Guest Rooms on a Budget

When it comes to decorating your own personal space, you probably know what you like and what you need. Perhaps you're an avid late-night reader, so you're careful to position books and magazines, as well as a reading lamp, near your bed. Or maybe you just love to catch a nap when you watch television on the weekend, so you place cushy pillows and comfy throws in your living room so they're always within reach.

But there is one place in your home where the needs of other people should dictate the way you decorate -- your guest room. If you're lucky enough to have a separate room for guests, you may have faced some dilemmas as you approached its decorating. "How large should the bed be? Should I place a dresser in the room? What should I hang on the walls?" and other questions may have crept into your mind as you tried to create a place to make your overnight guests feel comfortable and welcomed.

If you need to decorate a guest room, here are a few budget-conscious ideas to get you started:

* Find a secondhand full or queen-sized bed, so you can accommodate singles as well as couples, if space permits.

* Refurbish a second-hand chest of drawers for the room. Guests will appreciate not having to live out of a suitcase on their visit. If you don't have the space for a chest of drawers, hit a local flea market and pick up a suitcase rack instead.

* If you have mismatched furniture for the room, paint the different pieces in the same color to give them a sense of unity.

* Place towels, linens and other personal items in the guest's room, so they won't have to hunt for them. (They may feel uncomfortable looking in your closets for an extra blanket or bath towel.)

* Place extra hangers in the closet, since many guests will not bring their own but may have clothing to hang.

* Treat your guests to wonderful scents by placing potpourri or aromatherapy candles in their room.

* Select neutral colors and artwork, but don't make it too boring. It may be difficult for a guest to get to sleep in a bright purple room, but pastels or neutrals are a fine choice. Framed family photos make great wall art and let you share a bit of yourself with your guest in a simple, inexpensive way.

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