Get ready to roll out the welcome mat for your summer holiday guests (and maybe a bottle of rosé)

If you’ve been uttering those words - “The guests are coming!” in pleasure mixed with a level of timepoor panic akin to when your kid announces at 8pm that they need a costume, baked goods, and a signed permission slip for tomorrow, then this blog is for you.

Step 1: Relax - you’ve got this

Let’s be real - guest-room prep should not be an Olympic sprint. It should be simple, charming, and still give you time to sit down and enjoy a glass of wine instead of running around like you’re competing on a home-improvement reality show. Your guests will arrive, they’ll think you nailed it, and you’ll think “Cheers to me”.

Step 2: Make them feel welcome - from the first step

When your friend or cousin or Aunt Mavis arrives, you want them to feel… well, welcomed. Not like they’re staying in “the spare room that time forgot”. A few small gestures go a long way:

• Have the room ready before your guests arrive. Much easier for you to be able to focus on them, and makes them feel at ease and comfortable.

• Keep it clean and clutter-free. Hide the tangle of cables, gym gear, and the inevitable ‘I’ll get around to it one day' pile.

• Add simple hospitality touches - a carafe of water + glasses, a small bunch of flowers from your garden (even just greenery) and a candle if you’re feeling fancy. 

• Leave a sweet, helpful welcome card - homemade is best: “Welcome! Extra blankets are in the cupboard. WiFi password below.” or similar.

These say: “We thought of you.”
More importantly, they allow you to stay calm and keep that wine glass comfortably filled.

Step 3: The guest room makeover - keep it simple, keep it stylish

Let’s talk design - but the very easy version. You don’t need to repaint, redecorate, or suddenly become someone who says things like “I’m thinking of layering the architectural elements”! Naturally, because we’re Wink, we are focusing on the heart of the room - the bedhead.

Why the bedhead matters

It’s the backdrop, the framing, the “ahh yes, this feels intentional” moment. A great bedhead instantly lifts a room from functional to welcoming. It’s your design shortcut.

Simple bedhead refresh ideas

• Pick a fabric you love - bold, soft, patterned, plain, whatever your vibe is.

• Choose a size that suits the space: noticeable but not overpowering.

• Build the room around it: calm bedding, a nice throw, maybe a cushion or two.
  Because when the bedhead does the heavy design lifting, everything else is the support act.

Step 4: Keep the vibe calm (but not boring)

You’re aiming for “restful haven”, not “hotel brochure” or “storage annex”.
A few easy wins:

• Fresh linen (not your old mismatched set from 2014).

• A clear bedside table with a warm lampshade (from Wink!).

• One or two pieces of décor—a plant, a print.
  And of course, let that beautiful bedhead stay the superstar (wink wink).

Step 5: Enjoy yourself too

Prep early, keep it simple, perhaps have a meal and/or cake in the freezer pre-prepared or order in your favourite food box for a few days, and once your guests arrive slide straight into “relaxed host” mode. No silent stress. Just good company, easy vibes, and the comforting knowledge that your guest room looks fantastic without you breaking a sweat.

A humorous nod to the inevitable: When their time is up

Even the loveliest visits must eventually conclude. When the time comes to gently usher your guests back to their natural habitat, if they appear to be settling in for longer than anticipated,  feel free to deploy a light-hearted farewell: 

“It’s been wonderful having you! Hope you slept like royalty. What are our next plans together? We’d love to have you again etc etc.”

Then close the door, exhale deeply, pour yourself the remaining wine, and admire your beautifully refreshed guest room (and bedhead). You did it.

Mission accomplished! With love From Wink

Welcoming guests doesn’t have to be stressful or elaborate. With thoughtful touches, a stand-out bedhead (of course!), and a simple plan, you’ll create a space that feels warm and genuine - while still leaving you with plenty of time to enjoy yourself.

Cheers to gorgeous rooms, happy guests, and hosts who stay relaxed. 

Xxx Wink.