With Christmas just weeks away and family arriving over the next month, I was determined to get our guest bedroom ready. I had planned to complete it back in October when our friends visited Atlanta, but time ran out. Story of my life.
Fortunately, with help from Overstock, I finally carved out time to transform the room for holiday guests — and even added a small Christmas tree. Click through for the full reveal, including the simple “before” photos and the process that got us here.
The original guest bedroom didn’t have much going on. When guests weren’t visiting it usually served as empty space with Jeff’s computer desk tucked in one corner because we never quite knew how to use it. Now it feels like a proper, welcoming guest room that people will actually want to stay in. When it’s not hosting visitors, Jeff and I plan to use it for cat naps, reading, playing music, and relaxing.
If you want to recreate this look at home, it’s more attainable than you might think. Many of the signature pieces in the updated room are from Overstock, keeping the refresh budget-friendly — the nightstands, mirror, pillow, mini Christmas tree, and rug all came from there.
Overstock carries a huge range of items and styles, so you can find pieces to fit your aesthetic. Below are the details on the key items I added to dramatically change the guest bedroom.
The rug is a handmade Moroccan zig-zag shag by nuLOOM (I found a 5×8 for about $250). It helped break up the hardwood floors and made the space feel cozier, which is helpful with the very high ceilings — something I appreciate, but that can make a room feel cavernous without the right textiles.
I wanted a full-length mirror in the guest room, especially since the guest bathroom only has a relatively small mirror. I chose a leaning mirror in a weathered gray finish from Holly & Martin — I like its clean, minimal shape.
For bedside surfaces I picked up mid-century inspired side tables by Mid-Century Living — they were only about $40 each. At that price they were an easy decision, and I used them instead of traditional nightstands. They’re available in other colors too if you want a different look.
The bed itself is a secret: it’s actually an air mattress. We still haven’t committed to moving a second mattress into the guest room, but the quality air mattress we use is comfortable for visitors, and you’d never know it from the styling. Someday we’ll upgrade to a full bed and frame, but for now this setup works well.
Most of the bedding we already owned — the duvet was recycled from our own bed — but I added a few new pillows and throws to refresh the look. A faux Mongolian lamb fur pillow in pumpkin is one of my favorites and adds texture and warmth. Other textiles are pieces I’ve collected over time.
To introduce holiday cheer without overwhelming the room, I added a small sky-blue Christmas tree. It’s a fun, unexpected color that’s less common than pink or traditional green and works as a playful accent. At three feet tall it’s easy to pack away after the season.
I also hung DIY dip-dyed stockings from the leaning mirror for a subtle festive touch that doesn’t clutter the space. I’ll share the tutorial for those stockings soon.
Behind the mini tree there’s a simple woven wall piece I recently finished — it was a quick project that took only a few minutes to make and adds a handmade detail to the display.
Photography Amelia Tatnall Lawrence
Styling Brittni Mehlhoff
What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the guest room makeover. How do you bring holiday style into extra rooms like a guest bedroom? Share your ideas and tips in the comments.
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This post was created in partnership with Overstock. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Paper & Stitch running.