Guest Bathroom Ideas

Guest bathroom interior with decorative towels on sink.

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.

Empty some drawers so they have a place to put their toiletries. Make sure ithe bathroom is sparkling clean

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
Stock the guest bathroom with bath salts and sponges.
  • 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.






You might like these:

  • A family bathroom is a parent's paradox: You can't get your school-age kid into the shower. And you can't get your toddler or teenager out. These tips can help.

    Family Bathroom: The Busy Bathroom Schedule

    A family bathroom is a parent's paradox: You can't get your school-age kid into the shower. And you can't get your toddler or teenager out. These tips can help.

  • Your hands likely touch your face the most, but makeup applicators also have plenty of opportunities to transfer germs. Cleaning your brushes and sponges removes dirt and bacteria.

    Makeup Applicators: How to Clean Brushes and Sponges

    Your hands likely touch your face the most, but makeup applicators also have plenty of opportunities to transfer germs. Cleaning your brushes and sponges removes dirt and bacteria.

  • The bathroom is  the busiest room in the house. These bathroom cleaning and organizing tips can help.

    Bathroom Cleaning and Organizing Tips

    The bathroom is the busiest room in the house. These bathroom cleaning and organizing tips can help.

  • Some things last forever; makeup isn't one of them. Yes, sadly, it's true. Here's how long makeup lasts, from lipstick to foundation.

    How Long Makeup Lasts: It's Not a Beautiful Cycle of Life

    Some things last forever; makeup isn't one of them. Yes, sadly, it's true. Here's how long makeup lasts, from lipstick to foundation.

  • If your family is flush with reasons not to deal with toilet cleaning, tell them to have a seat and relax. Here's how to tackle toilet cleaning in 5 easy steps.

    Toilet Cleaning in 5 Steps

    If your family is flush with reasons not to deal with toilet cleaning, tell them to have a seat and relax. Here's how to tackle toilet cleaning in 5 easy steps.

  • The simple seven-step bathroom cleaning method that follows will have you in and out - and your bathroom buffed - in minutes rather than hours.

    Bathroom Cleaning in 7 Easy Steps

    The simple seven-step bathroom cleaning method that follows will have you in and out - and your bathroom buffed - in minutes rather than hours.

  • Most of us have small bathrooms. Keeping it organized goes a long way toward keeping it clean. These small bathroom ideas for organizing can help.

    Small Bathroom Ideas for Organizing

    Most of us have small bathrooms. Keeping it organized goes a long way toward keeping it clean. These small bathroom ideas for organizing can help.

  • By design, most bathrooms leave little room for improvement in terms of storage.  These easy bathroom storage solutions can help you make the most of the space.

    Easy Bathroom Storage Solutions

    By design, most bathrooms leave little room for improvement in terms of storage. These easy bathroom storage solutions can help you make the most of the space.

  • These easy bathroom cleaning tips will have you in and out - and the room buffed - in minutes rather than hours.

    Bathroom Cleaning Tips

    These easy bathroom cleaning tips will have you in and out - and the room buffed - in minutes rather than hours.

  • Clean your medicine cabinet regularly to free up precious bathroom storage space. You'll be surprised at the number of items you can store elsewhere.

    Clean Your Medicine Cabinet

    Clean your medicine cabinet regularly to free up precious bathroom storage space. You'll be surprised at the number of items you can store elsewhere.

  • When it comes to bathroom decorating, less is definitely more. These easy bathroom design ideas can help you make the most of this utilitarian room.

    Bathroom Design Ideas

    When it comes to bathroom decorating, less is definitely more. These easy bathroom design ideas can help you make the most of this utilitarian room.

  • Bathroom mold removal can be a challenge. If mold or mildew has set down roots in your home, they need to be sent packing. Stat. Here's how.

    Bathroom Mold Removal

    Bathroom mold removal can be a challenge. If mold or mildew has set down roots in your home, they need to be sent packing. Stat. Here's how.



Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.