Guest Room Color Scheme Ideas to Impress Your Holiday Guests

The holiday season is the best time of year to gather with friends and family to celebrate each other’s company. Many of us travel far and wide to do it, and a lot of us host family and friends within our own homes.

While “there’s no place like home for the holidays,” for those of us who are hosting, we want our family and friends to feel just like they are at home. That’s where I’m able to help!

As a color expert, I’m always thinking about how we can use color to create a certain feeling. That’s why my guest room color scheme ideas for a holiday guest room focus on making your guest space feel welcoming and comfortable with small touches of holiday spirit.

Here’s how you can create a cozy and comfortable guest room for your holiday guests.

Interesting Neutrals Are Your Friend

Because guest rooms are used by many different people with varying styles and ages, I highly recommend using neutral colors as the base of your guest room color scheme. Remember, different generations usually prefer different colors (as I go over in this post on generational colors), so it’s important to choose ones that appeal to all ages since your guests can (and will!) vary in age. 

Neutral interior paint colors on the wall will match with almost any design style of furniture, art, blankets and more. This makes not only makes it easy for you to decorate, but it also makes it easy for anyone to come into the room and feel at home since it’s subdued and will not clash with their personal style. 

Now, I don’t want you to think that you now have to make an entirely beige or a sterile all-white room! Just because you’re going for neutrals doesn’t mean that it needs to be monochromatic or boring.

I recommend that you go with what I call “nearly neutrals.” For example, instead of going for a plain grey, you could choose a blueish-grey. Instead of plain beige, try a beige that has hints of olive greens in its undertones.

This gives a neutral color palette a little bit of something interesting. That little difference between grey and blue-grey can make a room feel more thought-out, personal and — more importantly for your guests — comfortable. 

You can read more about other “nearly neutral” color ideas on my Color911 blog. 

Soothing Colors

Soothing colors that are welcoming and understated are another great option for holiday guest room color schemes. Soft blues, light greens, salmons, or blush colors are great choices. Soft whites are great options as well.

All of these colors are easygoing and not offensive to those of all ages and style preferences. The soothing nature of these colors will also serve to relax your guests, which is often essential during what can often be a stressful holiday season.

As I mentioned in another recent post, you don’t necessarily have to get out a paint brush to include holiday color palettes. Incorporate these colors via paint, sheets, comforters, guest towels, pillows, and art. 

You should also consider adding some live green plants to the room. Not only does this add a nice soothing green color to the room, but plants have also been shown to help reduce anxiety, which adds to their soothing ability! When adding plants, consider small evergreens, poinsettias, or the aptly named Christmas Cactus to really stay on theme.

Tranquil Lighting

Lighting often sets the tone for a room as well. For a guest room it’s best to have lighting that is softer and relaxing. You won’t find overhead lighting in a guest room in my home. Bedside lighting or a light fixture that your guest can read by, all set the mood for a quiet space where your quest can go to rest, read, and relax!

Adding Holiday Comfort

You could fill a room with holiday-themed items. How far you want to go is up to you, but remember that the main goal is to ensure your guests are comfortable and have everything they need will help them feel even more at home. 

This could include a reading lamp, extra towels and blankets, and their own personal shampoos and soaps (even these can be holiday-themed!).

Holiday-themed candles also add the familiar smell of the holidays while also adding color! Holiday-themed hand towels, a throw blanket, fairy lights, special bedding, metallic colors like silver and gold and candles are also great small touches to add holiday spirit to a guest room. 

Holiday comfort is about more than just holiday items, though! Make sure your guests have a place to sit like an armchair or a comfy loveseat where they can up kick their feet up relax someplace besides the bed. 

You want them to be able to go to their room and kick back with a mug of hot cocoa after a long day of festivities. It’s there where they’ll remember all the wonderful times they’ve been having as your guest! 

Try These Guest Room Color Scheme Ideas for Your Holiday Guests

The key to successful guest room color scheme ideas is to create a space that feels welcoming and comfortable. The comforts of home can be easily represented with colors and decorations, which is something I’m constantly thinking about as a professional color consultant.

Need some more help deciding on a color scheme? What about implementing that color scheme? I can help! Contact me today so we can discuss your ideas and vision for your home.