to create the perfect space for your guests and a functional room that you will love using even when you are not hosting.
Combining Functionality With Anticipating Guests’ Needs
When styling a guest bathroom, it can be challenging to balance the desire to create a perfect experience for your guests and setting a space that remains functional at all times.
To strike a good compromise, it can be useful to look at a few different factors:
- How often do you have guests staying over? If you host guests overnight regularly, you may want to prioritize this space for their use. Focus on creating a guest bathroom that can answer guests’ most common needs, so that stocking up on products and organization do not take up too much of your time each time new people are over.
- How long are guests staying at your place? Do you have friends visiting over the weekend usually or are you having family staying for an extended period of time? Short stay would require less stocked supplies and perhaps a smaller investment in how much work you want to put into your guest bathroom. On the other hand, long-term guests may need a more furnished and set-up space to feel truly comfortable.
- Is your home located in a convenient area for guests to go out and about alone? Can your guests easily pick up a toothbrush if they forgot one? If you live in a more residential area, go for guest bathroom decor ideas that provide everything your guests may need. You’ll make their stay much less stressful and save them some packing!
- Do you intend on using this room as a guest bathroom for a long time or is it a temporary set-up? If you are planning on turning this room into something else down the line, make sure to choose guest bathroom decor that can be easily removed at a later stage. No need to commit to a full spa experience for your guests if you are likely to be using the room for something else in the near future.
With all this in mind, let’s look at 15 ideas to elevate your guest bathroom into an elegant, luxurious space that will make your guests feel like they are in a 5-star hotel. Be aware: they might not want to leave anymore – The Chic Quota declines any responsibility for that!
15 Guest Bathroom Ideas
1. Classic Wood Display Cabinet
I’m sure you can relate to the awkward feeling of not knowing where to find essentials and having to ask the home-owner for a new roll of toilet paper.
A classic, wooden display cabinet can make it easy for your guests to access all the items they may need.
Make sure to stock the cabinet with extra towels, lotions, and amenities that can accommodate your guests’ needs. Use stylish wicker baskets and trays for an organized, elegant look that will make your guest bathroom truly feel like a spa.
2. Potted Plants
If there is one thing guaranteed to make everyone feel special, that is a beautiful plant or bouquet of flowers.
Especially if you are working with wooden, darker tones in your guest bathroom, a bright, luscious plant might be a great touch to bring some color into your space.
If, like me, you refuse to commit to weekly fresh flowers for your guests, simply go for a faux potted plant. You will find plenty of realistic-looking options online, and with the help of a stylish vase, nobody will be able to tell the difference!
3. Wallpaper
Nothing brings me more joy than the recent increase in popularity wallpaper has been experiencing.
Wallpaper is a great guest bathroom idea to infuse character into your room and create a sense of visual sophistication to your decor.
Don’t let the set-up intimidate you, even as a renter there are plenty of peel-and-stick options that can be easily installed in your bathroom.
Important note: if you know your bathroom to be very humid, avoid this guest bathroom idea as it could make maintenance quite challenging over time.
4. Wall-Mounted Make-Up Mirror
Recreate this photo:
I am sure traveling without a proper make-up mirror is a shared struggle for the majority of women. Nothing worse than trying to decide between leaning over the hotel sink to reach the large mirror or compromising with the pocket mirror that came with your bronzer. 0/10 – would not reccomend.
To truly elevate your guests’ experience, you can install a magnifying makeup mirror right next to the sink. You’ll free up their suitcase space from the traveling mirror they were debating to pack, and you will make sure they won’t have to deal with awkward set-ups just to get ready.
Trust me, you’re about to have some very grateful girlfriends in your life!
5. Optimise Space
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The keyword when it comes to working with small spaces is “optimization”.
If you are trying to style a small guest bathroom, do not worry: you can still create a great space for your guests. You’ll simply have to be creative with your furniture and decor set-up.
I love the idea of using the side of your vanity to install a classic, gold toilet paper holder. Something like this is the perfect way to free up floor space, making the room seem less cluttered, and adding a classy touch to your decor.
6. Hidden Laundry Basket
If guests are staying with you for an extended period of time, they might want to get a few rounds of laundry in – especially if they are traveling with children!
I know I don’t just speak for myself, when I say that I am always hesitant to throw my laundry in with the home-owners’. Nobody wants to get their clothes lost in the mix.
A pull-out laundry basket can be the perfect solution to this issue. Leverage otherwise unused cabinet space to allow your guests to keep their dirty laundry separate from their bags.
