Guest Blogger: How to Make Your Guest Bathroom More Inviting

For many homeowners, the guest bathroom is a space rarely cleaned or even entered. This is, of course, until your in-laws “surprise” you by popping in for the weekend. You only have limited time to transform your drab guest bathroom into a warm, inviting space that will make your visitors feel welcome and comfortable. Before you take a bite out of your savings account, realize that sprucing up the extra bathroom only requires a few hours, a little effort and some luxurious towels.

How will you create your ideal guest bathroom?

Image via: House and Home

Clean Like You’ve Never Cleaned Before

Think back to the last time you spent the night at someone else’s home. Maybe the fixtures looked like something out of a 1970s Sears catalog, but the space still seemed immaculately clean and inviting. Your guests will feel similarly about your clean bathroom, so before you purchase anything, scour and scrub every square inch of the space. Tackle the most unpleasant jobs first — otherwise known as the toilet and tub — and work your way toward the vanity before cleaning the mirrors and floor. Finish your day by installing a plug-in air freshener and stocking the shelves with towels and extra toilet paper.

Replace the Showerhead

If you cannot recall the last time the guest bathroom’s shower was used, the showerhead is probably in need of updating. Before replacing a fully functional model, remove the showerhead and soak it in a mixture of one part white vinegar and three parts warm water for about 30 minutes. The white vinegar removes years of soap scum and build-up from the showerhead. Unfortunately, this step alone can’t transform an outdated showerhead into a spa-worthy model, so you might end up replacing it anyway.

Change the Knobs and Drawer Pulls

You don’t consider yourself an amateur plumber or electrician, so swapping out the faucets and light fixtures is beyond your skillset. Don’t be discouraged, though, because there is one way to update your bathroom’s hardware that requires only an hour of your time and a screwdriver: changing out any drawer pulls or knobs in the room. Installing a modern set of brushed-nickel, antique pewter or oil-rubbed bronze knobs or drawer pulls is an extremely fast and moderately priced way to transform your vanity or linen closet.

Change out guest bathroom fixtures for an updated look

Image via: Homebunch

Provide a Place for Everything

Nothing lets your guests know they are welcome like providing a space to store their personal hygiene products. Don’t go overboard and install an overly elaborate shelving system. Instead, offer them a drawer, shelf or even a wicker basket to store their shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush or body wash. Your guest will appreciate your hospitality and the extra effort you put forth to make sure they felt more comfortable in your home.

Transform Your Guest Bathroom Into a Miniature Spa

If you want to go even farther for your guests, transform your ordinary guest bathroom into a retreat worthy of a spa. This is a simple and inexpensive process that requires only a few products to be successful. You’ll need:

• Fluffy white towels
• Scented candles
• A compact disc player or MP3 speakers
• Bath salts or bubble bath
• A “Do Not Disturb” sign

To make the experience more inviting, arrange a set of Egyptian cotton towels on a rack or the vanity, hang a robe from the back of the door, arrange elegantly packaged travel-size soaps and shampoos on the vanity, and then line the bathtub with unlit candles. Even if your guests don’t partake in your spa experience, you can always enjoy the amenities after they leave.

Once the bathroom is in order, it’s time to move on to the guest bedroom. This is another quick and inexpensive transformation. All you need are some clean sheets, a few magazines or books and a small bar of chocolate or bag of treats for your guests to enjoy.

Jillian Meyers is a blogger who recently renovated her own guest bathroom. She used Decor Planet to purchase new products, including a vanity.

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