Guest Bathroom Ideas

If there is any way to give your guests their own bathroom, do it. No one likes sharing bathrooms with people outside the immediate family.

Yeah, you love Uncle Fred, but do you really want to negotiate around his shaving supplies?

These guest bathroom ideas can help you create a cozy, welcoming retreat for your guests to enjoy during their visit.

Guest Bathroom Ideas for Creating a Luxurious Bath

Before we begin outfitting the bathroom for your incoming visitors, here are a few tips that will provide you with a clean slate on which to start focusing your decorating efforts.

When it comes to making the most of the bathroom, less is more. Nothing makes space seem smaller and less welcoming than having items spilling from every surface. Start by clearing out and stashing elsewhere any items your family uses in there.

Remove your medications and supplies from the medicine cabinet, restock it with aspirin, antacid, cough drops, toothpaste, shampoo and other items guests might need.

Put your best towels and soaps out. And while you're at it, remove that little throw rug on the bathroom floor to give an illusion of more space.

And strip the commode of its furry cover to keep it from becoming the room's focal point. Why dress up the one fixture to which you least want to call attention?

If you have a folding screen languishing in a closet somewhere, place it between the sink and toilet to add a bit of style along with that all-important privacy you want to provide.

If your bathroom is without windows, add mirrors to the walls and choose bright, cheery colors for the bath and hand towels to give the room an airier, more spacious feel.

Guest Bathroom Ideas for Including the Essentials

Stock the guest bath with: 

• Bath gels, salts, and bubble bath

• Bath mat

• Cups (an individual cup for each person or the disposable variety)

• Disposable razors

• Hair spray

• Hand and body lotion

• Soaps (one fresh soap for each guest)

• Shampoo and conditioner

• Tissues

• Toilet paper (plenty of it)

• Toothbrush(es) and toothpaste

• Towels (two thick, fluffy towels per person)

• The all-important trash can

• Washcloths (one per guest).

Be Prepared for Quick Clean Ups

For quick bathroom clean ups, stash a tub of disposable disinfecting wipes in the guest bath so you can sneak in and clean up when visitors arrive unexpectedly or for a quick touchup during the weekend visit.

Consider these luxuries too, if you can: A bathroom friendly newspaper and magazine rack; a luxurious non-slip bath pillow; fresh flowers or houseplant (nothing says "welcome" quite as elegantly.

And if you really want to go all-out, a a pretty (and unbreakable) bathtub tray stocked with trial-size bubbles, lotions, shampoos and soaps will do the trick nicely.

Guest Bathroom No-Nos

No-nos here include adding anything scented. What smells fresh and clean to you may gag your visitors. And some people are allergic to certain fragrances. (Really.)

The best scent is no scent, and that includes air freshener sprays, drawer liners, and candles.

By providing your overnight visitor with everything they may have forgotten at the last minute, and perhaps even adding in a few luxurious extras, you'll help ensure their stay in your home is a comfortable, pleasant one.