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of setting something up something like this, simply choose a cute wicker laundry basket and store it inside of your under-the-sink cabinets. It will be just as practical.
7. Matching Shower Set
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Raise your hand if you ever had half of your weight limit taken up by your beauty case (happy to see I’m not alone!).
Help your guests out and add a full set of re-fillable products to your guest bathroom. This will be a great chance for them to try out some of your favorite products and for you to make sure you’re not dealing with leftover bottles of items you don’t use after their departure.
8. Shelf Unit Stocked with Products
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As someone who has rented small apartments for the greater part of my life, I feel personally close to those of you dealing with a guest bathroom with limited storage space.
One of the best ways to work around this is with a shelving unit. A simple white shelf like the one pictured above will not take up too much space visually, while, at the same time, providing a great amount of storage.
Mix and match decor items like candles and baskets with necessities like towels and toilet paper for a perfect balance.
Bonus tip: if you’re working with extra-limited real estate, look into shelving units that can sit on top of your toilet. You will get the same result but save up on the space requirements.
9. Bathroom Counter Tray With Basic Necessities
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The best part of any spa trip is getting to the bathroom to find it stocked up with wonderful beauty products and the perfect scented candle/diffuser.
Use a multiple tiers countertop organizer to make essentials or your guests readily available. A wooden option like the one pictured above is the perfect elegant touch and it will match most bathroom designs.
If you have enough space, feel free to add a candle or some flowers to truly take your guest bathroom decor to the next level.
10. Soap Bars Bowl
This item is less functional than it is pretty but I just couldn’t leave it out of my guest bathroom ideas list: a bowl of soap bars.
Think of a vintage bowl filled with a luxury collection of soaps – doesn’t that look dreamy?
Go for a selection of soaps with different scents to create a signature room perfume. Also, don’t forget to pair a soap dish with your bowl in case some of your guests do decide to try out one of the bars.
11. Colourful Shelves
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Oftentimes, guest bathrooms are left with empty walls that make the room look almost unfinished.
If you are committed to using this space as a guest bathroom for the foreseeable time, invest in some solid wood shelves. A pair of shelves with a decorated border painted to match your cabinets will transform your space and provide some storage space for your guests to place their belongings.
Make sure to keep the shelves within reach if you intend on leaving them empty – your guests will be happy to have their beauty and bathroom essentials readily available without having to scour their suitcases each time they need something.
12. Toilet Holder with Storage
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This guest bathroom idea is something that I think would be a great addition to all bathrooms around the world.
A gold toilet paper holder is a great piece of bathroom decor, but it then becomes a functional tool when you add an integrated storage box on top of it.
Have feminine products and wipes available for your guests at all times and make their life a thousand times easier!
13. Top-of-Toilet Basket
If you are trying to achieve classic, chic decor, woven baskets will be your best friends when thinking of guest bathroom ideas for decor.
They can be placed above your toilet to store product backups so that your guests will never have to be in the awkward situation of having to ask for additional toilet paper.
A similar basket could also be used to organize towels, tissues, and any other item you or your guests may need to have readily available at all times but need to keep organized.
14. Powder-Room Tray
This guest bathroom idea is perfect if you are working more with a powder room than a full-fledged bathroom set-up.
For an elegant, sophisticated look choose a mirrored tray. It will reflect light and make your decor look more expensive.
Key items you should add to your set-up include a delicious scented candle or diffuser, a high-quality hand soap/hand lotion combination, and a tasteful plant of flower bouquet.
This idea is guaranteed to make an impression on all your guests – it will feel like the bathroom of a 5-star hotel!
15. Elegant Sconces
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We cannot talk about home decor and design without talking about lighting.
Make sure to add sconces to your guest bathroom for a chic, elegant look.
Don’t be afraid if you’re renting or if you don’t want to invest in an electrician, there are plenty of battery-powered options you can find online. For an authentic antique look, you can also scour your local vintage market: you may find some hidden gems that add a unique touch to your guest bathroom set-up.
How To Style Your Guest Bathroom
Overall, when trying to come up with guest bathroom ideas, you always want to aim for a good balance between ensuring the room is functional and creating a hotel-like experience for your guests.
Use your own experience when traveling and staying with friends and family to try and anticipate your guests’ needs. Hosting is an art in itself and the space you create for your guests should speak of the atmosphere and personality of the home they are staying in and, most importantly, of their hostess.
Always add an extra touch to make them feel special and show them how grateful you are they are visiting. You’ll make them look forward to coming back and have treasured memories of the time spent at your place!
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